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Silicon Valley spooks the AI safety advocates | TechCrunch

Silicon Valley spooks the AI safety advocates | TechCrunch

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Silicon Valley leaders including White House AI & Crypto Czar David Sacks and OpenAI Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon caused a stir online this week for their comments about groups promoting AI safety. In separate instances, they alleged that certain advocates of AI safety are not as virtuous as they appear, and are either acting in the interest of themselves or billionaire puppet masters behind the scenes.

AI safety groups that spoke with TechCrunch say the allegations from Sacks and OpenAI are Silicon Valley’s latest attempt to intimidate its critics, but certainly not the first. In 2024, some venture capital firms spread rumors that a California AI safety bill, SB 1047, would send startup founders to jail. The Brookings Institution labeled the rumor as one of many “misrepresentations” about the bill, but Governor Gavin Newsom ultimately vetoed it anyway.

Whether or not Sacks and OpenAI intended to intimidate critics, their actions have sufficiently scared several AI safety advocates. Many nonprofit leaders that TechCrunch reached out to in the last week asked to speak on the condition of anonymity to spare their groups from retaliation.

The controversy underscores Silicon Valley’s growing tension between building AI responsibly and building it to be a massive consumer product — a theme my colleagues Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and I unpack on this week’s Equity podcast. We also dive into a new AI safety law passed in California to regulate chatbots, and OpenAI’s approach to erotica in ChatGPT.

On Tuesday, Sacks wrote a post on X alleging that Anthropic — which has raised concerns over AI’s ability to contribute to unemployment, cyberattacks, and catastrophic harms to society — is simply fearmongering to get laws passed that will benefit itself and drown out smaller startups in paperwork. Anthropic was the only major AI lab to endorse California’s Senate Bill 53 (SB 53), a bill that sets safety reporting requirements for large AI companies, which was signed into law last month.

Sacks was responding to a viral essay from Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark about his fears regarding AI. Clark delivered the essay as a speech at the Curve AI safety conference in Berkeley weeks earlier. Sitting in the audience, it certainly felt like a genuine account of a technologist’s reservations about his products, but Sacks didn’t see it that way.

Sacks said Anthropic is running a “sophisticated regulatory capture strategy,” though it’s worth noting that a truly sophisticated strategy probably wouldn’t involve making an enemy out of the federal government. In a follow up post on X, Sacks noted that Anthropic has positioned “itself consistently as a foe of the Trump administration.”

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Also this week, OpenAI’s chief strategy officer, Jason Kwon, wrote a post on X explaining why the company was sending subpoenas to AI safety nonprofits, such as Encode, a nonprofit that advocates for responsible AI policy. (A subpoena is a legal order demanding documents or testimony.) Kwon said that after Elon Musk sued OpenAI — over concerns that the ChatGPT-maker has veered away from its nonprofit mission — OpenAI found it suspicious how several organizations also raised opposition to its restructuring. Encode filed an amicus brief in support of Musk’s lawsuit, and other nonprofits spoke out publicly against OpenAI’s restructuring.

“This raised transparency questions about who was funding them and whether there was any coordination,” said Kwon.

NBC News reported this week that OpenAI sent broad subpoenas to Encode and six other nonprofits that criticized the company, asking for their communications related to two of OpenAI’s biggest opponents, Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. OpenAI also asked Encode for communications related to its support of SB 53.

One prominent AI safety leader told TechCrunch that there’s a growing split between OpenAI’s government affairs team and its research organization. While OpenAI’s safety researchers frequently publish reports disclosing the risks of AI systems, OpenAI’s policy unit lobbied against SB 53, saying it would rather have uniform rules at the federal level.

OpenAI’s head of mission alignment, Joshua Achiam, spoke out about his company sending subpoenas to nonprofits in a post on X this week.

“At what is possibly a risk to my whole career I will say: this doesn’t seem great,” said Achiam.

Brendan Steinhauser, CEO of the AI safety nonprofit Alliance for Secure AI (which has not been subpoenaed by OpenAI), told TechCrunch that OpenAI seems convinced its critics are part of a Musk-led conspiracy. However, he argues this is not the case, and that much of the AI safety community is quite critical of xAI’s safety practices, or lack thereof.

“On OpenAI’s part, this is meant to silence critics, to intimidate them, and to dissuade other nonprofits from doing the same,” said Steinhauser. “For Sacks, I think he’s concerned that [the AI safety] movement is growing and people want to hold these companies accountable.”

Sriram Krishnan, the White House’s senior policy advisor for AI and a former a16z general partner, chimed in on the conversation this week with a social media post of his own, calling AI safety advocates out of touch. He urged AI safety organizations to talk to “people in the real world using, selling, adopting AI in their homes and organizations.”

