Clicking links embedded in email

[Ganeedi]

Question here: If you click a link that is embedded in an email, can the website that you are linked to record your email address somehow? I am concerned about this as a source of more junk mail from the site. If you end up clicking the link in the email, and they can record your email somehow, they now know it is a legitimate email and share/send you more email?

For example when i hover over links in emails, i see an http address like: /www.somesite.com/track/click?u=20Kksdjdjsg38ijfsjsf....

What is all the code after track/click?u=

Thanks for any input, as this has been bothering me for awhile. I always hesitate to click these types of links, unless i know exactly who the email is from. Maybe my concerns are unfounded?

 

[nickbits]

Yes they can. That code is usually tied to your email address so they will know someone from that address will click links in their email. They can't directly steal your email address from clicking the link though.

They can also get that info if you have inline pictures set to display as well. That is why gmail makes you pick "Display pictures in this email" because they can track you that way too.