Why block images in mails

Blocking images in emails, also known as "image blocking" or "image blocking in email", is a security measure that prevents images from being displayed in an email message. Here are some reasons why email providers and users might block images in emails:

  1. Security: Images can be used to spread malware, viruses, or other types of malicious code. By blocking images, email providers can reduce the risk of users downloading and executing malicious code.
  2. Spam and phishing: Images can be used to trick users into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers. By blocking images, email providers can make it more difficult for spammers and phishers to use images to deceive users.
  3. Privacy: Some users may not want to receive images in their emails, either because they are concerned about privacy or because they prefer to control what images they see.
  4. Performance: Blocking images can improve email performance by reducing the amount of data that needs to be downloaded and processed.
  5. Compliance: Some organizations may have policies that prohibit the use of images in emails, either for security or compliance reasons.

When an email provider blocks images, it may display a placeholder image or a message indicating that the image has been blocked. The user may still be able to view the image by clicking on a link to download it or by whitelisting the sender's email address.

Some common scenarios where images might be blocked in emails include:

  1. Suspicious attachments: If an email contains a suspicious attachment, the email provider may block images to prevent the attachment from being executed.
  2. Unverified senders: If an email is sent from an unverified sender, the email provider may block images to prevent the sender from tricking the user into revealing sensitive information.
  3. Spam filters: If an email is flagged as spam, the email provider may block images to prevent the user from being tricked into clicking on a malicious link.
  4. User preferences: If a user has opted out of receiving images in their emails, the email provider may block images to respect their preferences.

Overall, blocking images in emails is a security measure that can help protect users from malicious content and improve the overall security and performance of email communication.