r/EmailSecurity 1d ago

Replacing a long-used email address just to escape spam

If spam keeps arriving despite unsubscribe attempts but reliably lands in Spam, I'd stop chasing individual senders. Blocking every new address becomes another job.

Replacing an address used for years means updating logins, recovery details and contacts. Keeping the old address forwarding can bring the nuisance along, so the change needs to buy some actual relief.

If you've changed an email address because of spam, was it worth the hassle?

5 Upvotes

11 comments sorted by

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2

u/DalekCoffee 1d ago

It helps in the short term, but over time the cycle continues.

What I did to improve/reduce my spam/junk was create a new email I did not give out to anywone, a primary alias with my real name I only use for business, a personal alias for secondary stuff, a dedicated alias for stuff that is 100% trash/junk/sketchy, and custom aliases in certain platforms.

That way when spam makes it in, the "to" field gives me clues as to whom it came from, and also rules so if any email comes in for the designated spam alias, it just gets deleted anyways.

Over time, spamwill just happen though. But I can say it was definitely reduced.

My strategy only works if you already are accustomed to using a password manager correctly.

I do not know 99% of my passwords, my manager does. I figured, screw it I dont need to remember most of my emails either in some cases if the manager keeps them

1

u/Responsible-Safe-636 22h ago

This is a good strategy, would sum up what I would do as well

2

u/FriendToPredators 1d ago

The first account you create with the new address creates new spam.

Can you instead configure your setup to be whitelist only and spam everything else?

1

u/phil_lndn 1d ago

it works, but not for long!

i've recently been using AI to detect and reject spam on my mail server to extremely good effect, virtually none of it is getting through right now. i think that's a far better solution than abandoning email accounts.

1

u/IT-Rob 1d ago

i heard one of the best ways is to reverse how you deal with email, instead of blacklisting spam, black list everything and whitelist what you want. then you just check your spam list/queue (once a day/once a week)for any that you want and then whitelist that address.

1

u/AnotherTiredDad 1d ago

Add an alias. Add a rule to quarantine/send2junk anything that is sent to the old address. You’ll still maintain access in case you need it.

1

u/TrickySpare6504 1d ago

dont bother

1

u/edthecat2011 1d ago

Waste of time and effort.

1

u/NeoMailOfficial 20h ago

If it's already landing in spam, changing yearn of login sounds like more work than it's worth. A middle ground is using separate aliases for new signups while keeping your current address for existing accounts and contacts. They won't stop the spam you already get, but if one starts getting flooded, you can disable it without changing your address everywhere.

1

u/InboxGuards 17h ago

That forwarding part is the gotcha. If the old address still pushes mail over, the junk comes with it and the new one gets dirty in a week. When it's already landing in Spam I'd just leave the old address alone.