Images in private messages

Victor

Could these images be turned off, site wide?

It has certain implications for IP privacy.

Boards.ie: Danny

I don't understand what you're getting at - please elaborate on the implications (especially when compared to, say, a post in a private forum).

Danny

Victor

If I send you a PM with an image, as soon as you open it I can get your IP and draw certain inferences (network, location, time, etc.). You have no choice once you open the PM.

Doing the same in a private forum means I'm left guessing which member of that private forum looked at the image.

Doing the same in a public forum means I'm left guessing who looked at the image and the best I can do is compile a profile of boards.ie users. If I'm so inclined.

seamus

IMO, Victor exposes a better point that a troublesome user could fill a PM with porn images and group send it to whoever they're trying to piss off. People open it in work, and next thing you know, it's unemployment-ville; population: you. This is the reason we turned off images in AH.

It's the first thing I thought of when I saw this thread.

I think the privacy issue isn't that big a deal, but again a troublesome user could potentially try to draw some information on a mod and use it to cause trouble (make a complaint to their employer, for example).

Creamy Goodness

oh maybe ya know don't open anything if you don't trust the connection

Steve

More of a site policy decision than a tech issue here, no?