[SpamCop-List] Re: The more I report, the more spam I get

[John E. Malmberg]

In article <c0fqj5$2g6$1 at news.spamcop.net>,
"Miss Betsy" <nobody at spamcop.net> writes:
> Out of curiosity  How do you tell if a spam requests a return
> receipt if you never open it?

The concept of "open" varies with the application used.  With "legacy"
platforms, opening a file is different then running any scripts or programs
contained inside of a file.

There seems to be a couple of different header lines for requesting receipts.

The receipt request can be seen if you view source or look at the headers
for the message.

The following actions can cause a requested receipt to be sent if you allow it.
Opening, deleting, forwarding, replying.

You usually have 3 options in your mail client.

Send receipts silently.
Never send receipts silently.
And prompt about receipts.

Some companies have locked the configuration down to always send receipts
silently.

>  My first rule is to never open any
> email that I do not immediately recognize the sender - including
> Mail Delivery notices.  I always read them in the message source
> (using OE).  I even read Fw:Fw: from people I know that way.

Technically viewing message source is opening the mail.  But you are doing so
in a way that is the least likely to cause malware to be activated.

With my system, there is no problem opening or previewing any e-mail as long
as I have the scripts and remote images disabled.  The account I read e-mail on
does not have sufficient privileges to do any unrepairable damage in the remote
possibility that someone actually sends me malware that can run on my system.

> BTW, I do have a couple of correspondents who use return receipts.
> I think they would be useful in certain circumstances.

They can be useful.  But I decide if I am going to send one, not the sender.

-John
wb8tyw at qsl.network
Personal Opinion Only