If you use the Apple Calendar on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad and have Apple’s iCloud email, then you may have received a spam invitation in your calendar. Apple is now working on a fix for the issue.
When you receive an email on iCloud, Apple automatically scans it for Calendar invites. These are then shown to you in the Calendar, and you can choose to decline the invite or add it.
Understanding Calendar Spam
Calendar spam is a relatively new form of spam that exploits the automatic calendar invite feature. Spammers have been sending Calendar spam for some time, although this has not really been a problem until recently as iCloud Calendar Invites are now sent to the Calendar automatically. This means that even if you do not open the spam email, the invitation can still appear in your Calendar, cluttering it with unwanted events.
The issue has become more prevalent as spammers have discovered that they can bypass traditional email filters by sending spam through calendar invites. This method is particularly insidious because it takes advantage of a feature designed to make scheduling easier and more efficient.
Steps to Mitigate Calendar Spam
Apple is apparently working on a fix for the issue. However, if you do not want to wait until then, you can log into your iCloud account on the web and change some settings. Here are the steps you can follow to mitigate the issue:
1. Log into your iCloud account online: Open your web browser and go to the iCloud website. Enter your Apple ID and password to log in.
2. Go to Calendar Settings: Once logged in, navigate to the Calendar app within iCloud.
3. Access Advanced Settings: Click on the cog icon located at the bottom left corner of the Calendar interface. This will open the settings menu.
4. Change Event Invite Settings: In the settings menu, go to the ‘Advanced’ section. Here, you can change your event invite settings to ’email only’. This means that any calendar invites will be sent to your email inbox rather than appearing automatically in your Calendar. By doing this, you can manually filter out spam invites before they clutter your Calendar.
This workaround is a temporary solution until Apple releases a more permanent fix. It allows you to regain control over your Calendar and avoid the inconvenience of spam invites.
Additional Tips and Best Practices
While waiting for Apple’s official fix, there are additional steps you can take to protect yourself from calendar spam:
– Be cautious with your email address: Avoid sharing your iCloud email address on public forums or websites where it can be easily harvested by spammers.
– Use email filters: Set up email filters to automatically move suspected spam emails to a separate folder. This can help reduce the number of spam invites that make it to your Calendar.
– Report spam: If you receive a spam invite, report it to Apple. This helps them identify and address the issue more effectively.
– Stay informed: Keep an eye on updates from Apple regarding this issue. They are likely to release a more robust solution in the near future.
In conclusion, while calendar spam is an annoying issue, there are steps you can take to mitigate its impact. By adjusting your iCloud settings and following best practices, you can keep your Calendar organized and free from unwanted spam invites. Apple is aware of the problem and is working on a fix, so stay tuned for updates.
Source MacRumors
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