A recent Pew study found that roughly half of Americans are more concerned than excited about AI, but it’s unclear what worries them exactly. Another recent study went into more detail and found that American voters care more about job losses and deepfakes than catastrophic risks caused by AI, which the AI safety movement is largely focused on.

Addressing these safety concerns could come at the expense of the AI industry’s rapid growth — a trade-off that worries many in Silicon Valley. With AI investment propping up much of America’s economy, the fear of over-regulation is understandable.

But after years of unregulated AI progress, the AI safety movement appears to be gaining real momentum heading into 2026. Silicon Valley’s attempts to fight back against safety-focused groups may be a sign that they’re working.



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Gmail users deal with a constant flow of spam, promotions, and unnecessary updates every day. Even after trying to unsubscribe or block certain senders, unwanted messages often continue to appear. Some don’t even offer a proper way to opt out. Instead of dealing with each email individually, using the right settings and filters can make a big difference. Here are different ways to stop spam from taking over your Gmail inbox.

1. Use Gmail Filters to Manage Emails Automatically

How To Stop Spam from Cluttering Your Gmail Inbox? Most Gmail users deal with a constant flow of spam, promotions, and unnecessary updates every day. Even after trying to unsubscribe or block certain senders, unwanted messages often continue to appear. Some don’t even offer a proper way to opt out. Instead of dealing with each email individually, using the right settings and filters can make a big difference. Here are different ways to stop spam from taking over your Gmail inbox. 1. Use Gmail Filters to Manage Emails Automatically Filters are highly effective in addressing recurring spam problems in Gmail accounts. Rather than constantly deleting similar emails, filters can automatically treat specific messages based on the sender’s identity or specific keywords. Filters can be created directly from an email. Simply open the message, click the three-dot menu, and select “Filter messages like this.” After that, choose what action Gmail should take, such as deleting or organizing the email. 2. Block Entire Domains Instead of Single Senders Some individuals still use multiple versions of their addresses when sending email messages. The problem is that simple blocking is ineffective, since the same individual will continue to send new emails. To address this issue, it may be better to block all emails from a specific domain. Just like filters, one can do the following to block these emails. Type the domain in Google’s Gmail search tab, click on “filter,” and then proceed to choose actions such as deleting the email, marking it as spam, etc. 3. Use Email Aliases to Track Spam Sources Gmail allows the use of aliases by adding a “+” sign to an existing email address. These variations can be used while signing up on different websites, while still keeping everything in one inbox. This makes it easier to track where spam is coming from. If unwanted emails start appearing on a specific alias, the source can be identified and then filtered or blocked more effectively. 4. Avoid Opening Suspicious Emails Most suspicious emails include tracking components that activate when the recipient opens them. These are typically invisible pictures that indicate whether the recipient has viewed the message, hence increasing the likelihood of receiving more spam. To prevent this, one should refrain from opening any strange-looking emails, such as those from unknown sources or with funny subject lines. Such emails can either be disposed of immediately or filtered through other means. One can use Gmail’s settings to request permission to view external images. 5. Turn Off Automatic Image Loading Images inside marketing emails are often used to track activity. As soon as an email opens and the images load, it confirms to the sender that the email address is active. To stop this, automatic image loading can be disabled in Gmail. After enabling the setting to ask before showing images, tracking images will no longer load automatically. 6. Report Spam Instead of Just Deleting Removing spam by deleting emails is only a short-term fix. It clears space but doesn’t prevent new spam from arriving. Using the “Report Spam” option is more effective. It helps Gmail understand which emails are unwanted and improves its filtering system over time, reducing similar spam in the future. 7. Limit Use of Primary Email Address A primary email address can quickly become overloaded if it is used everywhere. Over time, it gets shared across many platforms, leading to more promotional and spam emails. To avoid such inconvenience, one should use their primary email address only for essential accounts and, in other cases, use a secondary email. Although spam cannot be entirely eliminated from a user’s life, it is possible to control its impact using certain tactics. Simple things like filtering, reporting spam, and reducing the number of emails you receive will significantly help you manage your inbox. #Stop #Spam #Cluttering #Gmail #InboxGmail

Filters are highly effective in addressing recurring spam problems in Gmail accounts. Rather than constantly deleting similar emails, filters can automatically treat specific messages based on the sender’s identity or specific keywords.

Filters can be created directly from an email. Simply open the message, click the three-dot menu, and select “Filter messages like this.” After that, choose what action Gmail should take, such as deleting or organizing the email.

