Latest news with #unsubscribe
Android Authority
9 hours ago
- Business
- Android Authority
Google Messages just pulled the plug on its new unsubscribe button for some users
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Google is removing a new Messages feature that made it easier to unsubscribe from automated business texts for users in the U.S. and Spain. The feature added a prominent unsubscribe button to chats, which sent a 'STOP' command for the user after they provided a reason for unsubscribing. It's unclear why the feature is being removed only in the U.S. and Spain but not other countries. Businesses, charities, and political campaigns send millions of automated text messages daily. While many find these messages useful, others view them as unwanted clutter. In April, Google Messages introduced a feature to help users easily unsubscribe from these texts, but the company is already sunsetting it for users in some countries. I first spotted the feature in early April as a new prompt at the bottom of my chats with businesses, which asked if I wanted to 'unsubscribe to stop receiving messages.' Tapping the button launched a confirmation sheet asking for a reason, after which the Google Messages app would send a 'STOP' command on my behalf. This feature was particularly helpful because, while many services let you opt-out by replying 'STOP,' not all users are aware of this option, especially when it isn't explicitly mentioned in the messages. By adding a persistent unsubscribe button, Google made the opt-out process much more discoverable. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority Some businesses may not have been pleased with the change, however, as Google has now announced it is reverting it for users in the U.S. and Spain. For users in both countries, the unsubscribe option will disappear from the bottom of chats with businesses using RCS. In the U.S., it will also be removed from the bottom of SMS/MMS chats from businesses using short codes, though it will remain in the context menu. For users in Spain, however, the option will be removed entirely from RCS business chats, including from the context menu. According to Google, businesses will still receive unsubscribe requests from users on Google Messages versions older than 20250518.01. This implies the feature was removed in version 20250518.01 and later, so the button may already be gone if you're on a recent update. I can confirm it is already missing for me in the U.S. The targeted removal in the U.S. and Spain — while the feature remains in Brazil, France, Germany, India, Mexico, and the UK — suggests its reversal is not due to a bug. It's possible the change was prompted by an uptick in complaints from businesses that saw a surge in users unsubscribing once the option became more prominent, but we can't say for sure. Another possibility is that users complained about the button causing them to inadvertently unsubscribe from important updates, as one user pointed out in the comments of our previous post. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Entrepreneur
a day ago
- Entrepreneur
Hitting 'Unsubscribe' to Annoying Emails Isn't Safe Anymore
Hitting "unsubscribe" from an email list seems simple enough. Except, rarely does it ever fully work — we all know we'll be unsubscribing from that same list in a year. Too bad that's no longer the biggest worry. Hitting the leave-me-alone box is now a security risk. Hackers are using the "unsubscribe" button as a means to get you to click and capture your personal information. Related: 'Juice Jacking': TSA Warns Air Travelers to Protect Themselves from This Growing Security Scam TK Keanini, chief technology officer at DNSFilter, told the Wall Street Journal earlier this month that clicking the unsubscribe link can lead to phishing scams and security issues. In fact, DNSFilter estimates that one out of every 644 unsubscribe clicks leads to a "potentially malicious website." There are several ways this can affect an unsuspecting email user. The lowest risk is that hackers now know you are an active email with a person behind it. This will most likely lead to scammers building a file on you to make you are future target for ransomware attacks, getting you to shop on fake websites, or sending you malware. Worst case, the unsubscribe link exposes your device to malware immediately, but one expert told The Journal that it is not the best tactic, fortunately. Too many things would need to align, they said, including that the browser has a vulnerabilty. Related: Instagram's CEO Says He 'Experienced a Sophisticated Phishing Attack' With Google This Week Still, the best way to fight back, experts told The Journal, is to use Apple's "Hide My Email" feature, if you are an Apple customer, or send the emails to spam without hitting unsubscribe. You can also set up a free Gmail or other email account specifically for shopping, newsletters, and spam.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Cybersecurity experts issue urgent warning over clicking the 'unsubscribe' button in emails
Nobody likes to see their email inbox flooded with hundreds of pieces of junk mail and spam. But cybersecurity experts warn that unsubscribing from all those annoying mailing lists could be putting you at serious risk. Experts say that hackers are now using fake 'unsubscribe' buttons to steal your passwords and personal information. At least one in every 644 subscription links can actually lead to a malicious website, according to an analysis by DNSFilter. That might not sound like a large amount, but with spam emails making up around 45 per cent of all emails worldwide, that translates into a lot of dangerous links. Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at ESET, told MailOnline: 'Criminals use links to lure in their victims and will sometimes cleverly place fake unsubscribe links in their emails to trick recipients into clicking on them. 'But not only will this confirm that the email address is active, making it a target for more scams, it could also redirect someone to a fake website in an attempt to collect personal details or login information. 'In extreme cases, it could even automatically download malicious software onto the device without the person's knowledge too.' Since 2003, most businesses sending marketing emails to UK customers have been required by law to tell recipients how to opt out of future messages. Typically, this takes the form of an 'unsubscribe' link at the bottom of the email which redirects the user to a website where they can opt out of the mailing list. What makes this risky from a cybersecurity perspective is that, by clicking the link, you are leaving the protected environment of your email client and entering the open web. Here, you are a lot less protected from malicious attacks and criminals have a lot more ways of getting to your valuable data. In the least dangerous scenario, clicking this link simply tells the sender that your email address is active and that you are checking your messages. Mr Moore says: 'In most cases it will actually increase spam by confirming a live email address and that they actively read their emails. However, in more serious cases, these fake links can have much bigger consequences. As Mr Moore points out, you might be redirected to a 'phishing' website. Experts say that criminals are using these links to lure their victims onto malicious web pages