How to stop your email from getting spam

Spam grows where data accumulates. Cut off the supply and you cut the noise. This practical guide combines prevention (stop new spam at the source) and cleanup (reduce what reaches your inbox). You’ll also see exactly where a temporary email or email alias fits into your routine so future sign‑ups don’t follow you home.  Table…

Spam grows where data accumulates. Cut off the supply and you cut the noise. This practical guide combines prevention (stop new spam at the source) and cleanup (reduce what reaches your inbox). You’ll also see exactly where a temporary email or email alias fits into your routine so future sign‑ups don’t follow you home. 

Part 1 — Prevention (Stop New Spam at the Source)

  1. Use temporary email for one‑time codes and downloads. Any site that says “we’ll email the link/code” is trying to grow a list. Generate a one‑time inbox, receive the code, and let it expire; your primary address never enters their CRM. The Anonibox generator places the live inbox above the fold, updates in real time, and defaults to short retention to reduce your footprint.
  2. Use an email alias for relationships you’ll keep. If you need to reply or recover an account later, onboard with an Email Alias. If a vendor leaks/sells it, retire the alias—without touching your main address.
  3. Think twice before clicking “unsubscribe” in suspicious messages. Security experts warn that bad‑actor “unsubscribe” links can confirm your address and trigger more attacks; use your email client’s built‑in unsubscribe or report spam instead.
  4. Don’t sign in from links in emails. Go to the website directly; it’s a simple way to sidestep credential‑stealing phish.

Digital shield protecting inbox from spam and junk email.

Part 2 — Cleanup (Tame What’s Already There)

  1. Use your provider’s spam tools. Gmail’s guidance is straightforward: pay attention to warnings, don’t respond to requests for private info, don’t enter passwords after clicking email links, and report suspicious messages.
  2. Unsubscribe from legitimate senders. For reputable newsletters you signed up for (and want to leave), use the built‑in unsubscribe control your provider offers or the sender’s clear opt‑out per CAN‑SPAM.
  3. Report phishing to national services. In the UK, forward emails to report@phishing.gov.uk (SERS) or texts to 7726; in the US, see the FTC’s guidance on unwanted emails and texts.
  4. Train your filters with rules and labels. Create rules for recurring subjects/senders. If you used “plus addressing” (e.g., name+store@) and it leaked, filter or block that tag.
  5. Audit where your email lives. Old forums, marketplace accounts, and marketing portals are leak points. Rotate to an alias and close accounts you no longer use.

FAQs

Why am I suddenly getting more spam?

Large breaches and list sharing amplify exposure. Check your address at Have I Been Pwned and rotate to aliases for vendors.

Is spam getting more convincing?

Yes—AI tooling and QR‑based lures raise the bar for detection. Look for urgency, mismatched domains, and login prompts you didn’t initiate.

Can temporary email really reduce spam?

Absolutely. Using a one‑time inbox keeps your main address out of CRMs and data broker lists, and Anonibox’s short retention/blocked remote images reduce tracking.

© Anonibox