VOTE ...HTML or Plain Text???

"John T" wrote in message
ws.com...
"Montblack" wrote in message


Your vote on HTML.....?

"Nay."

Even though I use Outlook Express, I set it to read all messages (even
email) as plain text. Why?
1) Spammers can use the simple loading of a graphic from an HTML-formatted
message to validate your email address.

I assume you're referring to a web bug, which is an small invisible graphic
(for example a 1x1 white square). I'm not disagreeing with the overall
objection, but I don't think this is accurate. It is true in the case of
mail that is sent to you, but I can't see how it can be done on usenet.
That's unless:
- web bugs are smarter than me, which is entirely possible
- your newsreader still indulges in the bad habit of sending your email
address in the header of HTTP requests

Web bugs can identify the machine that they are loaded from (or at least the
proxy that you go through), so depending on your connection it may still be
useful information.

2) Plain text is just fine by me unless I'm looking at a web page.

Me too.

-- David Brooks

"David Brooks" wrote in message


I assume you're referring to a web bug.... I'm not disagreeing with
the overall objection, but I don't think this is accurate.

Yes, that's what I was referring to and its use in spam email (not USENET
posts where it is not nearly as effective) is one of the main reasons I set
OE to use plain text. The fact that I get to read my USENET messages in
plain text, too, is just a fringe benefit.

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/tknoFlyer
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