Gmail takes action against spam
Google announced on October 3 that it would implement new measures to detect spam at its origin. Senders will now have to authenticate their emails and provide an easy way to unsubscribe from commercial lists. Google’s objective is to better protect users of its Gmail messaging system and reduce the impact of spam on their daily lives.
Email authentication: a promising method
One of the measures taken by Google is to require that senders authenticate their emails, thus proving their real origin. Indeed, many bulk senders do not sufficiently secure their systems, which allows spoofers to invade these addresses and send malicious emails. However, it remains to be seen how effective these provisions are, as Google notes that many senders already meet 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 is delivered to the recipient.
- If authentication fails, the email is treated as spam.
Email authentication ensures that messages come from the indicated sender and are transmitted without modifications during their delivery. This process limits the risk of phishing or identity theft by email.
An easy way to unsubscribe from commercial lists
In addition to email authentication, Google plans to implement a solution to make it easier to unsubscribe from commercial mailing lists. Senders must provide a quick and easy way to unsubscribe from their communications. This new measure aims to significantly reduce the number of spam messages linked to unintentional subscriptions, thus providing a better user experience on Gmail.
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 this link to access the unsubscribe page.
- Follow the instructions provided to confirm your unsubscribe.
- If the email does not provide an unsubscribe link, you can report the email as spam.
The future of Google’s anti-spam measures
It is still too early to say whether the new measures put in place by Google will be sufficient to effectively counter the spam phenomenon. However, these initiatives are undoubtedly a step in the right direction to improve the quality of service offered by Gmail and protect users against unsolicited and malicious emails. In a world where the volume of spam continues to increase, it is essential that businesses and email services collaborate to find sustainable solutions and build user trust in electronic communications.