David,
I noticed that a few messages when opened would launch Netscape which I
thought meant that the message was going to use it to return a message but
on second thoughts this is obviously WRONG - because why would they need
Netscape?? As I am not an expert on 'net stuff, I am back pedalling.
PLEASE NOTE EVERYONE
I am withdrawing my advice on disconnecting to stop unwanted replies
But what the devil is opening Netscape ?? Although it does not do that
anymore !!!
At 11:14 AM 4/12/2003 -0600, David Councill wrote:
>Barrie,
>
>How can you tell that a message was sent back? I was skeptical of the
>original statement about a message being sent back confirming email
>address validity. The question that came to my mind was - how?
>
>There is a notify/return receipt function that can be used on emails but
>Eudora faithfully notifies you that the email has a return notification
>requested and asks if its ok, later, or never (plus it leaves a copy of
>the return receipt in your outbox if you give it the okay).
>
>Some spam come with html links that have your email address or a number
>embedded so they can tell your origin if you click on it. But you have to
>click on it first. If you just move over it with your mouse, Eudora
>displays the actual link so you can tell if it has a return code, a
>feature missing in Outlook.
>
>The reply to remove you from the list, though, is a sure way to let the
>spammer know your email is legitimate, received, and read.
>
>The point is that as far as I know, there is no secret way a spammer can
>tell if their email was received and read without some other action by the
>user after the email is opened. Its possible to embed some html code in
>an email that is activated when the message is opened but anti-virus
>programs are supposed to detect most of these and such functions should be
>turned off by the email program anyway. (Eudora under
>Tools-Options-Viewing mail, not sure where Outlook's settings are).
>
>Perhaps if I'm wrong, someone can add more details. I get 50-70 spams
>daily but a lot of it is because my email address is very public and
>highly exposed on the Internet. A spam filter catches 90% of it before it
>gets to my PC. I have been thinking about the ultimate spam buster - an
>email program that sends back a spoofed majordomo email to the sender that
>says something to the effect that the email address is no longer valid.
>That would likely be the only way to get off the spam list.
>
>David Councill
>67 BGT
>72 B
>
>At 12:22 PM 4/12/2003 -0700, Barrie Robinson wrote:
>>Someone on the list advised that one should not open spam messages while
>>connected to the 'net because they send a message back confirming the
>>validity of your address - then adding you to a spam list. So I did
>>exactly that - and guess what? It does stop the confirmation and I
>>suggest people disconnect before opening any messages !!!! Strange there
>>is no warning by the email program (Eudora) that the message has initiated
>>a return message !!!!
>>
>>Barrie
>>
>>Barrie Robinson
>>barrier@bconnex.net
Regards
Barrie
Barrie Robinson
barrier@bconnex.net
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