N
net1
Guest
Many spammers are including illicit code in their unsolicited mail to help them detect active email addresses, according to a ZDNet article.
Security firm MX Logic claimed that nearly 50 percent of spam sent over the last 12 months included a 'spam beacon' -- a piece of HTML code embedded in the email that detects when an email is opened, or even just previewed.
This information is then relayed back to the spammer, telling them that certain email addresses are in use. Similar techniques are also used by marketing companies to track behaviour and detect the response rate to targeted emails.
"Millions of users are unaware that spammers have the ability to track when they view and open their email," said Scott Chasin, MX Logic's chief technology officer.
Security firm MX Logic claimed that nearly 50 percent of spam sent over the last 12 months included a 'spam beacon' -- a piece of HTML code embedded in the email that detects when an email is opened, or even just previewed.
This information is then relayed back to the spammer, telling them that certain email addresses are in use. Similar techniques are also used by marketing companies to track behaviour and detect the response rate to targeted emails.
"Millions of users are unaware that spammers have the ability to track when they view and open their email," said Scott Chasin, MX Logic's chief technology officer.