2. Block Entire Domains Instead of Single Senders

block entire domain to Stop Spam from Taking Over Your Gmail

Some individuals still use multiple versions of their addresses when sending email messages. The problem is that simple blocking is ineffective, since the same individual will continue to send new emails. To address this issue, it may be better to block all emails from a specific domain.

Just like filters, one can do the following to block these emails. Type the domain in Google’s Gmail search tab, click on “filter,” and then proceed to choose actions such as deleting the email, marking it as spam, etc.

3. Use Email Aliases to Track Spam Sources

Gmail allows the use of aliases by adding a “+” sign to an existing email address. These variations can be used while signing up on different websites, while still keeping everything in one inbox.

This makes it easier to track where spam is coming from. If unwanted emails start appearing on a specific alias, the source can be identified and then filtered or blocked more effectively.

4. Avoid Opening Suspicious Emails

report spam to Stop Spam from Taking Over Your Gmail

Most suspicious emails include tracking components that activate when the recipient opens them. These are typically invisible pictures that indicate whether the recipient has viewed the message, hence increasing the likelihood of receiving more spam.

To prevent this, one should refrain from opening any strange-looking emails, such as those from unknown sources or with funny subject lines. Such emails can either be disposed of immediately or filtered through other means. One can use Gmail’s settings to request permission to view external images.

5. Turn Off Automatic Image Loading

Images inside marketing emails are often used to track activity. As soon as an email opens and the images load, it confirms to the sender that the email address is active. To stop this, automatic image loading can be disabled in Gmail. After enabling the setting to ask before showing images, tracking images will no longer load automatically.

6. Report Spam Instead of Just Deleting

report spam to Stop Spam from Taking Over Your Gmail

Removing spam by deleting emails is only a short-term fix. It clears space but doesn’t prevent new spam from arriving. Using the “Report Spam” option is more effective. It helps Gmail understand which emails are unwanted and improves its filtering system over time, reducing similar spam in the future.

7. Limit Use of Primary Email Address

A primary email address can quickly become overloaded if it is used everywhere. Over time, it gets shared across many platforms, leading to more promotional and spam emails. To avoid such inconvenience, one should use their primary email address only for essential accounts and, in other cases, use a secondary email.

Although spam cannot be entirely eliminated from a user’s life, it is possible to control its impact using certain tactics. Simple things like filtering, reporting spam, and reducing the number of emails you receive will significantly help you manage your inbox.

#Stop #Spam #Cluttering #Gmail #InboxGmail">How To Stop Spam from Cluttering Your Gmail Inbox? Most Gmail users deal with a constant flow of spam, promotions, and unnecessary updates every day. Even after trying to unsubscribe or block certain senders, unwanted messages often continue to appear. Some don’t even offer a proper way to opt out. Instead of dealing with each email individually, using the right settings and filters can make a big difference. Here are different ways to stop spam from taking over your Gmail inbox. 1. Use Gmail Filters to Manage Emails Automatically Filters are highly effective in addressing recurring spam problems in Gmail accounts. Rather than constantly deleting similar emails, filters can automatically treat specific messages based on the sender’s identity or specific keywords. Filters can be created directly from an email. Simply open the message, click the three-dot menu, and select “Filter messages like this.” After that, choose what action Gmail should take, such as deleting or organizing the email. 2. Block Entire Domains Instead of Single Senders Some individuals still use multiple versions of their addresses when sending email messages. The problem is that simple blocking is ineffective, since the same individual will continue to send new emails. To address this issue, it may be better to block all emails from a specific domain. Just like filters, one can do the following to block these emails. Type the domain in Google’s Gmail search tab, click on “filter,” and then proceed to choose actions such as deleting the email, marking it as spam, etc. 3. Use Email Aliases to Track Spam Sources Gmail allows the use of aliases by adding a “+” sign to an existing email address. These variations can be used while signing up on different websites, while still keeping everything in one inbox. This makes it easier to track where spam is coming from. If unwanted emails start appearing on a specific alias, the source can be identified and then filtered or blocked more effectively. 4. Avoid Opening Suspicious Emails Most suspicious emails include tracking components that activate when the recipient opens them. These are typically invisible pictures that indicate whether the recipient has viewed the message, hence increasing the likelihood of receiving more spam. To prevent this, one should refrain from opening any strange-looking emails, such as those from unknown sources or with funny subject lines. Such emails can either be disposed of immediately or filtered through other means. One can use Gmail’s settings to request permission to view external images. 5. Turn Off Automatic Image Loading Images inside marketing emails are often used to track activity. As soon as an email opens and the images load, it confirms to the sender that the email address is active. To stop this, automatic image loading can be disabled in Gmail. After enabling the setting to ask before showing images, tracking images will no longer load automatically. 6. Report Spam Instead of Just Deleting Removing spam by deleting emails is only a short-term fix. It clears space but doesn’t prevent new spam from arriving. Using the “Report Spam” option is more effective. It helps Gmail understand which emails are unwanted and improves its filtering system over time, reducing similar spam in the future. 7. Limit Use of Primary Email Address A primary email address can quickly become overloaded if it is used everywhere. Over time, it gets shared across many platforms, leading to more promotional and spam emails. To avoid such inconvenience, one should use their primary email address only for essential accounts and, in other cases, use a secondary email. Although spam cannot be entirely eliminated from a user’s life, it is possible to control its impact using certain tactics. Simple things like filtering, reporting spam, and reducing the number of emails you receive will significantly help you manage your inbox. #Stop #Spam #Cluttering #Gmail #InboxGmail

