This is an important issue, and the reason I am looking through the
newsgroup today. I'd like to see someone give a response to either tell
us how to turn off automatic fetching of internet content, or that such
a feature does not exist in Outlook.
I'm pretty sure my old OE had it in it as a check box ('Don't load
graphics' or the like). In fact, every email program I've used has that
capability. Where is it in Outlook? I've looked in every option pane,
customization dialog, and even poked around in the registry looking for
a setting to say "Dont go online unless I ask".
Sending HTML mail with embedded URLs is a technique for verifying
SPAMable email IDs. Even when not used to confirm an ID, I still don't
want to see the latest adult photo in my preview pane, especially when
my kids are within eyesight of the PC. Yes, I have spam filtering on.
Many levels, in fact. But sleazebag spammers are always crafting their
flotsam to get through those filters so they can find the one idiot out
of 10,000 (or 100,000) who will respond with a credit card number to an
herbal viagra ad or another collection of nudie pictures.
In order to properly control my mail, I have to be able to avoid
downloading mail content until I have confirmed this is a legit piece of
mail. If I can't do it in Outlook, I'm going to have to go back to
other less-cohesive mail/calendaring solutions.
Microsoft is always on the defensive over hackers, and to some extent
Spam. The Outlook website has Crabby Patty's tips to avoid spam, but
what about not downloading HTML content? The world isn't the flower
filled love fest someone at MS must believe it is. Not all email is to
save the world or my company. Some is junk from people who should be in
stocks on the public square.
Any MVP out there with some insight into this?