Would you give up HTML email to put an end to phishing?

[Rock Hydra]

No, let's have e-mails as little executable files that lauch little applications that display your email, images, text, and viruses in all! No need to discriminate.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Eli
I still use a plain text email client, Eudora 3.0.5.

Good times. Version 3 was from when? '95 - '96?

Something like that.

It says (C)1991-1997. 😀

It does everything I need it to, send and recieve email. I've been using it since I first got on the 'net.

Infact, I still have the welcome email from my very first ISP - and every email I've ever gotten.

From: root <root@pacifier.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 08:16:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Welcome message

Greetings,


Welcom to Pacifier! We are happy to have you as a customer and will do
everything we can to help you succesfully use and enjoy the Internet.

:Q😀

Edit: LOL, I just realized that my first ISP was called Pacifier(as in the baby thing, and I was a n00b). That's amusing.

It was the cheapest ISP in the area though. Pacifier Online Data Services, heh. Good times.

 

[Need4Speed]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Already have.

- M4H

ditto

 

[archcommus]

First off, I'm noticing a lot of users of software clients, can anyone tell me what advantage it offers them over a web-based solution like Gmail? I used my Comcast address for a long time but ditched it completely once I got Gmail. It's one less thing to have to worry about backing up and the accessibility is nice. Also doesn't change if you ever change ISPs. :thumbsup:

Besides that, everyone's saying they prefer plain text, but can anyone tell me why?

 

I don't use HTML email.
Who the hell needs HTML in their email?

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: archcommus
Besides that, everyone's saying they prefer plain text, but can anyone tell me why?

same reason people don't like flash. They want pertinent info without all the glamour because that's all that is necessary.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: archcommus
Besides that, everyone's saying they prefer plain text, but can anyone tell me why?

same reason people don't like flash. They want pertinent info without all the glamour because that's all that is necessary.

So do all the people who use plain-text emails also use classic style on Windows XP?

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: archcommus
Besides that, everyone's saying they prefer plain text, but can anyone tell me why?

same reason people don't like flash. They want pertinent info without all the glamour because that's all that is necessary.

So do all the people who use plain-text emails also use classic style on Windows XP?

Why would that matter? One is a security aspect, the other visual...

 

[archcommus]

Both are visual aspects.

I don't see how HTML e-mail is compromising your security. Don't click on unfamiliar links. Done.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: archcommus
Both are visual aspects.

I don't see how HTML e-mail is compromising your security. Don't click on unfamiliar links. Done.

Re-read yoda291's post above to see how it compromises your privacy.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: kranky

Originally posted by: archcommus
Both are visual aspects.

I don't see how HTML e-mail is compromising your security. Don't click on unfamiliar links. Done.

Re-read yoda291's post above to see how it compromises your privacy.

Well with Gmail and pretty much all web-based email providers and all software clients, images are not displayed unless you click the link to display them. So how is that a compromise still?

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: archcommus
Besides that, everyone's saying they prefer plain text, but can anyone tell me why?

same reason people don't like flash. They want pertinent info without all the glamour because that's all that is necessary.

So do all the people who use plain-text emails also use classic style on Windows XP?

Well, I do.. the WinXP theme is FUGLY.

 

[gopunk]

hell yes... i haven't ever seen a screaming need for html email

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: archcommus
Besides that, everyone's saying they prefer plain text, but can anyone tell me why?

same reason people don't like flash. They want pertinent info without all the glamour because that's all that is necessary.

So do all the people who use plain-text emails also use classic style on Windows XP?

Well, I do.. the WinXP theme is FUGLY.

Same here. I guess I'm getting old.

 

[archcommus]

I used to think the XP theme was ugly until I used it for awhile. Now I think classic is ugly.

Oh well, it's all what you're used to.

So, like I said, since Gmail and probably all email providers/apps do not show images unless you tell it to, I still don't see the problem. Anyone?

