Most of us receive a lot of promotional or unwanted emails every day. These can be from online stores, newsletters, or services we may not even remember signing up for. When our inbox gets too full, the natural reaction is to click the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of these emails to stop receiving them. But Cybersecurity experts warn that clicking such links without thinking can actually put your personal information at risk.

Clicking an unsubscribe link, especially from an unknown or suspicious email, might seem harmless, but it can confirm to hackers that your email address is active and being checked regularly. This is called email validation. Once cybercriminals know your email is valid, they can use it for further attacks like phishing (tricking you into giving your passwords), social engineering (pretending to be someone you trust), or even selling your email on the dark web to spammers.

Another big risk is that the unsubscribe link might not lead to a safe page. It could redirect you to a fake website that looks real but is designed to steal your login credentials or install malware on your computer or phone. Malware can seriously harm your device or allow hackers to take control of it, access your personal files, or demand money through ransomware.

Some legitimate companies use something called a “List-Unsubscribe” header, which allows your email service (like Gmail or Outlook) to safely process unsubscribe requests. This is much safer than clicking links inside the email itself because the action is handled securely by your email client.

To stay safe, it’s important to be cautious and avoid clicking on unsubscribe links from emails that look suspicious or come from unknown sources. Instead, you can use safer methods like marking the email as spam or blocking the sender. Also, when signing up for websites or services you don’t fully trust, use a disposable or alternate email address. This helps keep your main inbox safe and reduces the chances of becoming a target.

By being alert and careful with how you handle emails, especially when unsubscribing, you can protect yourself from identity theft, malware infections, and other online threats.