Help with blocking unwanted E-Mails

[Kenny99]

Need help with creating a "RULE" to block e-mails with address like (GvJkb.bTl3Tlb@CDFkNwk69D93.JrkK597C.net) and 9SOPS4-e0KzZqf8dA20@u7pKlvw4736.NtTURKBDa3261.f.net). with MAC Mail. I have "Unsubscribe" multiple times but still getting them. Yes I can block them individually but I have over 200 and counting already blocked.
I have tried using wildcards ( *@.*.JrkK597C.net) and similar ones with no luck.

I think these are coming from News articles as I don't click on anything else from any Social media sites. It only takes a second for them to capture your email address and 10 days to Inscribe if ever.

 

[LinMac]

I don't get to post this much, but you're doing it wrong. All of it.

Spam email is a lot like spam phone calls. Online scam protection can be related to phone scam protection. Don't call the number you get in the voicemail. Call the number on the back of your card. Don't click the link in the email. Check their website directly via Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo. Not too hard.

First, you never click the Unsubscribe button in a spam email.

If it is from a legitimate merchant that you know of or made a purchase from, you can go ahead. Unsubscribe. They may send you one or two more emails, but they will stop. Spam email is different. It's like junk phone calls. They don't respect you asking to be removed from the list. The calls will just increase once they realize your number is valid and answers.

Second, you can't just block them on your device one at a time.

Do you think you can block all the junk phone numbers that call you and not get more different calls from different numbers? Same applies to email. You need a better filter to stop them from coming through. That is usually done at the server/provider level instead of in software on your device/Macbook. Check for things like Spam Assassin or similar spam settings.

Third, adopt strategies for high value email.

Some people use email labels like in Gmail. Some others use a separate "high value" email address that is only used for banking, insurance, and similar never being used for retail purchases or emailing mom. It's up to you. Desktop email software like Mozilla Thunderbird (from the makers of Firefox) can handle many email addresses at once.

 

[Fishrrman]

Sometimes this might be handled by going directly to your ISP's web page for email and checking your spam options THERE (rather than using Mail.app).
The idea is to deal with the junk "at the server level", instead of waiting for it to get to your Mac.

Having said that, some ISP's and email providers are better at filtering out the spam than are others.

Trying to create "rules" for messages with sender "addresses" like those examples you've provided is nothing more than an exercise in frustration, because the numbers/letters will probably change randomly in every one. The rule you create will never actually be needed or used.

 

[Kenny99]

I don't get to post this much, but you're doing it wrong. All of it.

Spam email is a lot like spam phone calls. Online scam protection can be related to phone scam protection. Don't call the number you get in the voicemail. Call the number on the back of your card. Don't click the link in the email. Check their website directly via Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo. Not too hard.

First, you never click the Unsubscribe button in a spam email.

If it is from a legitimate merchant that you know of or made a purchase from, you can go ahead. Unsubscribe. They may send you one or two more emails, but they will stop. Spam email is different. It's like junk phone calls. They don't respect you asking to be removed from the list. The calls will just increase once they realize your number is valid and answers.

Second, you can't just block them on your device one at a time.

Do you think you can block all the junk phone numbers that call you and not get more different calls from different numbers? Same applies to email. You need a better filter to stop them from coming through. That is usually done at the server/provider level instead of in software on your device/Macbook. Check for things like Spam Assassin or similar spam settings.

Third, adopt strategies for high value email.

Some people use email labels like in Gmail. Some others use a separate "high value" email address that is only used for banking, insurance, and similar never being used for retail purchases or emailing mom. It's up to you. Desktop email software like Mozilla Thunderbird (from the makers of Firefox) can handle many email addresses at once.

Yes doing all of that. I did fall for the "Unsubscribe" so will half to deal with that for a while. My service providers email is less than useless as all it has is "Mark as Spam" or block the address as in MAC Mail. I have had this email address for years so adding a "High Value" one would be job. I think they are even getting through to my main email through the few Alias that I have. Thanks for the response.

 

[LinMac]

Today is the day you can correct all the mistakes you've made. Let's go through a few potential ones people make.

1) You're probably using an email provider that isn't the best.

There are a myriad of different options. You can buy a domain name and host your email with a provider. You could research privacy oriented email and avoid being identified by domain. It's entirely up to you.

The key here is: Pay for your email service.

To find a few options, let's use the /r/privacy wiki on reddit and Privacy Guides they link to. Under the Email Services section, you'll see some different ones listed

Why buy email service? Unlike the many people posting here about losing their accounts to hacks, they have customer service you can call/email for help.

You also get premium features and additional controls/options not available at free providers.

2) When is the last time you backed up your data?

Remember, If there is only one copy, It's not backed up.

You can look on websites like Slickdeals to find discount portable HDDs or SSDs for local backups. In addition to that, Privacy Guides has a list of Cloud Services that provide robust encryption. You can store your data however you feel best. Make sure you have the copy on your computer, an additional copy for quick backups, and another copy for backup. One copy is not a backup. Some recommend using Carbon Copy Cloner instead of Time Machine.

3) When was the last time you updated your networking equipment?

If you have WiFi Extenders, your own WiFi Router, or several like an Orbi mesh, they need to be regularly updated. Make sure they are fully updated/rebooted.

