New email spying trick means your email could be tapped....

That is, people can snoop on your email, if you send email which uses HTML coding (which is becoming increasingly common)....

It's through a simple Javascript code which can be embedded in the HTML code in your email....

This is a serious problem. But fortunately, there is something you can do, though it doesn't erase the problem completely.... That's by turning the Javascript off in your email reading software.

Although the article doesn't mention it, probably the safest thing to do is to NOT send any HTML-based email at all if possible (and to delete any HTML code in anything you reply to, if possible), as well as turning Javascript off....

Read the article below for more details, and more info can also be found at the Privacy Foundation web site....


New spying trick threatens email privacy

Hi --

This is true although the more likely "bug" that marketers use is the email address in a graphic trick. That is that link to a small see through graphic and append your email address to the end. Then when you read your mail the address is stored in their log file. Scanning the log file later shows them which addresses were valid (were opened and read), what time of day you read the mail, and possibly what region of the country/world you are in.

This is one of the many reasons I use Pegasus as my email client. It does not execute any of the javascript, external graphic calls, or even all of the virus stuff that continually plagues the programs that Microsoft calls mail readers. Plus it's free and has a 10 year track record.

http://www.pmail.com

Hope that helps.

-- Dan Butler
The Naked PC
> That is, people can snoop on your email, if
> you send email which uses HTML coding (which
> is becoming increasingly common)....

> It's through a simple Javascript code which
> can be embedded in the HTML code in your
> email....

> This is a serious problem. But fortunately,
> there is something you can do, though it
> doesn't erase the problem completely....
> That's by turning the Javascript off in your
> email reading software.

> Although the article doesn't mention it,
> probably the safest thing to do is to NOT
> send any HTML-based email at all if possible
> (and to delete any HTML code in anything you
> reply to, if possible), as well as turning
> Javascript off....

> Read the article below for more details, and
> more info can also be found at the Privacy
> Foundation web site....




Pegasus mail - free mail reader...

Thanks Dan!

I use a pretty ancient system for email.... I read my email using Pine on a Unix account. But I think I may have to (finally) move to a PC based system like everyone else....

Thanks for the tip! I'll look into using Pegasus.... I'm not a big fan of HTML email or any email system susceptible to viruses....

- Dien

Dien --

Check the emails I sent you this weekend. Sent from PINE. Love that program and use it when I'm working. Then I go into Pegasus and download all the mail and do detailed replies.

If you get Pegasus check out Paul Myers autoresponder course on email. Very good in general and has lots of Pegasus tips.

Have fun!

-- Dan Butler
The Naked PC

> Thanks Dan!

> I use a pretty ancient system for email....
> I read my email using Pine on a Unix
> account. But I think I may have to (finally)
> move to a PC based system like everyone
> else....

> Thanks for the tip! I'll look into using
> Pegasus.... I'm not a big fan of HTML email
> or any email system susceptible to
> viruses....

> - Dien




A light in the darkness...

Dan -

> If you get Pegasus check out Paul Myers
> autoresponder course on email. Very good in
> general and has lots of Pegasus tips.

Absolutely. Paul is a *master* at using Pegasus. He's taught me a thing or two about it. I haven't communicated with Paul in awhile. We ought to get him to come over here and visit.

BTW, I haven't forgotten about the trades we were batting around. And Gordon and I should be meeting this weekend. Then I can give you an update on the "Then & Now" project.

Rick Smith, "The Net Guerrilla"

Hi Dan or anyone who knows would appreciate an address to get Pauls course from?

regards peter

> Dien --

> Check the emails I sent you this weekend.
> Sent from PINE. Love that program and use it
> when I'm working. Then I go into Pegasus and
> download all the mail and do detailed
> replies.

> If you get Pegasus check out Paul Myers
> autoresponder course on email. Very good in
> general and has lots of Pegasus tips.

> Have fun!

> -- Dan Butler
> The Naked PC