What happens to abandoned email addresses?

Have you ever wondered what becomes of those email addresses you no longer use? Do they just sit there, gathering dust in the digital realm? The truth is, abandoned email addresses can lead to a range of unexpected consequences. For one, they can become targets for spam and phishing scams, as hackers take advantage of the lack of activity to try and gain access to your personal information. Additionally, some email services may eventually deactivate unused accounts, potentially leading to the loss of important data or the inability to recover forgotten passwords. But what exactly happens to these abandoned email addresses, and what steps can you take to protect yourself? Let's dive in and find out.