Why am I getting so much spam?

There could be multiple reasons why you might be receiving a lot of spam emails:

1. Email Harvesting: Your email address might have been harvested from various sources such as online forums, social media platforms, or public directories.

2. Phishing Attempts: Some spam emails might be phishing attempts, trying to trick you into revealing personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or account details.

3. Previous Opt-ins: Sometimes, when you sign up for services or websites, you might unknowingly opt-in to receive promotional emails from them or their affiliates.

4. Data Breaches: If your email address was part of a data breach from a website or service you've used in the past, it might have been sold or leaked to spammers.

5. Malware or Virus: If your computer or device is infected with malware or a virus, it might be harvesting your email contacts and sending spam emails to them.

To reduce the amount of spam you receive, here’s what you can do:

• Be Cautious with Your Email Address: Be mindful of where you share your email address online, and avoid posting it publicly whenever possible.

• Unsubscribe: If you receive unwanted emails from legitimate senders, use the unsubscribe option to opt-out from their mailing lists.

• Regularly Update Your Security Software: Keep your antivirus and anti-malware software updated to prevent malware from harvesting your email address.

• Report Spam: Most email providers have options to report spam emails. By reporting spam, you can help improve the effectiveness of your email provider's spam filters.

UMBC DoIT takes several measures to prevent spam from hitting your inbox, but no solution is perfect. By taking these precautions and being vigilant, you can reduce the amount of spam you receive in your inbox.