How to Cancel Email Subscriptions

Sometimes, you may receive email subscriptions and email marketing messages that you do not recall signing up for, or that no longer interest you. Most email subscription services and marketing companies will allow you to cancel your subscription with them by clicking on an "Unsubscribe" or "Cancel Email Subscription" link in the body of emails you receive from them. Other services and companies may require you to take additional steps that involve visiting their website to complete the subscription cancellation process. There are also some third-party email management services that will unsubscribe your email address from subscriptions for you; however, in most cases you are required to pay for these types of services. Continue reading this article to learn about the different ways you can cancel the email subscriptions you no longer want to receive.

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Unsubscribe by Email

1. 1
   Locate the "Unsubscribe" link within the email subscription you want to cancel. In most cases, any email correspondence you receive in the form of subscriptions, newsletters, announcements, and more, can be cancelled by clicking on an "Unsubscribe" link included within the email.
   
   
   
   
   • Scroll to the bottom of any email you receive from the subscription service or company that you no longer want to receive correspondence from, and look for the "Unsubscribe" link.
   • Look for variations of the "Unsubscribe" link if you cannot initially locate it in the email. Sometimes this option will be titled as "Cancel Subscription," "Opt Out," or "Modify Email Preferences."
2. 2
   Unsubscribe from the email subscription using the "Unsubscribe" link.
   
   
   
   
   • Click directly on the "Unsubscribe" link within the email to cancel your subscription. In most cases, you will be redirected to a web page on that specific website domain that confirms your subscription has been cancelled.
   • Follow the website's on-screen prompts provided to you if additional steps to cancel the subscription are required. For example, some websites will require you to click on buttons marked "Opt Out" or "Cancel Subscription" to process the cancellation; whereas other websites will require you to enter the reason for cancellation or your email address.
3. 3
   Reply using "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. Some email subscriptions will instruct you to unsubscribe from mailings by replying to the sender, and entering "Unsubscribe" into the subject line.
   
   
   
   
   • Enter the unsubscribe command using the same format in which it is displayed within the body of the email subscription. This will ensure that you are successfully unsubscribed from the mailings. For example, if a subscription instructs you to enter "UNSUBSCRIBE" in all caps, reply to the email using the same format.

Third-Party Email Management Services

1. 1
   Use the services or software of a third-party email management company. There are many types of email management services and software designed for both individuals and businesses that can be used to manage and cancel email subscriptions.
   
   
   
   
   • Visit any Internet search engine, and enter keyword search phrases such as "email management service" or "email management software" to locate companies that manage email.
2. 2
   Verify that the software or service contains a feature that will cancel subscriptions. Examples of email management companies that will help cancel email subscriptions are "Unsubscribe" and "SendBlaster," both of which are featured in the Sources section of this article.
   
   
   
   
   • Review the terms, conditions, and services provided by each company to confirm that you will receive assistance in regards to email subscription cancellation.
3. 3
   Use the email management service to cancel your email subscriptions. You will be provided with directions or assistance in regards to ways you can accomplish this task upon signing up for the service.
   
   
   

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How to Avoid Cookie Hijacking

Cookie hijacking is the malicious use of browser cookies to steal your personal information. How do you avoid this?

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   Clear your cookies on a regular basis. This will log you out of all websites you are currently logged into, but it will remove all of the cookies on your computer. This also helps to keep your browser running smoothly.
   
   
   
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   Avoid signing up for / logging in to sites you don't trust. ALWAYS check the URL of the page you're logging in to to make sure you are on the real webpage.
   
   
   
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   If your computer begins to act strange, run a virus scan. This is a general rule.
   
   
   
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   If you suspect you have been cookie hijacked and some very valuable personal information is involved, such as a credit card number, notify the appropriate authorities.
   
   
   

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How to Avoid Internet Site Traps

With a perfusion of news stories about Internet scams, online stalkers, and identity theft, it's hard to feel safe online. However, there are some ways to avoid getting "trapped" by a questionable Internet site.

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1. 1
   Look at the URL . If you're looking for information or resources, sites that have a .com, .co.uk, .net, .org, or .edu ending are usually more reliable, and less likely to spam you.
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   Stick to reputable sites . Get recommendations from trusted friends, family or coworkers.
3. 3
   Familiarize yourself with common Internet scams and scam techniques.
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   Double check the details of anyone you meet online or any online businesses.
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   Don't give out personal information , especially sensitive information that could be used to identify you.
6. 6
   Avoid online purchases , unless it is with a credible company.

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How to Avoid Tabnabbing

Tabnabbing is a clever new phishing scam in which identity thieves take over a browser window (or tab) and trick you into giving them personal information. They gain access when you download their third-party script - such as through a widget - and once they are in they can literally transform an inactive tab into something that looks exactly like the login screen for an email, banking, social networking or other private account. If you return to that tab and log in, the thieves will see your password and now they can access your account. So what can you do?

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1. 1
   Change your security settings (this can usually be found by clicking the Tools link on your browser and then clicking the Options or Settings option) to warn you if you may be visiting a spoof site or a page that could be harmful to your computer.
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   If you see a warning, do not use that website.
3. 3
   Use an up-to-date antivirus.
4. 4
   Always enter the full URL of any website before you log in.

