Should You Click That 'Unsubscribe' Link?

Do you try and keep up with most emails? If so, you've likely clicked on a few "unsubscribe" links to prevent getting messages you're no longer interested in (or wondered why you received them in the first place).

No one enjoys spam, but those unsubscribe links are sometimes exactly what a scammer hopes you'll click.

Clicking an unsubscribe link can signal to a scammer that someone is reading and interacting with the email, and that information can be valuable when they're figuring out which email addresses are worth targeting in the future.

Unsubscribe links may also take you to a malicious website that appears legit and asks for personal information to "log in" or verify that you want to unsubscribe. That information could then be used to access your real accounts or commit identity theft.

What should you do instead?

If you're unsure about an email—or don't recognize why you received it—don't click the unsubscribe link. Mark the message as spam or junk and block the sender.

If you know the email is from an organization you do business with, the safest option is to go directly to its website or app and manage your email preferences there.

How else should you protect your email?

Consider using an email alias—a separate, randomized email address—for online forms and websites. That way, if the address starts getting spam, you can stop using it without changing your primary email address.

Also, check to see whether your email provider offers a service that generates random email addresses and forwards messages to your personal inbox. Apple, for example, offers "Hide My Email" to help keep your personal email address private.

Check out our Fraud and Security Center for more tips on how to beef up your cybersecurity.