Which newsgroup for info about email scripts?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JoeSpareBedroom
  • Start date Start date
J

JoeSpareBedroom

A friend placed a couple of orders at Fingerhut, and she called me when she
opened the confirm emails, which resulted in a series of script error
messages from Outlook Express. I explained that this was her punishment for
buying cheesy gifts from that company, but that wasn't the answer she was
looking for. At this point, my curiosity is about why a simple email would
even need scripts, something I never see from other companies'
confirmations. (Maybe the scripts are there, but they work right so I don't
notice them).

Is there a group where I might find a few programmers who can explain the
purpose of these things?
 
"JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborealis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Hhcaj.621$Sa1.405@news02.roc.ny...
>A friend placed a couple of orders at Fingerhut, and she called me when she
>opened the confirm emails, which resulted in a series of script error
>messages from Outlook Express. I explained that this was her punishment for
>buying cheesy gifts from that company, but that wasn't the answer she was
>looking for. At this point, my curiosity is about why a simple email would
>even need scripts, something I never see from other companies'
>confirmations. (Maybe the scripts are there, but they work right so I don't
>notice them).
>
> Is there a group where I might find a few programmers who can explain the
> purpose of these things?
>

I would start with an Outlook Express newsgroup.
 
> A friend placed a couple of orders at Fingerhut, and she called me when
she
> opened the confirm emails, which resulted in a series of script error
> messages from Outlook Express. I explained that this was her punishment
for
> buying cheesy gifts from that company, but that wasn't the answer she was
> looking for. At this point, my curiosity is about why a simple email would
> even need scripts, something I never see from other companies'
> confirmations. (Maybe the scripts are there, but they work right so I
don't
> notice them).
>
> Is there a group where I might find a few programmers who can explain the
> purpose of these things?
>

You probably want something like a web developers'
newsgroup, or maybe a javascript newsgroup. Most likely
your friend has an HTML email that's using javascript to
track her opening of the email. Or it might just be script
that's there to do something like change an image when
the mouse moves over it.

One thing you might try is to save the email to
Desktop and open it in Notepad. An email is actually
all text-based, so you can see the code that's in it.
If you can't figure out what the code is doing you
could try searching for a match to a code snippet, or
post some of the code to a scripting newsgroup.

It's generally good security practice not to open HTML
email in Outlook Express. (Use Thunderbird if you MUST allow
the HTML to run.) I use OE, but always use the right-click
menu with the Preview window closed to see the raw text
if I'm dealing with an unknown - or possibly web-bug-infested
- email. (Right click -> Properties -> Details -> Message Source.)
If you allow HTML email to display in the Preview window it's
nearly as risky as using Internet Explorer online.
 
OE Tools > Options > Security > select "Restricted Sites" zone (which is the
default).
--
OE-specific newsgroup:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> A friend placed a couple of orders at Fingerhut, and she called me when
> she
> opened the confirm emails, which resulted in a series of script error
> messages from Outlook Express. I explained that this was her punishment
> for
> buying cheesy gifts from that company, but that wasn't the answer she was
> looking for. At this point, my curiosity is about why a simple email would
> even need scripts, something I never see from other companies'
> confirmations. (Maybe the scripts are there, but they work right so I
> don't
> notice them).
>
> Is there a group where I might find a few programmers who can explain the
> purpose of these things?
 
I know about that. I want to understand their purpose, not shut them off. I
don't use the preview pane, and I never open email if I don't recognize the
sender of a message based on the subject line or other clues.


"PA Bear" . wrote in message
news:OluVxVnQIHA.5988@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> OE Tools > Options > Security > select "Restricted Sites" zone (which is
> the default).
> --
> OE-specific newsgroup:
> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general
>
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>> A friend placed a couple of orders at Fingerhut, and she called me when
>> she
>> opened the confirm emails, which resulted in a series of script error
>> messages from Outlook Express. I explained that this was her punishment
>> for
>> buying cheesy gifts from that company, but that wasn't the answer she was
>> looking for. At this point, my curiosity is about why a simple email
>> would
>> even need scripts, something I never see from other companies'
>> confirmations. (Maybe the scripts are there, but they work right so I
>> don't
>> notice them).
>>
>> Is there a group where I might find a few programmers who can explain the
>> purpose of these things?
>
 
Last edited by a moderator:
What are you talking about? Your friend is getting the script errors
because she has OE running in the Internet zone. Change it back to the
default Restricted Sites zone and she won't get any script errors.

