Despite the fact that surveillance on the Internet exists, for most of us, it goes completely unnoticed. The apps and web services we use collect a ton of information, from searches and movements to purchases and even photo content. Apple is trying to be an exception to the rule and seemingly striving to ensure the privacy of its users, but it still fails to fence us off all types of surveillance. This means that we need to do it ourselves.
Few know that there is an extremely common method of e-mail surveillance. It allows you to find out, firstly, whether the recipient read the message sent to him, and, secondly, when and where he did it. The sender is informed about all this by a special component that is connected to the remote server. It can be a picture, banner, drop cap, or a single-pixel that you won’t even notice. Moreover, for secret tracking, as a rule, some kind of the most inconspicuous element is used.
How to know that the Mail has been read
It may seem that there is nothing wrong with the fact that the sender learns that the letter has been read. But you need to understand that most email applications have access to geolocation services, which means they will definitely inform the sender about exactly where you were while reading. And when combined with real-time information, just one letter can be a pretty powerful tracking tool. However, it is quite possible to resist it, and it is quite easy and simple to do it.
First, let’s take a look at how to disable tracking through external images and other elements on a Mac. Honestly, I do not know from which version in macOS it became possible to disable tracking in this way, but I have it on High Sierra. Therefore, even if you are using a Mac that is not the latest version of the operating system, you will most likely still be able to find the desired option in the Mail preferences menu and prevent surveillance.
How to turn off email tracking
- Launch the Mail application on your Mac;
- Click on the “Mail” icon in the top menu;
- Select “Settings” and go to “View”;
- Disable the “Download content from other sources” option.
Now let’s move on to iOS – everything is no less simple here:
- Go to “Settings” on your iPhone or iPad;
- Scroll down the list of available options and select “Mail”;
- In the window that opens, find the “Messages” section;
- Disable the Download External Images option.
However, disabling the loading of external images, you need to be prepared for the fact that some letters that you receive will look poorer. The fact is that those pictures and banners that are placed on the sender’s servers will simply be blocked. But, on the other hand, after all, a letter is not an exhibition of photographic art, so there is nothing to look at especially there. At the same time, all functional elements of the letter such as links or forms will not go anywhere – everything will be in place.