where they can steal their data (stock image) How to unsubscribe safely If spam emails are clogging up your inbox and you don't trust the unsubscribe link, there are safer ways to opt-out. One option is to directly unsubscribe through your email client using a button which should appear at the top of the email. For example, if you open an email in Gmail, you should see a blue 'unsubscribe button' at the top of the page next to the sender's address. Since these links are generated by your email client, they won't contain malicious code and should be safe. If this option doesn't appear you can also use your email filters to avoid getting any more emails from the sender without unsubscribing. These pages can be cleverly designed to look like the websites of legitimate businesses but are entirely designed to harvest your data. For example, you might be asked to 'confirm your identity' by providing details such as your name and phone number, which can help hackers attempt more sophisticated attacks. Alternatively, the hackers might try to steal your passwords by asking you to 'log in' in order to opt out of further emails. In order to avoid these attacks, it is important to bear in mind that you can't trust everything that arrives in your email inbox. Tim Keanini, DNSFilter CTO, told The Wall Street Journal: 'Trust is relative. I trust my email client, but I don't trust what's inside the email.' That means you shouldn't click on any links in an email if you don't 100 per cent trust the person sending it to you. Mr Moore adds: 'Generally, messages that try to create panic or some sort of urgency are deemed ones to look out for as this is still a direct tactic used by criminals to entice a reaction.' 'If the email looks suspicious, it's best to avoid clicking anything in it at all.' But if the spam emails are clogging up your inbox and you don't trust the unsubscribe link, there are safer ways to opt-out. One option is to directly unsubscribe through your email client using a button which should appear at the top of the email. For example, if you open an email in Gmail, you should see a blue 'unsubscribe button' at the top of the page next to the sender's address. Since these links are generated by your email client, they won't contain any malicious code and should be safe to click. If this option doesn't appear you can also use your email filters to avoid getting any more emails from the sender without unsubscribing. Mr Moore says: 'It's generally safer to mark the email as spam or junk using the email provider's tools which helps filter similar messages in the future. 'People can also block the sender entirely too, if they feel that isn't working.' By doing this, you can keep your inbox clear of junk without needing to follow any potentially risky links. Have I Been Pwned? Cybersecurity expert and Microsoft regional director Tory Hunt runs 'Have I Been Pwned'. The website lets you check whether your email has been compromised as part of any of the data breaches that have happened. If your email address pops up you should change your password. Pwned Passwords To check if your password may have been exposed in a previous data breach, go to the site's homepage and enter your email address. The search tool will check it against the details of historical data breaches that made this information publicly visible. If your password does pop up, you're likely at a greater risk of being exposed to hack attacks, fraud and other cybercrimes. Mr Hunt built the site to help people check whether or not the password they'd like to use was on a list of known breached passwords. The site does not store your password next to any personally identifiable data and every password is encrypted Other Safety Tips Hunt provides three easy-to-follow steps for better online security. First, he recommends using a password manager, such as 1Password, to create and save unique passwords for each service you use. Next, enable two-factor authentication. Lastly, keep abreast of any breaches
Wall Street Journal
10-06-2025
- General
- Wall Street Journal
Think Twice Before You Click ‘Unsubscribe'
There are times when your inbox probably feels like it is under siege, with dozens of emails flooding in daily, offering everything from last-minute travel deals to questionable crypto advice. Nearly every email ends with the same invitation: Click here to unsubscribe. Before you do, however, consider this: While we've long been told that 'unsubscribe' is a simple and safe way to get off email lists we never signed up for or no longer care about, that isn't always the case. In fact, cybersecurity experts warn that in many instances, clicking that link might do more harm than good.
Phone Arena
11-05-2025
- Phone Arena
List reveals which subscription-based apps subscribers want to stop paying for
Some people end up signing up for online services for their mobile devices that they forget about and never use. That's why there are services that go through your list of subscrioptions and help you unsubscribe from them. Others turn to Google Search and seek information on how to cancel a subscription. Some are so fed up with an app that they not only want to cancel their subscription, they also want it deleted from their device as though it never existed in the first place. Sparrow, a service that helps you file claims with courts related to class-action lawsuits, put together a list of the apps that subscribers are the most desperate to unsubscribe from. The list was created by searching keyword data for words and phrases like "unsubscribe," "delete," "cancel," and "cancel subscription." Looking at the monthly total search volume for these words, a list was created that shows which subscription apps users want to get rid of ASAP. Topping the list with 578,000 searches related to cancellation each month is Amazon Prime. The latter had 45% more cancellation-related searches than the runner-up, Disney Plus. The streaming service from the House of Mouse generates close to 398,000 cancellation-related searches each month. The list looks like this: Amazon Prime (578K total monthly cancellation searches)-this app is the subject of 447,000 searches for "Cancel" each month. Disney Plus (397.7K)-this app has the highest monthly search for "cancel subscription" with an average of 79,000. Hulu (149.7K)-received 113,000 searches each month from subscribers trying to find out how to cancel the service. Snapchat (143.6K)-with 143,000 searches for delete each month, subscribers want to do more than just stop paying for the app. Paramount (139.4K)-in a competitive streaming industry, this app generates 106,000 monthly searches for "cancel." Audible (136.9K)-is the only audio-related subscription service in the top ten. Peacock (106.7K)-the video streamer receives 27,000 "cancel subscription" searches on average, each month. TikTok (101.7K)-with 101,000 monthly searches for "delete," this is another app that those leaving the service want removed from their device. Spotify (95.1K)-brings in a balance of "cancel" and "delete" search requests monthly. Netflix (93.1K)-with fewer "cancel subscription" searches than the competition, Netflix is in a good place among video streamers. Of course, some of these apps are among the most installed. After all, you can't be among the apps getting the most search requests related to cancelling service unless you have a large number of subscribers in the first place.