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How to Avoid Social Networking Scams

Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube allow you to keep in touch with friends and family, and stay connected with the social and cultural dialogues going on at any given moment. However, the sheer volume of people on these sites and the amount of information being exchanged every instant makes it a breeding ground for scams and con artists. Avoid social networking scams by being selective about who you invite into your network, and protective about the information you share about yourself, your family and your life.

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1. 1
   Regulate your privacy settings. Most social networks, such as Facebook, allow you to control who sees your information, photos and posts.
   • Think about who will be seeing the information you post. If your privacy settings are not controlled, you will be giving information about yourself out to anyone with access to the Internet.
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   Allow only people you know into your social network. Do not accept friendship or network requests from people you do not recognize.
   • Keep your network manageable. You probably do not need thousands of friends on Facebook and tens of thousands of followers on Twitter.
3. 3
   Watch what you post. Pictures of expensive cars, your enormous home and your pricey vacation getaways will only make you more attractive to scam artists.
   • Do not post personal information that can be used by others. Never mention your mother's maiden name or date of birth.
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   Avoid social networking content that asks you for personal information. Do not download any apps, take any quizzes or sign up for any coupons that ask for your date of birth, social security number or home address.
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   Delete links you cannot identify. Do not click on any link that is unfamiliar or comes from an unknown source. These could carry viruses or lead scammers to your personal information.
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   Refuse to engage in financial transactions on social networks. If you follow a favorite charity's Facebook page or Twitter feed, make your donations through their website, by phone or by mail.
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   Try not to access social networking sites on public computers. Use your own computer instead of the computers at libraries and other public places. Your login information can be stolen and used to post false things.
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   Change your password regularly. This will help protect you from getting hacked.
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   Be cautious. Do not trust requests for help that come to you over social networks. If the plea for money or assistance comes from a friend, call or text that person to find out if they are really in need of help.
10. 10
    Educate your children on the dangers of social networking scams. Many young users are more computer savvy than you are, but they know little about identity theft and digital scams.
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    Make sure your security software and firewalls are up to date. Use a good virus protection plan for your computer as well.
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    Remember that your mobile phone can be susceptible to scam artists as well. Do not answer texts or messages from numbers you do not recognize

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How to Block Spyware

Spyware refers to software that is installed on a computer without knowledge of the user. It can be used to track and monitor computer use to send to third parties for marketing purposes. Spyware programs can be a nuisance, as they can take up computer processing capacity, collect personal information and send pop up advertisements without permission. Through key loggers or taking screen captures or scanning hard drives, spyware can maliciously take personal information for criminal gain. There are several steps you can take to block spyware from your computer.

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   Be careful when you download. Knowing what you are downloading and from what site is an important measure when it comes to blocking spyware. Many spyware programs are downloaded unknowingly when you download other software. You should always read the End User License Agreement as sometimes spyware programs are allowed access through third party advertisements when you click to accept the software you are downloading.
   
   
   
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   Avoid peer-to-peer file sharing. This is another common way for spyware to enter your computer. Peer-to-peer file sharing is risky, as the content of the other person’s computer is unknown and viruses and spyware can be spread this way. The best way to block spyware is to prevent possibilities for it to get on your computer.
   
   
   
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   Use add-ons on your Internet browser. Internet browsers such as Firefox, Opera or Internet Explorer have add-ons that block pop up ads from appearing while you surf. This is also another important measure in preventing spyware, as clicking on pop up ads can inadvertently lead to spyware downloads on your computer.
   
   
   
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   Install anti-spyware software.
   
   
   
   • Read reviews on anti-spyware software. Descriptions and user reviews are posted on many consumer reviews sites. One of the things you will want to consider in your search for an anti-spyware software is the scanning speed, which is how quickly it can scan through your entire hard drive to detect spyware and viruses. You will want to compare accuracy, which is the software’s ability to filter out legitimate programs versus actual spyware sites or programs. You will also want to know how frequently the software updates their software when there are known new spyware and virus attacks and consider the technical support offered with your anti-spyware software.
   • Find freeware or shareware. There are a number of freeware and shareware sites that offer free anti-spyware. These will be more limited than commercial software programs, but can provide you with adequate protection from spyware. Make sure that the site that you downloading from is reputable.
   • Buy commercial software. Alternatively, you can buy commercial anti-spyware software. Most commercial anti-spyware software is bundled with anti-virus software programs.
   • Check for updates frequently. Even with anti-spyware software installed on your computer, you will want to check periodically for updates from the software manufacturer as new spyware and adware viruses are developed. These updates will protect you from the latest spyware programs.
5. 5
   Keep your operating system up to date. Keeping your computer’s operating system up-to-date is important in preventing spyware or viruses from your computer. Operating system security patches are released often from the manufacturers that can fix holes in your system that hackers and spyware can break through. Make sure that your operating system is the latest version released from the manufacturer. Most operating systems will automatically check for updates periodically.
   
   
   
6. 6
   Control which memory devices can connect to a workstation. Block USB Memory Sticks, eSATA Drives, USB 3.0, DVD or CD Write. Any Memory storage device.
   
   
   

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