Most of the spam messages contain links to websites from which
they download images. In effect, they are forcing you to visit
that site.
When you visit a site, the server there can collect some basic
information about your browser and operating system for marketing
purposes and IP address.
My question is, can they tell that you exist, i.e. somehow
associate the IP with your email address. They broadcast millions
of spam emails. Some will reach a valid user and some will bounce.

On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 18:25:20 GMT, in
<k8Nwb.5519$OD5.2827753570@newssvr30.news.prodigy. com>
Jim Prather scrawled:

Nobody is forcing you to do anything. If you click on a link,
that's your business.

Then don't visit the site.

The can even tell what you had for dinner.

--
Basic computer maintenance
http://uk.geocities.com/personel44/maintenance.html

Jim Prather <jim.prather@sbcglobal.net> wrote in
news:k8Nwb.5519$OD5.2827753570@newssvr30.news.prod igy.com:

Forcing you?


~ Spambots ~
http://www.sendfakemail.com/fakemail...t/makebait.asp

~ Harvesting ~
http://www.private.org.il/harvest.html
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~gcasel...arvesting.html

~Safe Hex ~
http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/articles/safehex.html
http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html


Unpatched IE security holes
http://pivx.com/larholm/unpatched/

Protecting Your Privacy & Security
http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/main-nf.htm

http://www.generation.net/~hleboeuf/spyware.htm

Parasites: Cookies, Dialers, Keyloggers, Trackers
http://www.generation.net/~hleboeuf/bhoindex.htm

~ Spyware Information ~
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm
http://www.cexx.org/adware.htm
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

~Unsolicited commercial software list and info~
http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/

Newsgroup: alt.privacy.spyware

Jim Prather posted ...

er ... no they aren't. It's _your_ choice to click a link you didn't ask
for.

Yup, and more ...

Of course they can .. they know everything ..

They know what you did last year ...

--
Digweed
....

Yes, they can tell. One way is that they use unique coding and filenames for each
message. There are many other ways as well.
What you need is a mail program that doesn't download the spam's crap. Mozilla's mail
is one. Thunderbird is the standalone version of the mail program.
http://www.mozilla.org/products/
I just noticed that you are using a newer Netscape... In the meantime, make sure you
have Java and Javascript turned off for mail and news. In N.C. 4.x, there was no way
to stop this behaviour.


On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 18:25:20 GMT, Jim Prather <jim.prather@sbcglobal.net> wrote in
24hoursupport.helpdesk:

On 25 Nov 2003 18:42:21 GMT, in
<3fc3a28c$0$31350$892e7fe2@authen.yellow.readfreen ews.net>
Boomer scrawled:

What? Weight Watchers wrap you up in foil? <g>

Mike,
You don't click the link in these spams, they open automatically.
Please don't respond if you are so clueless.


°Mike° wrote:

You said: "they are forcing you to visit that site."
That is plainly bullshit.


On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 19:10:17 GMT, in
<3FC3A917.6010106@sbcglobal.net>
Jim Prather scrawled:

--
Basic computer maintenance
http://uk.geocities.com/personel44/maintenance.html

[posted and mailed]

Jim Prather <jim.prather@sbcglobal.net> wrote in news:k8Nwb.5519
$OD5.2827753570@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com:

These are called web bugs and it's possible that they can be used to confirm
that you receieved the message (and in turn that your email address is
valid). This can then be used to generate mail lists of valid email
addresses that can be sold as 'good' lists.

Here is a FAQ on Web Bugs. Got to #10 for Web Bugs in email:

http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Marketing/web_bug.html

Depending on your email client you may be able to disable the use of web
bugs.

Boomer, the links in the spam email automatically open. If you
can't provide anything useful then you're just clutter in the group.


Boomer wrote:

On 25 Nov 2003 19:13:48 GMT, in
<3fc3a9ec$0$31350$892e7fe2@authen.yellow.readfreen ews.net>
Boomer scrawled:

I bet you look just dapper.

--
But I bet you don't need it.

"Jim Prather" <jim.prather@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:3FC3A917.6010106@sbcglobal.net...
What are you opening them for if you know they're spam?

Jim Prather <jim.prather@sbcglobal.net> wrote in
news:3FC3A917.6010106@sbcglobal.net:

Use Mozilla 1.5. I see no pop ups that would "force" me to visit a
site.
[snip]

°Mike° <ZHNTPDWBLECA@fcnzzbgry.pbz> wrote in
news:3fd0aac7.5466512@localhost.dot.net:

And slimmer, too!

If they're opening automatically, then (again) that is *your*
fault. You have either the wrong mail client, or your security
settings are totally inadequate.


On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 19:17:04 GMT, in
<3FC3AAAF.1010702@sbcglobal.net>
Jim Prather scrawled:

--
Basic computer maintenance
http://uk.geocities.com/personel44/maintenance.html

On 25 Nov 2003 19:35:38 GMT, in
<3fc3af09$0$31350$892e7fe2@authen.yellow.readfreen ews.net>
Boomer scrawled:

<snip>

<snip>

LOL! That says it all, doesn't it?

--
"The best defense against logic is stupidity."

Boomer posted ...

Damn ... I never knew ...


--
Digweed
....

On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 18:27:29 -0500, in
<3fc3e550$0$89703$a0465688@nnrp.fuse.net>
Thund3rstruck scrawled:

On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 06:11:40 -0500, in
<3fc48a5a$0$179$a04e5680@nnrp.fuse.net>
Thund3rstruck scrawled:

Are you *sure*? <g>

--
"Things are not always the way they seem."

Howdy!

"°Mike°" <ZHNTPDWBLECA@fcnzzbgry.pbz> wrote in message
news:3fc4a0e0.2930531@localhost.dot.net...
*ahem* Outlook Express when you don't set to "Plain Text Only" will
respond to Webbugs in emails, thereby doing a visit without you ever
clicking on a link.

But that's a user problem, IMO .. since it's one checkmark to
disable this.

"But why does it do this?"

Well, consider that Microsoft is a member of the DMA - the Direct
Mail Assocation ...

Incredimail can NOT shut this down - so anyone using
Incredi(blystupid)mail is just BEGGING to be hit like this.

Just FYI ...

RwP