4) Are you blocking your ads effectively?

Using Safari can leave you with ads, fortunately there are a variety of options. For a pure Apple experience staying with Safari, Adguard for Safari is a good start. You might also consider looking at Brave Browser.

For iOS, Adguard or AdGuard Pro can be worth it too. The extra Block Youtube Ads feature is worth it and works most of the time.

5) Is your Mac secure against known malware?

If you're not completely sure, Malwarebytes can be a quick way to make sure. It's compatible with even old MacOS versions that don't get updates anymore.

 

[Kenny99]

Today is the day you can correct all the mistakes you've made. Let's go through a few potential ones people make.

1) You're probably using an email provider that isn't the best.

There are a myriad of different options. You can buy a domain name and host your email with a provider. You could research privacy oriented email and avoid being identified by domain. It's entirely up to you.

The key here is: Pay for your email service.

To find a few options, let's use the /r/privacy wiki on reddit and Privacy Guides they link to. Under the Email Services section, you'll see some different ones listed

Why buy email service? Unlike the many people posting here about losing their accounts to hacks, they have customer service you can call/email for help.

You also get premium features and additional controls/options not available at free providers.

2) When is the last time you backed up your data?

Remember, If there is only one copy, It's not backed up.

You can look on websites like Slickdeals to find discount portable HDDs or SSDs for local backups. In addition to that, Privacy Guides has a list of Cloud Services that provide robust encryption. You can store your data however you feel best. Make sure you have the copy on your computer, an additional copy for quick backups, and another copy for backup. One copy is not a backup. Some recommend using Carbon Copy Cloner instead of Time Machine.

3) When was the last time you updated your networking equipment?

If you have WiFi Extenders, your own WiFi Router, or several like an Orbi mesh, they need to be regularly updated. Make sure they are fully updated/rebooted.

4) Are you blocking your ads effectively?

Using Safari can leave you with ads, fortunately there are a variety of options. For a pure Apple experience staying with Safari, Adguard for Safari is a good start. You might also consider looking at Brave Browser.

For iOS, Adguard or AdGuard Pro can be worth it too. The extra Block Youtube Ads feature is worth it and works most of the time.

5) Is your Mac secure against known malware?

If you're not completely sure, Malwarebytes can be a quick way to make sure. It's compatible with even old MacOS versions that don't get updates anymore.

Since you took the time to respond to me I'll answer. I understand that knowing someone's background and experience is sometimes hard to guess at. Been there and done that.
This is a HOME system used for light computing and internet. My long time (+10yr) service provider is Spectrum / Charter. I am using their email (yes it is very basic with little spam filtering) but I don't feel that I want to PAY again for another email provider or change provider with what all that would include) Wonder how long that would last before getting all of this again?
All of my equipment is within one version of the latest. (iPad, iPhone 14 Pros, MAC Mini M1, latest router from Spectrum and verified latest updates.
Backups are secluded (again Apple) and all of my personal and photo files are backed up to stand-alone HD's that are removed from the MAC when backups are completed. The MAC Mini is on Cat6 Gig ethernet, (3ft from my router) Yes I am running an Add Blocker in Safari. Don't want get into the Virus / malware discussion for MAC's. (I believe in the "If in bought DON'T)
I do clean installs of the OS after formatting HD once a year or when a public release of the latest OS is released.
As I said in the original post "I think these are coming from News articles as I don't click on anything else from any Social media sites. It only takes a second for them to capture your email address and 10 days to unscribe if ever."
***I have started checking on where the News articles are coming from before electing them for reading.***
I have gone through my deleted e-mails and all the address that these are being sent to are my primary address or my phone number. (Yes I block unknown numbers and never answer those calls) They are Not from my Alias email address.

I take reasonable precautions, Don't use the "order ahead" apps for fast food of give out my phone number for email address to retail stores. Just remember that while you are working 40-50 hr. a week to make a living, someone else is working just a hard trying to take it away from you

Thanks again for your response.

 

[LinMac]

The posts are written for a general audience. If it doesn't apply to you, no worries.

Email spam should be treated like telephone spam. You can't just block the spam calls and you can't change your phone number to escape the spam calls. You need additional filters and resources to help. Sometimes your provider has them, but as you've mentioned they aren't always the best. That's why premium products like Robokiller on iOS are so popular as a paid option. Some people want to stop the spam calls enough to pay.

Let's look at mailbox.org's filtering options as an example. Greylisting, SMTP Plausibility check, Real-time Blacklists (RBL), Executable attachment block, and a Content Spam Filter for you to toggle and adjust for your needs.

The spammers can't discover your email address and bypass the layers of spam checks. They also can't pray to the Spam God for divine intervention allowing them passed the different checks.

The idea of layered security applies everywhere. For MacOS, it's robust, but it's not perfect. Nothing is when you have users. That's why we reduce attack surface and mitigate potential exploits. A robust adblocker with a long list of blocks goes a long way. Malwarebytes and similar like ESET support a wide variety of MacOS versions and help stop zero day drive by download zero click style attacks. That's why I mention the networking equipment. Several cable providers were hacked at the modem level. That gave someone control of your network from the ISP side and the ability to route/tamper with your traffic. When they hack your modem, that's when things get tricky.

Don't call into the trap of "I won't have a problem because I haven't had a problem".