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Did you accidentally open a spam email? Don't worry. Here's what Aura's security team recommends you do.
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In this article:
So, you’ve accidentally opened a spam email, and you’re probably wondering: is that bad? And if so, how bad is it?
The good news is that opening a suspicious email, while not ideal, is relatively harmless. Spam emails only become a serious cyber threat if you’ve committed any of the following actions:
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When spam messages successfully bypass spam filters and reach your inbox, it’s because scammers were able to verify that your email address is valid (as in, it won’t bounce back messages as undeliverable).
There are a number of different ways that email spammers could have obtained your email address, including:
It depends. Scammers will be able to tell that you opened an email if you download any attachments or click on any links (which you should never do), or if your email client automatically loads any images that are embedded in the message.
If that last item was a bit of a shock, it’s true: scammers can actually gain a ton of data about you if you have automatic image loading turned on.
If you have automatic image loading enabled, scammers may be able to see:
Key takeaway: Turn off automatic image loading. Most email services will allow you to disable automatic image loading in your email account settings.
💡 Related: Has Your Gmail Been Hacked? Here's How To Secure Your Account →
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If you’ve opened a phishing email but have not clicked or downloaded anything, be sure to do the following:
Do not engage with any sketchy looking emails, since it's probably phishing spam — and never reply to it directly.
You should never open files, scan QR codes, or click unfamiliar links unless you know exactly who sent them.
Cybercriminals often send computer viruses and malware through malicious attachments like .pdf or .zip files. Hackers are experts at sending phishing emails with malicious links that look almost identical to legitimate emails. Pay close attention to formatting errors in these emails, as they can be an obvious indicator of spam.
Malware is software that’s designed to harm your computer and/or steal your personal data. Ransomware is a specific form of malware that demands that you pay a ransom in order to protect your private information from being shared over social media or the dark web.
Phishing attacks usually happen when you click unfamiliar links. Phishing scams are clever attempts at stealing your sensitive personal data by tricking you into clicking links that have the appearance of legitimacy.
Fraudsters do this by forging an email header to make it look like it came from someone you trust. Then, they'll use your sensitive data to make purchases on in your name, or to commit identity theft.
💡 Related: Have I Been Hacked? How To Recognize & Recover From a Hack →
If you’ve downloaded a corrupt attachment or clicked on a link that has taken you to a suspicious web page, you should take all of the following actions.
💡 Related: How To Prevent Phishing Attacks [15 Easy Tips] →
As spam and phishing techniques get more sophisticated, it’s important to arm yourself with the right tools to prevent identity theft and stop scammers from stealing your sensitive data and invading your devices.
In addition to turning off autoloading images in your email, you should update the software on all your devices to the latest versions. Safeguard your passwords with a secure password manager, rather than storing your passwords in a vulnerable place, such as your browser's autofill password center.
Lastly, it’s a great idea to invest in an identity theft monitoring service to ensure you’re proactively notified of any cyber attacks or breaches as early as possible.
If you've been phished and recognize any warning signs of identity theft, Aura is here to help.
Aura helps keep you safe by detecting and blocking malware—such as viruses, ransomware, spyware, trojans and more—which may infect your device and steal your data. All plans come with an insurance policy that covers up to $1M in eligible losses due to identity theft.
Editorial note: Our articles provide educational information for you to increase awareness about digital safety. Aura’s services may not provide the exact features we write about, nor may cover or protect against every type of crime, fraud, or threat discussed in our articles. Please review our Terms during enrollment or setup for more information. Remember that no one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrime.