Calendar Spam: What It Is and How to Get Rid of It
Have you ever been bombarded with unwanted calendar invitations on your mobile device? You’re not alone. Calendar spam and scams are a growing problem that plagues all device platforms. As with other types of spam, the goal is to get you to click on a malicious link or take some other harmful action.
The spammer doesn’t have to hack your device or infect it with a virus. It’s a simple matter of sending an email to the address linked to your calendar account. By default, calendar applications accept invitations from anyone. If the spammer can get past content filters, the invitation will wind up in your inbox.
Another technique hackers use is to embed calendar subscriptions in ads and questionable websites. They lure you into clicking a link that populates your calendar with spam events. Suddenly, you’re getting bombarded by alerts.
Calendar spam is similar to other types of unwanted messages. The message may claim that you’re due a financial windfall or promise “free” items if you click on the link. Some warn you that your device has been infected by viruses and you should click on the link to remove them.
Don’t do what the hacker tells you to do. Do this instead:
Stay vigilant when clicking on something online, even if it’s a seemingly legitimate ad or website. If it seems at all suspicious, don’t click.
Resist the urge to open, accept or decline a calendar spam invitation. This will let the spammers know they’ve reached an active email account. Delete the message or move it to the Junk folder.
Whatever you do, don’t click on links within calendar spam messages. They could launch malware or take you to a phishing site.
Change the calendar settings on your device to remove unwanted subscriptions and prevent events from being added automatically. There are online tutorials that walk you through the process.
If you receive calendar spam through your work email, contact the help desk. The IT team can use the information to fine-tune security settings.