Gmail takes action against spam
In order to combat spam, Google has announced the implementation of new measures aimed at detecting and blocking spam at its origin. Senders will now have to authenticate their emails and provide an easy way to unsubscribe from commercial lists. This initiative aims to better protect Gmail users and reduce the impact of spam on their daily lives.
Email authentication: a promising solution
One of the measures Google has put in place is to require senders to authenticate their emails, thus proving their legitimate origin. Indeed, many bulk senders do not sufficiently secure their systems, which allows spoofers to invade these addresses and send malicious emails. However, the effectiveness of these provisions remains to be evaluated, as Google specifies that many senders already comply with most of these requirements.
How does email authentication work?
- The sender sends an email with a unique digital signature.
- The recipient’s mail server verifies the signature using a cryptographic key.
- If the key matches the one recorded for the sender, the message is considered authentic and delivered to the recipient.
- If authentication fails, the email is treated as spam.
Email authentication therefore makes it possible to guarantee the origin of messages and their integrity during their transmission. This process limits the risks of phishing and identity theft via email.
Easy unsubscription from commercial lists
In addition to email authentication, Google plans to implement a solution simplifying unsubscription from commercial mailing lists. Senders will need to provide a quick and easy way to unsubscribe from their communications. This measure aims to significantly reduce the number of spam messages linked to unintentional subscriptions and improve the user experience.
How to easily unsubscribe from mailing lists?
- Check if the email received contains an unsubscribe link (usually located at the bottom of the message).
- Click on this link to access the unsubscribe page.
- Follow the instructions provided to confirm unsubscription.
- In the event that an email does not provide an unsubscribe link, the user can report the email as spam.
The future of Google’s anti-spam measures
It is still too early to know whether the new measures put in place by Google will be sufficient to effectively combat spam. However, these initiatives go in the right direction by improving the quality of service offered by Gmail and protecting users against unsolicited and malicious emails. As the volume of spam continues to increase, it is essential that businesses and email services work together to find sustainable solutions and build user trust in electronic communications.