A crowded inbox is frustrating, but clicking every “unsubscribe” link in the spam folder is not a safe cleanup method. Separate unwanted legitimate subscriptions from messages you do not trust.
Start with the messages you recognise
Use the unsubscribe process for a legitimate newsletter you knowingly subscribed to. If you are unsure whether a message is genuine, do not follow its links or open its attachments. Mark it as junk or use the reporting options provided by your mail service.
Use filters thoughtfully
Review junk handling and create rules for predictable, genuine messages. Check the result so an important enquiry is not silently hidden. A stricter filter can also catch legitimate mail, so more aggressive settings are not automatically better.
Protect the account
Keep a unique password and use the authentication options recommended by your provider. An unexpected sign-in alert or change to recovery details needs investigation. A public business contact address is not, by itself, proof that the account is compromised.
Be careful about abandoning an address
Changing an address can affect logins, password recovery, customers and invoices. Plan those dependencies first. An automatic reply publishing your new address can also disclose it to unwanted senders, and a new address is not a guarantee that spam will stop.
If you receive a suspicious email in the UK, the NCSC provides a reporting route. Do not send account credentials with a report. For business configuration questions, see our email security and deliverability service.
Sources and further reading
Guidance checked 26 October 2026: UK guidance on suspicious emails.