Scot,
ITA we do not need the HTML email for our everyday use.
HTML based email is mainly used by the Email-Newsletter companies, (i.e.
Whitehat,
Exactis, etc...) especially for advertising purposes.
We can argue that we don't need it but in reality, these companies
live off the daily newsletters they send out. I believe all of these
newsletters
are being sent out to people who actually subscribed to receive them.
While the reason is mainly commercial it cannot be ignored. As far as the
bandwidth is concerned - most of those HTML emails don't actually email the
images
but rather display it via a link from their own server. (Which of course
does not help
bandwidth matters especially if first the run it through a logging agent).
I believe the problem starts when somebody writes an HTML email that can
retrieve,
write or execute anything on the receiving client's system.
I agree with you - it is contradictory. So is every new technology, even the
more
tangible ones. I'll bet once everybody agreed that there is no need for the
automobile, horses will do fine - but now we want to take our
tractor-trailer
to work, on an eco-car style gas-burn, and speed as fast as a Ferrari. Go
figure.
Lillian Komlossy
Site Manager
http://www.dmnews.com
http://www.imarketingnews.com
(212) 925-7300 ext. 232
-----Original Message-----
From: Scot Mc Pherson [mailto:smcpherson(_at_)clearaccess(_dot_)net]
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2000 1:59 PM
To: 'Lillian Komlossy'
Cc: ietf(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org
Subject: RE: VIRUS WARNING
Lillian,
I am not so sure I totally agree. Why exactly do we need HTML based
e-mail...Is it really necessary? E-mail is a service for transmitting a
written message, and written messages certainly don't require background
graphics or a full blown graphically based webpage.
There are a few reasons why I believe this, one of the most
compelling IMHO
is that graphic content in e-mails increases the size of the e-mail
exponentially, thus greatly contributing to the packet congestion already
extremely evident on the Internet today. I realize that we are developing
new technologies all the time that increase bandwidth, but I think its
terribly inefficient, and dangerous.
There is no practical need for html e-mail. It like saying I want to
use a
tractor trailer to commute to work everyday, but it needs to consume only as
much gas as an eco car, and go as fast a Ferrari.
Scot
-----Original Message-----
From: Lillian Komlossy [mailto:Lillian(_at_)dmnews(_dot_)com]
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2000 11:13 AM
To: 'Scot Mc Pherson'
Cc: 'ietf(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org'
Subject: RE: VIRUS WARNING
Scot,
While what you say is true - meaning an all-text restriction on your email
browser will prevent
"dangerous goods" to be downloaded - it also takes away functionality. We
have to find a way to
be able to use html based email but restrict it from - say running scripts,
executing anything,
writing cookies, issuing queries, etc... Until that happens, you're right -
html based email
is like a runaway train. We have to invent the "brakes" now.
Lillian Komlossy
Site Manager
http://www.dmnews.com
http://www.imarketingnews.com
(212) 925-7300 ext. 232
-----Original Message-----
From: Scot Mc Pherson [mailto:smcpherson(_at_)clearaccess(_dot_)net]
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2000 10:07 AM
To: Valdis(_dot_)Kletnieks(_at_)vt(_dot_)edu; 'Castro, Edison M. (PCA)'
Cc: 'Steven M. Bellovin'; Stef(_at_)NMA(_dot_)COM; 'Brant Knudson';
ietf(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org
Subject: RE: VIRUS WARNING
I believe the one of the most important holes is html based mail, because
the e-mail is processed as a webpage which can be used to download
undesirable content. If you configure your e-mail browser to display all
messages as text you will close this hole...You will notice my e-mails are
nearly 100% text
Scot