users deal with a constant flow of spam, promotions, and unnecessary updates every day. Even after trying to unsubscribe or block certain senders, unwanted messages often continue to appear. Some don’t even offer a proper way to opt out. Instead of dealing with each email individually, using the right settings and filters can make a big difference. Here are different ways to stop spam from taking over your Gmail inbox.

1. Use Gmail Filters to Manage Emails Automatically

How To Stop Spam from Cluttering Your Gmail Inbox? Most Gmail users deal with a constant flow of spam, promotions, and unnecessary updates every day. Even after trying to unsubscribe or block certain senders, unwanted messages often continue to appear. Some don’t even offer a proper way to opt out. Instead of dealing with each email individually, using the right settings and filters can make a big difference. Here are different ways to stop spam from taking over your Gmail inbox. 1. Use Gmail Filters to Manage Emails Automatically Filters are highly effective in addressing recurring spam problems in Gmail accounts. Rather than constantly deleting similar emails, filters can automatically treat specific messages based on the sender’s identity or specific keywords. Filters can be created directly from an email. Simply open the message, click the three-dot menu, and select “Filter messages like this.” After that, choose what action Gmail should take, such as deleting or organizing the email. 2. Block Entire Domains Instead of Single Senders Some individuals still use multiple versions of their addresses when sending email messages. The problem is that simple blocking is ineffective, since the same individual will continue to send new emails. To address this issue, it may be better to block all emails from a specific domain. Just like filters, one can do the following to block these emails. Type the domain in Google’s Gmail search tab, click on “filter,” and then proceed to choose actions such as deleting the email, marking it as spam, etc. 3. Use Email Aliases to Track Spam Sources Gmail allows the use of aliases by adding a “+” sign to an existing email address. These variations can be used while signing up on different websites, while still keeping everything in one inbox. This makes it easier to track where spam is coming from. If unwanted emails start appearing on a specific alias, the source can be identified and then filtered or blocked more effectively. 4. Avoid Opening Suspicious Emails Most suspicious emails include tracking components that activate when the recipient opens them. These are typically invisible pictures that indicate whether the recipient has viewed the message, hence increasing the likelihood of receiving more spam. To prevent this, one should refrain from opening any strange-looking emails, such as those from unknown sources or with funny subject lines. Such emails can either be disposed of immediately or filtered through other means. One can use Gmail’s settings to request permission to view external images. 5. Turn Off Automatic Image Loading Images inside marketing emails are often used to track activity. As soon as an email opens and the images load, it confirms to the sender that the email address is active. To stop this, automatic image loading can be disabled in Gmail. After enabling the setting to ask before showing images, tracking images will no longer load automatically. 6. Report Spam Instead of Just Deleting Removing spam by deleting emails is only a short-term fix. It clears space but doesn’t prevent new spam from arriving. Using the “Report Spam” option is more effective. It helps Gmail understand which emails are unwanted and improves its filtering system over time, reducing similar spam in the future. 7. Limit Use of Primary Email Address A primary email address can quickly become overloaded if it is used everywhere. Over time, it gets shared across many platforms, leading to more promotional and spam emails. To avoid such inconvenience, one should use their primary email address only for essential accounts and, in other cases, use a secondary email. Although spam cannot be entirely eliminated from a user’s life, it is possible to control its impact using certain tactics. Simple things like filtering, reporting spam, and reducing the number of emails you receive will significantly help you manage your inbox. #Stop #Spam #Cluttering #Gmail #InboxGmail

Filters are highly effective in addressing recurring spam problems in Gmail accounts. Rather than constantly deleting similar emails, filters can automatically treat specific messages based on the sender’s identity or specific keywords.

Filters can be created directly from an email. Simply open the message, click the three-dot menu, and select “Filter messages like this.” After that, choose what action Gmail should take, such as deleting or organizing the email.

