The Older Geek

Here’s a handy hack and a security benefit: configure Windows Mail or Windows Live Mail to block images from displaying in emails. You can easily choose to view the images by clicking a bar in the email itself, after you have opened it.

Emails are the most common means of the spread of viruses and phishing scams. Always be suspicious of your email, even when it purports to come from people you know. Criminals have become very sophisticated with their hacks. They often “spoof” emails or websites to look like legitimate emails and websites. Viewing an image or clicking a link in an email to login to a website can activate malicious software or steal your user identity.

Here’s how to prevent images from displaying in your emails:

1. Open your email client.
2. Select Tools >> Options from the menu.
3. Go to the Security tab.
4. Check the box “Block images and other external content in HTML e-mail.”
5. Click OK to save your changes.



Now, whenever you open your email and it has images, all the images will be blocked. The text of the email is still very visible and readable, so you can read the content of the email without the images. But you can still choose to view them for this email. Just click on the bar that says “Some pictures have been blocked to help prevent the sender from identifying your computer. Click here to download pictures.” The email will reload and the images will be visible.

While it is helpful to block unwanted images from emails, this should not be considered the only way to protect yourself from malicious programs. I’ll have a post on How to Avoid Viruses and Phishing Attacks soon.

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