topic Re: HTML emails in Plusnet Feedback

HTML emails

thelawtons — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 22:06:10 GMT

Does anyone else feel aggravated by these (sent by Plusnet) ?

These are a security risk.

At one time all emails from Plusnet were properly 'Plain Text', but someone on their manglement team made the decision to some systems to make them send HTML emails.

Dave

Re: HTML emails

Oldjim — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 23:05:20 GMT

Why don't you just set your client to display only plain text - HTML aren't inherently unsafe other than that they can include a few nasty's which ones from Plusnet wouldn't

Re: HTML emails

thelawtons — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 17:58:08 GMT

Hi Oldjim,

Thanks for responding.

Unfortunately HTML emails ARE inherently unsafe.

Most HTML emails are SPAM/Phishing.

Some HTML emails do NOT have a 'Plain text' section.

Some clients will NOT display anything else.

Some clients insist on running anything in the preview window.

Email headers can be faked (Spoofing).

Re: HTML emails

chenks76 — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 18:13:02 GMT

your issue is with the source of the email, not the format.
HTML emails are only unsafe if the source of the emails chooses to make them unsafe.

if you are worried about receiving such emails then use a client that blocks them.
quite simple.

Re: HTML emails

PeeGee — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 19:01:45 GMT

As far as I'm concerned, HTML e-mails are an extremely annoying waste of time and bandwidth - to the extent that if an e-mail does not display meaningful text when I open it, it usually gets deleted without any effort by me to see what it says.

Companies used to allow the option of plain text or HTML, which was fine, but now there is no choice as "everyone uses HTML in e-mails" (and the mailing software is unable to cope with sensible options) - in the same way that "everyone uses Microsoft Windows".

Phil

Re: HTML emails

Mav — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 01:50:50 GMT

I always thought the choice was back in the days when more people were on dial-up hence HTML would take a lot longer?

Re: HTML emails

PeeGee — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 08:33:01 GMT

That may be the case, but I have yet to view an HTML e-mail (by laboriously extracting and correcting the HTML then loading into a browser) that conveyed any information that could not be done with plain text. Yes, they have pictures and multiple founts but none of the embellishments convey additional information about the content and are, therefore, totally redundant.

As you may have guessed, my e-mail client does not handle HTML well (I do not link to a browser) but does everything e-mail related that I require.

Phil

Re: HTML emails

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 08:52:19 GMT

I also find HTML emails a complete waste of resources, its use serves no purpose whatsoever, the only reason I can see for it being the format of choice is that it can provide the sender with the ability to track the recipient.

My email current client supports both the creation and rendering of HTML but is turned off by default, and in all the years I’ve used email I have never once written a HTML email.