Spam

Spam refers to unwanted messages sent in bulk, classically by email but also via SMS, messengers, or comments. Often it's just annoying advertising, but spam is also a common carrier for phishing ✕ Phishing is fraudulent messages that impersonate a trusted sender (like a bank or courier) to trick you into handing over passwords or login details. More in the glossary → attempts, fraud, or attachments laced with malware ✕ Malware (from "malicious software") is the umbrella term for any harmful software — viruses, trojans, ransomware, spyware — that damages, spies on, or hijacks devices. More in the glossary → . It's frequently sent through botnets of hijacked devices. Spam filters in email services and security programs automatically sort out most of it; with suspicious messages, the rule is not to click links or attachments. More on protection in the best antivirus comparison.