Submitted by flutterbyasaurus t3_z8c737 in LifeProTips
Tracking pixels are now commonplace, and these let a sender know that you’ve opened an email they’ve sent, plus the time and date that you did so. They can even see if you’ve forwarded the message to anyone else.
These are tiny bits of code that are usually hidden in images that are included in emails. When you open the email, they are triggered and send back the meta-data (it’s open, here’s when) to the sender.
Be aware though that this will only stop some from reporting on you. To safeguard your privacy fully, you’ll need to look at browser plug-ins.
BustaferJones t1_iyb9aym wrote
This is a big deal in certain industries. I work in Legal, and trackers sent to attorneys and forwarded to clients and insurance companies often reveal key patterns like an intent to settle. Knowing what patterns to look for can make trackers a big deal and cause all sorts of ethical issues.