2. Block Entire Domains Instead of Single Senders

block entire domain to Stop Spam from Taking Over Your Gmail

Some individuals still use multiple versions of their addresses when sending email messages. The problem is that simple blocking is ineffective, since the same individual will continue to send new emails. To address this issue, it may be better to block all emails from a specific domain.

Just like filters, one can do the following to block these emails. Type the domain in Google’s Gmail search tab, click on “filter,” and then proceed to choose actions such as deleting the email, marking it as spam, etc.

3. Use Email Aliases to Track Spam Sources

Gmail allows the use of aliases by adding a “+” sign to an existing email address. These variations can be used while signing up on different websites, while still keeping everything in one inbox.

This makes it easier to track where spam is coming from. If unwanted emails start appearing on a specific alias, the source can be identified and then filtered or blocked more effectively.

4. Avoid Opening Suspicious Emails

report spam to Stop Spam from Taking Over Your Gmail

Most suspicious emails include tracking components that activate when the recipient opens them. These are typically invisible pictures that indicate whether the recipient has viewed the message, hence increasing the likelihood of receiving more spam.

To prevent this, one should refrain from opening any strange-looking emails, such as those from unknown sources or with funny subject lines. Such emails can either be disposed of immediately or filtered through other means. One can use Gmail’s settings to request permission to view external images.

5. Turn Off Automatic Image Loading

Images inside marketing emails are often used to track activity. As soon as an email opens and the images load, it confirms to the sender that the email address is active. To stop this, automatic image loading can be disabled in Gmail. After enabling the setting to ask before showing images, tracking images will no longer load automatically.

6. Report Spam Instead of Just Deleting

report spam to Stop Spam from Taking Over Your Gmail

Removing spam by deleting emails is only a short-term fix. It clears space but doesn’t prevent new spam from arriving. Using the “Report Spam” option is more effective. It helps Gmail understand which emails are unwanted and improves its filtering system over time, reducing similar spam in the future.

7. Limit Use of Primary Email Address

A primary email address can quickly become overloaded if it is used everywhere. Over time, it gets shared across many platforms, leading to more promotional and spam emails. To avoid such inconvenience, one should use their primary email address only for essential accounts and, in other cases, use a secondary email.

Although spam cannot be entirely eliminated from a user’s life, it is possible to control its impact using certain tactics. Simple things like filtering, reporting spam, and reducing the number of emails you receive will significantly help you manage your inbox.

#Stop #Spam #Cluttering #Gmail #InboxGmail">How To Stop Spam from Cluttering Your Gmail Inbox?

Most Gmail users deal with a constant flow of spam, promotions, and unnecessary updates every day. Even after trying to unsubscribe or block certain senders, unwanted messages often continue to appear. Some don’t even offer a proper way to opt out. Instead of dealing with each email individually, using the right settings and filters can make a big difference. Here are different ways to stop spam from taking over your Gmail inbox.

1. Use Gmail Filters to Manage Emails Automatically

How To Stop Spam from Cluttering Your Gmail Inbox? Most Gmail users deal with a constant flow of spam, promotions, and unnecessary updates every day. Even after trying to unsubscribe or block certain senders, unwanted messages often continue to appear. Some don’t even offer a proper way to opt out. Instead of dealing with each email individually, using the right settings and filters can make a big difference. Here are different ways to stop spam from taking over your Gmail inbox. 1. Use Gmail Filters to Manage Emails Automatically Filters are highly effective in addressing recurring spam problems in Gmail accounts. Rather than constantly deleting similar emails, filters can automatically treat specific messages based on the sender’s identity or specific keywords. Filters can be created directly from an email. Simply open the message, click the three-dot menu, and select “Filter messages like this.” After that, choose what action Gmail should take, such as deleting or organizing the email. 2. Block Entire Domains Instead of Single Senders Some individuals still use multiple versions of their addresses when sending email messages. The problem is that simple blocking is ineffective, since the same individual will continue to send new emails. To address this issue, it may be better to block all emails from a specific domain. Just like filters, one can do the following to block these emails. Type the domain in Google’s Gmail search tab, click on “filter,” and then proceed to choose actions such as deleting the email, marking it as spam, etc. 3. Use Email Aliases to Track Spam Sources Gmail allows the use of aliases by adding a “+” sign to an existing email address. These variations can be used while signing up on different websites, while still keeping everything in one inbox. This makes it easier to track where spam is coming from. If unwanted emails start appearing on a specific alias, the source can be identified and then filtered or blocked more effectively. 4. Avoid Opening Suspicious Emails Most suspicious emails include tracking components that activate when the recipient opens them. These are typically invisible pictures that indicate whether the recipient has viewed the message, hence increasing the likelihood of receiving more spam. To prevent this, one should refrain from opening any strange-looking emails, such as those from unknown sources or with funny subject lines. Such emails can either be disposed of immediately or filtered through other means. One can use Gmail’s settings to request permission to view external images. 5. Turn Off Automatic Image Loading Images inside marketing emails are often used to track activity. As soon as an email opens and the images load, it confirms to the sender that the email address is active. To stop this, automatic image loading can be disabled in Gmail. After enabling the setting to ask before showing images, tracking images will no longer load automatically. 6. Report Spam Instead of Just Deleting Removing spam by deleting emails is only a short-term fix. It clears space but doesn’t prevent new spam from arriving. Using the “Report Spam” option is more effective. It helps Gmail understand which emails are unwanted and improves its filtering system over time, reducing similar spam in the future. 7. Limit Use of Primary Email Address A primary email address can quickly become overloaded if it is used everywhere. Over time, it gets shared across many platforms, leading to more promotional and spam emails. To avoid such inconvenience, one should use their primary email address only for essential accounts and, in other cases, use a secondary email. Although spam cannot be entirely eliminated from a user’s life, it is possible to control its impact using certain tactics. Simple things like filtering, reporting spam, and reducing the number of emails you receive will significantly help you manage your inbox. #Stop #Spam #Cluttering #Gmail #InboxGmail

