Spam and phishing, what's the difference?

It is useful to know how spam emails differ from each other: advertising emails are harmless (at most annoying), but phishing can hurt your wallet!

 

Just annoying or also dangerous?

Spam is a collective term for all e-mails that are unwanted. It is useful to make a distinction within this. There are messages that can cause irritation but are otherwise harmless, and e-mails that can cause damage. Below we briefly describe the most common spam messages.

 

Unwanted advertising

Not dangerous, but very annoying. Sometimes you sign up for advertising emails, consciously or unconsciously. For example, after you have ordered something from a web shop. When paying, you miss a checkbox that will allow you to receive newsletters full of offers. No matter how annoying: these emails are otherwise harmless. And you can unsubscribe from them. But advertising emails can also be sent unsolicited. In such a case, your email address has fallen into the hands of spammers who send out large quantities of emails. These messages are generally flashy, elaborately designed and are characterised by sloppy language. And they are often written in a different language. Delete these messages. Unsubscribing from is not wise for. Spammers then know that emails to your email address are really read and will send even more annoying emails. These emails are also otherwise harmless.

 

Phishing

Phishing emails are not only annoying, they are also really dangerous. Criminals fish for your login, bank and personal details, in order to steal your money. The scum simply lures you to a fake website via a link. There they tempt you to fill in your details and then your bank account is plundered! So if in doubt, do not click on a link!!! A detailed explanation of what phishing exactly is and how you can prevent it can be found in this article: ' What is phishing? '.

 

Begging emails

A variation on phishing emails are begging emails. These contain a sad story. If you would please transfer money via the bank.

 

Emails with attachments

Emails with an attachment deserve special attention. The attachment is a perfect place for criminals to hide malicious software. Recipients open the attachment, and if they are not careful, they install a malicious program without being noticed. This type of malicious software is also called Malware.

 

Fake contests

A fake contest is an email that makes it look like you have won a prize or gift voucher. Often large companies such as Albert Heijn, Ikea, Center Parcs or Nespresso are used as sender. Who wouldn't want to win a weekend away, for example? Of course you will never get that prize, they are only after your personal data. Phishing, as we described a few paragraphs back.