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During the holidays, you can expect a significant increase in spam emails, especially if you Online shopping. But it may be worse than you thought.
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On Wednesday, it launched Proton, an encrypted email service Spam Monitoring Reportwhich audited marketing emails sent over a 28-day period, including the Black Friday weekend. The report showed that 80% of retailers include hidden trackers in their marketing emails that tell them whether you open the email, what device you use to view it, and if you click on any of the links. If you open one of these emails, you’re setting yourself up for more spam.
The report raises questions about Consumer privacy And how retailers use our data.
Look for embedded tracking links
Proton has created an inbox specifically to capture marketing emails between November 4th and December 1st. Before the email is displayed, it is passed through Proton Mail’s servers, which scan the message code against a database known to detect domains and pixel signatures. Proton has also used its Enhanced Tracking Protection feature to prevent retailers from collecting additional information. They examined 50 of the largest retailers with online and brick-and-mortar locations, analyzing the timestamp, sender, subject line, and whether that email carried a tracking link or embedded pixel.
Proton’s researchers combined data with the number of loyalty program members, the market share of each retailer in the U.S., and the number of emails sent by similar retailers. Broughton divided these companies into four groups. The retailers I call “the worst of the worst” are the ones that email the most frequently and include the most tracking links. Some stores have actually managed to not bombard their customers with emails containing trackers, with Proton calling them the “most respectful” senders.
Specific stores and where they are rated
The worst on the list included CB2, Anthropologie, Victoria’s Secret, VS Pink, and Crate & Barrel.
“These brands represent the highest daily frequency across the full study window – and are the ones that are constantly competing for attention,” the study noted.
But Nike, Bass Pro Shops, H&M, New Balance and Burlington scored in the most respectable group, sending no emails with trackers during the time Proton was monitoring the email.
“The spam monitoring findings underscore a harsh reality: the inbox has become a high-volume, high-noise channel where brands battle for attention while silently collecting data on every open,” Anant Vijay Singh, head of product at Proton Mail, said in a statement. “This is no accident – it is a planned assault on your attention and privacy.”
Do this to reduce spam emails
Keeping your private data from third parties is a real concern for many people. This latest report supports consumer concerns about how to do this Companies use their personal data.
In some cases, to protect yourself, you can choose to do so Data removal services Like Uberti.
You can reduce unwanted marketing emails by using email protection services similar to Duck, duck, go Or — yes, the company that conducted the study — Proton.
iPhone users who pay for iCloud Plus can access Hide my email featurewhich can also help reduce spam.