Filters are highly effective in addressing recurring spam problems in Gmail accounts. Rather than constantly deleting similar emails, filters can automatically treat specific messages based on the sender’s identity or specific keywords.

Filters can be created directly from an email. Simply open the message, click the three-dot menu, and select “Filter messages like this.” After that, choose what action Gmail should take, such as deleting or organizing the email.

2. Block Entire Domains Instead of Single Senders

block entire domain to Stop Spam from Taking Over Your Gmail

Some individuals still use multiple versions of their addresses when sending email messages. The problem is that simple blocking is ineffective, since the same individual will continue to send new emails. To address this issue, it may be better to block all emails from a specific domain.

Just like filters, one can do the following to block these emails. Type the domain in Google’s Gmail search tab, click on “filter,” and then proceed to choose actions such as deleting the email, marking it as spam, etc.

3. Use Email Aliases to Track Spam Sources

Gmail allows the use of aliases by adding a “+” sign to an existing email address. These variations can be used while signing up on different websites, while still keeping everything in one inbox.

This makes it easier to track where spam is coming from. If unwanted emails start appearing on a specific alias, the source can be identified and then filtered or blocked more effectively.

4. Avoid Opening Suspicious Emails

report spam to Stop Spam from Taking Over Your Gmail

Most suspicious emails include tracking components that activate when the recipient opens them. These are typically invisible pictures that indicate whether the recipient has viewed the message, hence increasing the likelihood of receiving more spam.

To prevent this, one should refrain from opening any strange-looking emails, such as those from unknown sources or with funny subject lines. Such emails can either be disposed of immediately or filtered through other means. One can use Gmail’s settings to request permission to view external images.

5. Turn Off Automatic Image Loading

Images inside marketing emails are often used to track activity. As soon as an email opens and the images load, it confirms to the sender that the email address is active. To stop this, automatic image loading can be disabled in Gmail. After enabling the setting to ask before showing images, tracking images will no longer load automatically.

6. Report Spam Instead of Just Deleting

report spam to Stop Spam from Taking Over Your Gmail

Removing spam by deleting emails is only a short-term fix. It clears space but doesn’t prevent new spam from arriving. Using the “Report Spam” option is more effective. It helps Gmail understand which emails are unwanted and improves its filtering system over time, reducing similar spam in the future.

7. Limit Use of Primary Email Address

A primary email address can quickly become overloaded if it is used everywhere. Over time, it gets shared across many platforms, leading to more promotional and spam emails. To avoid such inconvenience, one should use their primary email address only for essential accounts and, in other cases, use a secondary email.

Although spam cannot be entirely eliminated from a user’s life, it is possible to control its impact using certain tactics. Simple things like filtering, reporting spam, and reducing the number of emails you receive will significantly help you manage your inbox.

#Stop #Spam #Cluttering #Gmail #InboxGmail
You know those little ADT security signs? You know, the ADT logo-emblazoned yard signs or stickers you find in front of houses or slapped on a window by the front door. Well, ADT is rethinking them: today, the home security company announced the ADT Live Light, a light-up version of its logo yard sign that will—you guessed it—shine when your ADT alarm system has been tripped. 

Besides being a visual indicator for your neighbors that something is amiss, ADT says the Live Light could be useful in helping first responders identify which house is yours. It would also serve the same purpose as the stickers and yard signs that came before it: letting would-be intruders know that they risk triggering an alarm by messing with your stuff. And while it can activate automatically, you can also turn it on using the ADT+ app if you want.

