Is it possible to get something from a delayed opening email?

[Peter Franks]

Wonder if it's doing something while it's loading?

Should I be suspicious that someone I know who's sending me emails are slow to open and show text and leave when sent when I receive on my iPhone 5S, as opposed to all others which load straight away?

What could cause that and is it something dubious at their end? Soon as I mentioned it to them, it was then rectified.

Can someone plant something or is it maybe a delivery report type thing? Any help appreciated. I could understand if they were all doing it and it was slow. Then it's the server. But when just from one person I'm suspicious. How can I check?

 

[C DM]

Perhaps they have a signature with some images or multimedia that's included, or sending messages in HTML format that are loading some layouts and other assets?

 

[Peter Franks]

Thanks for reply. No nothing there. A personal email address. Just text. Is it possible for anyone to plant any kind of spyware on your computer while this email is downloading without me clicking on anything? That was my worry. Very strange that all others are as normal. And this address has emailed me for years and this has just started happening.

Obviously it's from someone I don't trust anymore...

 

[C DM]

Thanks for reply. No nothing there. A personal email address. Just text. Is it possible for anyone to plant any kind of spyware on your computer while this email is downloading without me clicking on anything? That was my worry. Very strange that all others are as normal. And this address has emailed me for years and this has just started happening.

Obviously it's from someone I don't trust anymore...

Generally unless there's some security hole in existence that might be getting exploited it's very unlikely something would execute or do anything simply from getting/reading an email, and more so when it comes to iOS that has a more secure model when it comes to things of that nature (as you can't really even run anything from mail as far as something that would install without your permission or action).

 

[Peter Franks]

Thanks. I am still on 10.6.8 but I'm sure you're right. Thanks again

 

[iThingsGurl]

If this helps, there are certain services that attach a very tiny image (usually a white dot; harmless) along with the sent email. Its purpose is to inform the sender when the email has been viewed - a read receipt. The theory is, while the email service provider may not always part with read receipts, when the receiver opens the email the image is viewed and is thus derived that the email must have been read. Although this image - also called email beacon - occupies very less memory, certain apps may take time in loading such emails.

 

[Peter Franks]

That's very interesting thank you. You used to her offered to send a read receipt. Presumably this is not illegal then? It informs them you've opened their email. But we don't know about it?

 

[iThingsGurl]

That's very interesting thank you. You used to her offered to send a read receipt. Presumably this is not illegal then? It informs them you've opened their email. But we don't know about it?

I think its not illegal, unless its an enterprise email account and the administrator has termed it illegal. At times, there is an attachment icon in the email but you don't see anything attached. During these times you can assume that it had email beacon attached. Advertisers often use this trick and attach the email beacon along with their logo itself. Which is why you must've heard people say not to open a spam email. They know when you open it and hence target you with more such emails.

 

[Peter Franks]

Thank you. Informative stuff