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
Microsoft Outlook
If you use the Outlook app on your phone:
- Open Outlook
- Tap the Outlook button to the upper-left
- Tap the Settings cogwheel to the lower-left
- Tap Signature
- Backspace over the text until “Get Outlook for Android/iOS” is gone
- Tap the checkmark to the upper-right
AOL App
If you use the AOL app on your mobile device:
- Open AOL and tap the Inbox icon to the lower-left
- Tap the Account button to the upper-left
- Tap the Settings cogwheel
- Scroll down and tap Signatures
- Use the slider to turn off “Include signature in new messages”
ProtonMail
If you use ProtonMail on the web:
- Click Settings, then click Go to Settings.
- On the left, click Identity and addresses.
- Delete the text in the Signature box.
Special note: ProtonMail has an additional ad at the bottom of their emails, called the Proton Mail footer. You’ll see it right below the Signature box. You cannot turn off this footer, unless you upgrade to a paid plan.
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!