The Live Light is wireless and powered by three included AAA lithium batteries. It’s IP65-rated, meaning it should be dust-proof and resistant to water jets from any direction, and should operate in temperatures ranging from 4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Both good things if you’re expecting people to leave their light-up sign out in the elements year-round (although those of us in the Midwest might want to bring it in for a couple of months in the winter). The sign itself is 10 x 10 inches tall and 1.75 inches thick, and goes into the ground with a 21-inch stake, although it can also be wall-mounted. 

The Live Light requires a $25-per-month ADT Professional Monitoring subscription and costs $50, including professional installation. There’s no option to install it yourself; ADT requires that one of its own installers carry out what doesn’t strike me as a terribly complicated procedure. (But what do I know? I’m just a little ol’ country technology reporter.)

Images showing the ADT My Safety feature in the ADT+ app.
© ADT

ADT also announced a new ADT+ app feature called My Safety. My Safety extends ADT’s subscriber service beyond your house by letting you do things like set a check-in timer that, if missed, will prompt ADT to contact emergency services for you. It also offers the manual options of speaking or texting with ADT agents, or setting an “Emergency Phrase” that lets you speak a custom phrase to summon help—that is, ADT will again contact emergency services for you. The company says subscribers will be able to use that last feature even if their phone isn’t in their hand, and I’ve asked exactly how that works.

For the My Safety feature, there’s no call history, and for subscriptions with multiple people on them, only the person who initiates a call with ADT monitoring will be able to see status, activity, alerts, and notifications. It’s nice to see the company has thought of that—it can be important for victims of abuse to be able to discreetly seek help. An ADT representative told Gizmodo via email that the ADT+ app update with My Safety is available now for all subscribers in the U.S., except in Milwaukee, WI.

#ADTs #Big #Idea #LightUp #ADT #Sign #YardADT,apps,Home security,Smart Home">ADT’s New Big Idea Is a Light-Up ADT Sign for Your Yard You know those little ADT security signs? You know, the ADT logo-emblazoned yard signs or stickers you find in front of houses or slapped on a window by the front door. Well, ADT is rethinking them: today, the home security company announced the ADT Live Light, a light-up version of its logo yard sign that will—you guessed it—shine when your ADT alarm system has been tripped.  Besides being a visual indicator for your neighbors that something is amiss, ADT says the Live Light could be useful in helping first responders identify which house is yours. It would also serve the same purpose as the stickers and yard signs that came before it: letting would-be intruders know that they risk triggering an alarm by messing with your stuff. And while it can activate automatically, you can also turn it on using the ADT+ app if you want. © ADT © ADT The Live Light is wireless and powered by three included AAA lithium batteries. It’s IP65-rated, meaning it should be dust-proof and resistant to water jets from any direction, and should operate in temperatures ranging from 4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Both good things if you’re expecting people to leave their light-up sign out in the elements year-round (although those of us in the Midwest might want to bring it in for a couple of months in the winter). The sign itself is 10 x 10 inches tall and 1.75 inches thick, and goes into the ground with a 21-inch stake, although it can also be wall-mounted.  The Live Light requires a -per-month ADT Professional Monitoring subscription and costs , including professional installation. There’s no option to install it yourself; ADT requires that one of its own installers carry out what doesn’t strike me as a terribly complicated procedure. (But what do I know? I’m just a little ol’ country technology reporter.) © ADT ADT also announced a new ADT+ app feature called My Safety. My Safety extends ADT’s subscriber service beyond your house by letting you do things like set a check-in timer that, if missed, will prompt ADT to contact emergency services for you. It also offers the manual options of speaking or texting with ADT agents, or setting an “Emergency Phrase” that lets you speak a custom phrase to summon help—that is, ADT will again contact emergency services for you. The company says subscribers will be able to use that last feature even if their phone isn’t in their hand, and I’ve asked exactly how that works. For the My Safety feature, there’s no call history, and for subscriptions with multiple people on them, only the person who initiates a call with ADT monitoring will be able to see status, activity, alerts, and notifications. It’s nice to see the company has thought of that—it can be important for victims of abuse to be able to discreetly seek help. An ADT representative told Gizmodo via email that the ADT+ app update with My Safety is available now for all subscribers in the U.S., except in Milwaukee, WI. #ADTs #Big #Idea #LightUp #ADT #Sign #YardADT,apps,Home security,Smart Home

ADT Live Light, a light-up version of its logo yard sign that will—you guessed it—shine when your ADT alarm system has been tripped. 

