Some companies and software products use your email to advertise their product. Free antivirus companies commonly do this, but Microsoft and Apple are also guilty of this. They insert a blurb into your email signature, so that everyone you contact will read a promotion text at the end of your message.

Other companies do not engage in this behavior, but if you are uncertain, send yourself an email to check. I’ve met many people that had no idea that their email signature had been repurposed as a billboard.

And if you find something unnecessary in your email signature, you do have the right to turn it off or delete it out of there!

Windows Mail

If you use the Mail app under Windows 10/11:

  • Open Mail
  • Click the cogwheel icon
  • Click Signature
  • Turn off “Use an email signature”
  • Click Save

Apple Mail

If you use the Mail app on any iPhone or iPad:

  • Tap on Settings
  • Tap on Mail
  • Tap on Signature
  • Backspace over the text until “Sent from my iPhone” is gone

Avast Antivirus Free

  • Open Avast Antivirus
  • Click the Hamburger Menu
  • Click Settings
  • Click Protection
  • Click Core Shields
  • Scroll down to “Configure shield settings” and click Mail Shield
  • Uncheck the box for “Add a signature to the end of sent emails”

AVG Antivirus Free

  • Open AVG Antivirus
  • Click the Hamburger Menu
  • Click Settings
  • Click Basic Protection
  • Click Email Shield
  • Uncheck the box for “Add a signature to the end of sent emails”

Let me know if you notice this with any other big name software or email product, and I may be able to add the removal steps to this post, thanks!