PhonAndroid Google Messages: how to get rid of spam

How to get rid of spam on Google Messages? These unwanted messages on the smartphones of their owners, especially since the arrival of the RCS in the application. Fortunately, there are a few methods to do a great cleaning. We explain everything to you in this article.

Credits: Google

Once the ugly duckling of messaging apps, Google Messages has recently caught up with the big names in the genre. Thanks to the addition of many features, such as end-to-end encryption, the latter can rub shoulders with WhatsApp or Messenger without blushing. This is all the more true since the integration of the RCS protocol which makes it a complete and practical solution to use.

Unfortunately, all is not well for Google Mail. Some areas still badly need improvement. So, despite its efforts to fight spam, the app is still flooded with spam and other suspicious text messages. While the latter offers effective protection against phishing attacks, the same cannot be said for fraudulent messages from dark sources.

Get rid of spam by disabling RCS

However, Google is not necessarily to blame for this sad state of affairs. Indeed, with the arrival of the RCS, companies have had the opportunity to present themselves as such thanks to the verified profile, which notably gives them the possibility of broadcasting advertising messages to the channel. Also, the first solution, radical, but effective, is simply to deactivate these services within the application. Here's how to go about it:

Go to Google Messages Settings

Click Chat Features

Disable Enable chat features

This will block messages from companies using RCS to deliver their campaigns. On your side, you will still be able to use the application to send SMS in the usual way. On the other hand, you will no longer benefit from the options based on the protocol. To date, this is unfortunately the price to pay for effective protection against spam. Especially since this solution works on all smartphones, Google Messages gradually becoming the default messaging on Android overlays.

Get rid of spam by blocking the number

Another solution is to simply block the number from texting you. Some companies have the good sense to provide the option to unsubscribe from their mailing list. To do this, simply click on the link provided in the message (being careful not to be fooled by a fraudulent link that could install malware on your smartphone). In the absence of this option, you can also block the number. Here's the procedure to follow :

Click on the menu at the top right

Click on Information

Select Block and report as spam

Check the Report as spam box

Click OK

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This method is effective than the first insofar as you will have to repeat it for each spam received from a suspicious number. The same applies to unsubscribing from the mailing list, which the sender can choose to respect or not. Nevertheless, it has the advantage of allowing you to continue to benefit from the RCS functions.

Get rid of spam by switching email apps

Finally, the last method is just as radical as the first, but certainly as effective. While Google Messages is overrun with spam, other messaging apps aren't. Some even prove to be particularly effective in protecting the user against unwanted messages.

This is particularly the case of SMS Organizer, published by Microsoft, which incorporates an automatic filter against spam and advertising campaigns. The application then classifies them in a separate folder, like a mailbox, thus leaving the user the choice to delete them or not. On the other hand, here again, you will have to do without RCS functionalities.

And you, what are your methods to protect yourself against spam? Tell us in the comments!

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