Besides being a visual indicator for your neighbors that something is amiss, ADT says the Live Light could be useful in helping first responders identify which house is yours. It would also serve the same purpose as the stickers and yard signs that came before it: letting would-be intruders know that they risk triggering an alarm by messing with your stuff. And while it can activate automatically, you can also turn it on using the ADT+ app if you want.

The Live Light is wireless and powered by three included AAA lithium batteries. It’s IP65-rated, meaning it should be dust-proof and resistant to water jets from any direction, and should operate in temperatures ranging from 4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Both good things if you’re expecting people to leave their light-up sign out in the elements year-round (although those of us in the Midwest might want to bring it in for a couple of months in the winter). The sign itself is 10 x 10 inches tall and 1.75 inches thick, and goes into the ground with a 21-inch stake, although it can also be wall-mounted. 

The Live Light requires a $25-per-month ADT Professional Monitoring subscription and costs $50, including professional installation. There’s no option to install it yourself; ADT requires that one of its own installers carry out what doesn’t strike me as a terribly complicated procedure. (But what do I know? I’m just a little ol’ country technology reporter.)

Images showing the ADT My Safety feature in the ADT+ app.
© ADT

ADT also announced a new ADT+ app feature called My Safety. My Safety extends ADT’s subscriber service beyond your house by letting you do things like set a check-in timer that, if missed, will prompt ADT to contact emergency services for you. It also offers the manual options of speaking or texting with ADT agents, or setting an “Emergency Phrase” that lets you speak a custom phrase to summon help—that is, ADT will again contact emergency services for you. The company says subscribers will be able to use that last feature even if their phone isn’t in their hand, and I’ve asked exactly how that works.

For the My Safety feature, there’s no call history, and for subscriptions with multiple people on them, only the person who initiates a call with ADT monitoring will be able to see status, activity, alerts, and notifications. It’s nice to see the company has thought of that—it can be important for victims of abuse to be able to discreetly seek help. An ADT representative told Gizmodo via email that the ADT+ app update with My Safety is available now for all subscribers in the U.S., except in Milwaukee, WI.

#ADTs #Big #Idea #LightUp #ADT #Sign #YardADT,apps,Home security,Smart Home">ADT’s New Big Idea Is a Light-Up ADT Sign for Your Yard

You know those little ADT security signs? You know, the ADT logo-emblazoned yard signs or stickers you find in front of houses or slapped on a window by the front door. Well, ADT is rethinking them: today, the home security company announced the ADT Live Light, a light-up version of its logo yard sign that will—you guessed it—shine when your ADT alarm system has been tripped. 

Besides being a visual indicator for your neighbors that something is amiss, ADT says the Live Light could be useful in helping first responders identify which house is yours. It would also serve the same purpose as the stickers and yard signs that came before it: letting would-be intruders know that they risk triggering an alarm by messing with your stuff. And while it can activate automatically, you can also turn it on using the ADT+ app if you want.

The Live Light is wireless and powered by three included AAA lithium batteries. It’s IP65-rated, meaning it should be dust-proof and resistant to water jets from any direction, and should operate in temperatures ranging from 4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Both good things if you’re expecting people to leave their light-up sign out in the elements year-round (although those of us in the Midwest might want to bring it in for a couple of months in the winter). The sign itself is 10 x 10 inches tall and 1.75 inches thick, and goes into the ground with a 21-inch stake, although it can also be wall-mounted. 

The Live Light requires a $25-per-month ADT Professional Monitoring subscription and costs $50, including professional installation. There’s no option to install it yourself; ADT requires that one of its own installers carry out what doesn’t strike me as a terribly complicated procedure. (But what do I know? I’m just a little ol’ country technology reporter.)

Images showing the ADT My Safety feature in the ADT+ app.
© ADT

ADT also announced a new ADT+ app feature called My Safety. My Safety extends ADT’s subscriber service beyond your house by letting you do things like set a check-in timer that, if missed, will prompt ADT to contact emergency services for you. It also offers the manual options of speaking or texting with ADT agents, or setting an “Emergency Phrase” that lets you speak a custom phrase to summon help—that is, ADT will again contact emergency services for you. The company says subscribers will be able to use that last feature even if their phone isn’t in their hand, and I’ve asked exactly how that works.

For the My Safety feature, there’s no call history, and for subscriptions with multiple people on them, only the person who initiates a call with ADT monitoring will be able to see status, activity, alerts, and notifications. It’s nice to see the company has thought of that—it can be important for victims of abuse to be able to discreetly seek help. An ADT representative told Gizmodo via email that the ADT+ app update with My Safety is available now for all subscribers in the U.S., except in Milwaukee, WI.

#ADTs #Big #Idea #LightUp #ADT #Sign #YardADT,apps,Home security,Smart Home

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