 

[rahvin]

As others have mentioned I've never used HTML email, I turn it off on every email client I use and have since it was first implimented. It's too fvcking easy to be abused, 1pix by 1pix gif image linked into an email will tell the sender when you read it and what your IP address is. This is especially usefull to spammers as the know for certain the email went to an active account and was opened and read and will get you put on their priority email list.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: archcommus
Besides that, everyone's saying they prefer plain text, but can anyone tell me why?

same reason people don't like flash. They want pertinent info without all the glamour because that's all that is necessary.

So do all the people who use plain-text emails also use classic style on Windows XP?

I use classic. It looks much better with a darker color though.

Pic.

Best part? No external programs needed to change it 😀

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: archcommus
Both are visual aspects.

I don't see how HTML e-mail is compromising your security. Don't click on unfamiliar links. Done.

Your ignorant to other exploits. There are a myriad of vectors from HTML, and not all require a click. Read up on the GDI exploit in .jpgs for example. Do you block .jpgs from your html e-mails? No I didn't think so. What about the URL spoofing, do you actually view the source HTML?

Then there's the clickable ones, heaven forbid you accidently mis-click. Hello Mr. Spyware, have you met Mr. Backup and Mrs. Restore?

That just one example. There are LOTS more, trust me, or read up for yourself.

 

[johnjbruin]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i use plain text email whenever possible

 

[GeekDrew]

I've enabled plain text composition by default, and I prefer to view in plain text when possible...

I installed a copy of Horde on my company's website, so that anyone I host (and some other realms, if requested) can use it for their webmail needs... and actually, it would not be bad to use as the only way to access your mail. That's what I use when I'm not at home and can't use Outlook... and sometimes I use Horde even when I am at home... there are advantages to using it.

I remember back in the day of Pine... I used to like using it...

Andrew

 

[Gurck]

No.

I hate stupid people and enjoy seeing them get screwed. I'm not saying I'd scam people, that's crossing the line.

 

[whistleclient]

so how do i force outlook 2003 to view mail as text only?



edit: never mind. google is my friend.

for anyone else that was wondering...

To turn on the Read all standard mail in plain text option, follow these steps: 1. Start Outlook 2003.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
3. On the Preferences tab, in the E-mail area, click E-mail Options.
4. In the Message handling area, click to select the Read all standard mail in plain text check box.

Note By default, the Read all standard mail in plain text option is turned off.
When the Read all standard mail in plain text option is turned on, you receive the following notification on the InfoBar at the top of the e-mail message:
This message was converted to plain text.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: archcommus
Besides that, everyone's saying they prefer plain text, but can anyone tell me why?

same reason people don't like flash. They want pertinent info without all the glamour because that's all that is necessary.

So do all the people who use plain-text emails also use classic style on Windows XP?

Well, I do.. the WinXP theme is FUGLY.

Same here. I guess I'm getting old.

same here. Classic style. The XP theme looks like a cartoon.

Don't get me wrong about being plain and old style. I'm a web-dev'er and love the technologies, but emails are meant to be simple text communications, not advertisements.

 

[cronos]

e-mail is supposed to be plain text only.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: archcommus
Both are visual aspects.

I don't see how HTML e-mail is compromising your security. Don't click on unfamiliar links. Done.

Your ignorant to other exploits. There are a myriad of vectors from HTML, and not all require a click. Read up on the GDI exploit in .jpgs for example. Do you block .jpgs from your html e-mails? No I didn't think so. What about the URL spoofing, do you actually view the source HTML?

Then there's the clickable ones, heaven forbid you accidently mis-click. Hello Mr. Spyware, have you met Mr. Backup and Mrs. Restore?

That just one example. There are LOTS more, trust me, or read up for yourself.

That's funny how you answered that question yourself, and not only that but incorrectly, as well, as I already said that ALL IMAGES are blocked on default.

URL spoofing? I don't even see why that's an issue. I wouldn't click on a link unless it was from a trusted source anyway.

I'm not trying to say HTML has no vulnerabilities, I'm just saying that no one has given a concrete reason yet.