20 Words That Kill - At Least When It Comes to Spam Filters
In today's digital age, email has revolutionized the way we communicate, both personally and professionally. However, with the widespread use of email has come the equally widespread problem of spam. Spam is unwanted, unsolicited emails sent in bulk to a large number of recipients. Spam can be annoying, time-consuming, and sometimes even harmful. As a result, spam filters have become a crucial tool to filter out unwanted emails and prevent them from reaching our inboxes.
What is a spam filter, and how does it work? A spam filter is software or a service that scans incoming emails and uses predefined rules or machine learning algorithms to determine whether an email is spam or not. Spam filters use a variety of criteria to make this determination, such as the sender's reputation, content, subject line, headers, and more. Based on these criteria, the spam filter assigns an email a spam score to determine whether it should be delivered to the inbox, spam folder, or blocked altogether.
Spam filters are essential in protecting our inboxes from unwanted emails, but they are not perfect. Spammers are constantly developing new tactics to bypass spam filters and deliver their messages to our inboxes. One of the most common tactics used by spammers is to include certain keywords or phrases in their emails that trigger spam filters. These keywords are known as "20 words that kill" because they are likely to cause an email to be marked as spam.
What are the 20 words that kill when it comes to spam filters? Here are some of the most common ones:
1. Free - Everyone loves free stuff, but spammers often use this word to entice people to click on their links or download their attachments. Emails that promise "free" money, products, or services are likely to get flagged as spam.
2. Cheap - Similarly, emails that promise "cheap" products or services are often associated with spam.
3. Guarantee - Spammers often use this word to make their offers seem more trustworthy. However, emails that claim to offer a "guarantee" are likely to be flagged as spam.
4. Cash - Emails that promise "cash" or "earnings" often sound too good to be true and are likely to be associated with spam.
5. Urgent - Spammers often use urgency to try to get people to click on their links or take action. However, emails that use the word "urgent" are likely to be flagged as spam.
6. Act now - Similar to "urgent," emails that tell people to "act now" or "don't miss out" are often associated with spam and are likely to be flagged.
7. Limited time - This phrase is often used by spammers to create a sense of urgency and encourage people to take action quickly. However, emails that use this phrase are likely to be flagged as spam.
8. Incredible - Emails that make incredible or unbelievable claims are often associated with spam and are likely to be flagged.
9. Double your - Spammers often use this phrase when trying to get people to click on a link or take action. However, emails that promise to "double your" money or other assets are likely to be flagged as spam.
10. Effective - Similar to "guarantee," spammers may use the word "effective" to try to make their offers seem more trustworthy. However, emails that use this word are likely to be flagged as spam.
11. Congratulations - Emails that begin with "congratulations" are often associated with spam and are likely to be flagged.
12. Discount - Emails that promise a "discount" or "special offer" are often associated with spam and are likely to be flagged.
13. Credit - Spammers often use this word to try to get people to click on their links or take action. However, emails that promise "credit repair" or other financial services are likely to be flagged as spam.
14. Viagra - This word is often used by spammers to promote unapproved pharmaceuticals. Emails that mention "Viagra" or other prescription drugs are likely to be flagged as spam.
15. Weight loss - Similar to "Viagra," spammers often use this phrase to promote weight loss supplements or other unapproved products. Emails that mention "weight loss" or other health-related claims are likely to be flagged as spam.
16. Investment - Spammers often use this word to try to get people to invest in something. However, emails that mention "investment opportunities" or other financial services are likely to be flagged as spam.
17. Mortgage - Similarly, spammers often use the word "mortgage" to promote various financial services. Emails that mention "mortgage rates" or other related topics are likely to be flagged as spam.
18. Refinance - Similar to "mortgage," emails that mention "refinance" or other financial terms are likely to be flagged as spam.
19. Multi-level marketing - Spammers often use this phrase to promote various pyramid schemes. Emails that mention "multi-level marketing" or other similar terms are likely to be flagged as spam.
20. Make money - Finally, emails that promise to help people "make money" or "earn money" are often associated with spam and are likely to be flagged.
In conclusion, spam filters are essential in protecting our inboxes from unwanted emails, but they are not perfect. Spammers are constantly developing new tactics to bypass spam filters, and including certain keywords or phrases in their emails is one of them. The 20 words that kill when it comes to spam filters are common tactics used by spammers to bypass these filters. As email users, it's essential that we remain vigilant and aware of these tactics to protect ourselves from unwanted and potentially harmful emails.