That was supposed to be one of the benefits of not automatically loading. Web Beacons <http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/Web_beacon.html> can be used as images in your e-mail, and they load from "the bad guys server"; so when you open your e-mail they get your IP as well as when you loaded it.
Gmail's new policy is proxying the loading, so that gets them away from getting your IP; but they'll still know you opened the message. Since they're not getting any PII (Personally Identifyable Information), the chance that they know "Jeff" read his e-mail is pretty slim.. If they were getting the image load directly, instead of proxied, they could get your system name, browser, etc... and piece together a picture that told them it was "Jeff" I think those that are still worried about the spammers knowing you read your mail are overly paranoid. Sure it could happen at this point, but that would be a very targeted attack. That level of attack is nearly impossible to completely avoid. On Tue, Dec 17, 2013 at 12:57 PM, Jeff Grossman <[email protected]> wrote: > What are people's opinion of this change? I have read a few different > articles about how this is could be a way for spammers to see that you are > reading your e-mails. I don't know enough about how a proxy server works > to know if this is true or people just paranoid over Google making a change. > > Jeff > > > On Thursday, December 12, 2013 8:51:07 AM UTC-8, Jeff Grossman wrote: >> >> Images Now >> Showing<http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/OfficialGmailBlog/~3/41XZeQULHq8/images-now-showing.html> >> Dec 12th 2013, 16:45, by The Gmail >> Team<http://www.blogger.com/profile/10103598893707869193> >> >> Posted by John Rae-Grant, Product Manager >> >> Have you ever wondered why Gmail asks you before showing images in >> emails? We did this to protect you from unknown senders who might try to >> use images to compromise the security of your computer or mobile device. >> >> But thanks to new improvements in how Gmail handles images, you’ll soon >> see all images displayed in your messages automatically across desktop, iOS >> and Android. Instead of serving images directly from their original >> external host servers, Gmail will now serve all >> images<https://support.google.com/mail?p=display_images> through >> Google’s own secure proxy servers. >> >> So what does this mean for you? Simple: your messages are more safe and >> secure, your images are checked for known viruses or malware, and you’ll >> never have to press that pesky “display images below” link again. With this >> new change, your email will now be safer, faster and more beautiful than >> ever. >> <http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dfDs31rgu_g/UqnaXicP5wI/AAAAAAAABMc/TbGFnBUxcTM/s1600/Images.gif> >> Of course, those who prefer to authorize image display on a per message >> basis can choose the option “Ask before displaying external images” under >> the *General* tab in *Settings*. That option will also be the default >> for users who previously selected “Ask before displaying external content”. >> >> Similar to existing features like default https >> access<http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/default-https-access-for-gmail.html> >> , suspicious activity >> detection<http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/detecting-suspicious-account-activity.html>, >> and free two-step >> verification<http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/advanced-sign-in-security-for-your.html>, >> image proxying is another way your email is protected. This new improvement >> will be rolling out on desktop starting today and to your Gmail mobile apps >> in early 2014. >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Gmail-Users" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/gmail-users. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Gmail-Users" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/gmail-users. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
