RE: [epub] A Lockergnome in our midst

[Mark Neely <mpn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Chris wrote:

>Come up with a good argument why one should NOT use HTML mail; I've been
>doing it for two years solid. If it was bad, I wouldn't be doing it

This topic came up in another forum that I subscribe to, so forgive me if I 
"recycle" some of my own words:

While Lockergone is, without doubt, a highly ethical publication, 
unscrupulous newsletter owners/marketers can compromise the online/offline 
privacy of subscribers by adding "web bugs" and other tracking/profiling 
code/scripts to their HTML mailouts.

It is very easy today to design a newsletter with embedded codes/scripts 
that allow the sender to determine if/when I open the message, where I open 
the message (i.e. location-based profiling), which IP address I am using 
(which can be cross-referenced down to the ISP/domain name owner i.e. am I 
at home, using an office PC, on the road etc.), which OS I am using, what 
Web browser I have installed and all the other details that can be obtained 
via the HTTP headers - plus what can be discerned by doing a followup probe 
once you've collated those details).

There is even greater scope for privacy infringement if the owner 
cross-references these "tracking" data with any information gleaned from 
the signup process (that is, where the subscription process requires more 
than merely an email address, such as a name, address etc.).

Again, there is no doubt in my mind that you would never do this - but the 
next guy might.

I personally always choose Text over HTML formatting when I subscribe to 
newsletters.

This is primarily because I have disabled the HTML rendering function from 
my email program (Eudora Pro). I disabled this function due to (a) the very 
real risk of malicious HTML/script-based email viruses and (b) the 
unscrupulous tactics of some marketers that use "Web bugs" and other 
"tracking" code in their mailouts.

HTML-based newsletters do offer greater flexibility and presentation than 
plain text newsletters, but I will always prefer plain text until these 
security and privacy issues are overcome.

Regards,

Mark

_________
Mark Neely, LLB AIMM - mpn@infolution.com.au
Principal Consultant - Infolution Pty Ltd - www.infolution.com.au

"Creating powerful and effective communication strategies"



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