Or continue as is and get the errors...and possibly subject the machine to
attack.
--
~PA Bear


JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> I know about that. I want to understand their purpose, not shut them off.
> I
> don't use the preview pane, and I never open email if I don't recognize
> the
> sender of a message based on the subject line or other clues.
>
>
> "PA Bear" . wrote in message
> news:OluVxVnQIHA.5988@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> OE Tools > Options > Security > select "Restricted Sites" zone (which is
>> the default).
>> --
>> OE-specific newsgroup:
>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general
>>
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>>
>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>> A friend placed a couple of orders at Fingerhut, and she called me when
>>> she
>>> opened the confirm emails, which resulted in a series of script error
>>> messages from Outlook Express. I explained that this was her punishment
>>> for
>>> buying cheesy gifts from that company, but that wasn't the answer she
>>> was
>>> looking for. At this point, my curiosity is about why a simple email
>>> would
>>> even need scripts, something I never see from other companies'
>>> confirmations. (Maybe the scripts are there, but they work right so I
>>> don't
>>> notice them).
>>>
>>> Is there a group where I might find a few programmers who can explain
>>> the
>>> purpose of these things?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Fine, but I would still like to know more about the useful purposes of
scripts in otherwise legitimate emails, like the merchant's confirmation she
received. Is it OK that I'm interested in knowledge for the sake of
knowledge?


"PA Bear" . wrote in message
news:%23REjNIoQIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> What are you talking about? Your friend is getting the script errors
> because she has OE running in the Internet zone. Change it back to the
> default Restricted Sites zone and she won't get any script errors.
>
> Or continue as is and get the errors...and possibly subject the machine to
> attack.
> --
> ~PA Bear
>
>
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>> I know about that. I want to understand their purpose, not shut them off.
>> I
>> don't use the preview pane, and I never open email if I don't recognize
>> the
>> sender of a message based on the subject line or other clues.
>>
>>
>> "PA Bear" . wrote in message
>> news:OluVxVnQIHA.5988@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> OE Tools > Options > Security > select "Restricted Sites" zone (which is
>>> the default).
>>> --
>>> OE-specific newsgroup:
>>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general
>>>
>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>>>
>>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>> A friend placed a couple of orders at Fingerhut, and she called me when
>>>> she
>>>> opened the confirm emails, which resulted in a series of script error
>>>> messages from Outlook Express. I explained that this was her punishment
>>>> for
>>>> buying cheesy gifts from that company, but that wasn't the answer she
>>>> was
>>>> looking for. At this point, my curiosity is about why a simple email
>>>> would
>>>> even need scripts, something I never see from other companies'
>>>> confirmations. (Maybe the scripts are there, but they work right so I
>>>> don't
>>>> notice them).
>>>>
>>>> Is there a group where I might find a few programmers who can explain
>>>> the
>>>> purpose of these things?
>
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Joe

Are they useful if they put the customer's computer at risk? Isn't it an
outmoded way to communicate?

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> Fine, but I would still like to know more about the useful purposes of
> scripts in otherwise legitimate emails, like the merchant's
> confirmation she received. Is it OK that I'm interested in knowledge
> for the sake of knowledge?
>
>
> "PA Bear" . wrote in message
> news:%23REjNIoQIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> What are you talking about? Your friend is getting the script errors
>> because she has OE running in the Internet zone. Change it back to
>> the default Restricted Sites zone and she won't get any script
>> errors. Or continue as is and get the errors...and possibly subject
>> the
>> machine to attack.
>> --
>> ~PA Bear
>>
>>
>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>> I know about that. I want to understand their purpose, not shut
>>> them off. I
>>> don't use the preview pane, and I never open email if I don't
>>> recognize the
>>> sender of a message based on the subject line or other clues.
>>>
>>>
>>> "PA Bear" . wrote in message
>>> news:OluVxVnQIHA.5988@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>> OE Tools > Options > Security > select "Restricted Sites" zone
>>>> (which is the default).
>>>> --
>>>> OE-specific newsgroup:
>>>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general
>>>>
>>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>>>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>>>>
>>>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>>> A friend placed a couple of orders at Fingerhut, and she called
>>>>> me when she
>>>>> opened the confirm emails, which resulted in a series of script
>>>>> error messages from Outlook Express. I explained that this was
>>>>> her punishment for
>>>>> buying cheesy gifts from that company, but that wasn't the answer
>>>>> she was
>>>>> looking for. At this point, my curiosity is about why a simple
>>>>> email would
>>>>> even need scripts, something I never see from other companies'
>>>>> confirmations. (Maybe the scripts are there, but they work right
>>>>> so I don't
>>>>> notice them).
>>>>>
>>>>> Is there a group where I might find a few programmers who can
>>>>> explain the
>>>>> purpose of these things?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
If they add risk, then obviously, they're not useful. But, the only reason
this script was obvious was because of its error messages. What if it had
been properly written, and there WAS a useful purpose for it?


"Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:uqi3QZoQIHA.5164@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Joe
>
> Are they useful if they put the customer's computer at risk? Isn't it an
> outmoded way to communicate?
>
> --
>
>
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Gerry
> ~~~~
> FCA
> Stourport, England
> Enquire, plan and execute
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>> Fine, but I would still like to know more about the useful purposes of
>> scripts in otherwise legitimate emails, like the merchant's
>> confirmation she received. Is it OK that I'm interested in knowledge
>> for the sake of knowledge?
>>
>>
>> "PA Bear" . wrote in message
>> news:%23REjNIoQIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> What are you talking about? Your friend is getting the script errors
>>> because she has OE running in the Internet zone. Change it back to
>>> the default Restricted Sites zone and she won't get any script
>>> errors. Or continue as is and get the errors...and possibly subject the
>>> machine to attack.
>>> --
>>> ~PA Bear
>>>
>>>
>>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>> I know about that. I want to understand their purpose, not shut
>>>> them off. I
>>>> don't use the preview pane, and I never open email if I don't
>>>> recognize the
>>>> sender of a message based on the subject line or other clues.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "PA Bear" . wrote in message
>>>> news:OluVxVnQIHA.5988@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>> OE Tools > Options > Security > select "Restricted Sites" zone
>>>>> (which is the default).
>>>>> --
>>>>> OE-specific newsgroup:
>>>>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general
>>>>>
>>>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>>>>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>>>>>
>>>>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>>>> A friend placed a couple of orders at Fingerhut, and she called
>>>>>> me when she
>>>>>> opened the confirm emails, which resulted in a series of script
>>>>>> error messages from Outlook Express. I explained that this was
>>>>>> her punishment for
>>>>>> buying cheesy gifts from that company, but that wasn't the answer
>>>>>> she was
>>>>>> looking for. At this point, my curiosity is about why a simple
>>>>>> email would
>>>>>> even need scripts, something I never see from other companies'
>>>>>> confirmations. (Maybe the scripts are there, but they work right
>>>>>> so I don't
>>>>>> notice them).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Is there a group where I might find a few programmers who can
>>>>>> explain the
>>>>>> purpose of these things?
>
>
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Joe

The system cannot differentiate between a useful script and a not useful
script. If you require protection from a script damaging the software
you have to prevent all from automatically executing. You can
temporarily turn off the protection of you so wish. I do this when I use
macros in Excel to update spreadsheets.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> If they add risk, then obviously, they're not useful. But, the only
> reason this script was obvious was because of its error messages.
> What if it had been properly written, and there WAS a useful purpose
> for it?
>
> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:uqi3QZoQIHA.5164@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> Joe
>>
>> Are they useful if they put the customer's computer at risk? Isn't
>> it an outmoded way to communicate?
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>>
>> Hope this helps.
>>
>> Gerry
>> ~~~~
>> FCA
>> Stourport, England
>> Enquire, plan and execute
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>> Fine, but I would still like to know more about the useful purposes
>>> of scripts in otherwise legitimate emails, like the merchant's
>>> confirmation she received. Is it OK that I'm interested in knowledge
>>> for the sake of knowledge?
>>>
>>>
>>> "PA Bear" . wrote in message
>>> news:%23REjNIoQIHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>> What are you talking about? Your friend is getting the script
>>>> errors because she has OE running in the Internet zone. Change it
>>>> back to the default Restricted Sites zone and she won't get any
>>>> script errors. Or continue as is and get the errors...and possibly
>>>> subject the machine to attack.
>>>> --
>>>> ~PA Bear
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>>> I know about that. I want to understand their purpose, not shut
>>>>> them off. I
>>>>> don't use the preview pane, and I never open email if I don't
>>>>> recognize the
>>>>> sender of a message based on the subject line or other clues.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "PA Bear" . wrote in message
>>>>> news:OluVxVnQIHA.5988@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> OE Tools > Options > Security > select "Restricted Sites" zone
>>>>>> (which is the default).
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> OE-specific newsgroup:
>>>>>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>>>>>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>>>>> A friend placed a couple of orders at Fingerhut, and she called
>>>>>>> me when she
>>>>>>> opened the confirm emails, which resulted in a series of script
>>>>>>> error messages from Outlook Express. I explained that this was
>>>>>>> her punishment for
>>>>>>> buying cheesy gifts from that company, but that wasn't the
>>>>>>> answer she was
>>>>>>> looking for. At this point, my curiosity is about why a simple
>>>>>>> email would
>>>>>>> even need scripts, something I never see from other companies'
>>>>>>> confirmations. (Maybe the scripts are there, but they work right
>>>>>>> so I don't
>>>>>>> notice them).
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Is there a group where I might find a few programmers who can
>>>>>>> explain the
>>>>>>> purpose of these things?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
> Fine, but I would still like to know more about the useful purposes of
> scripts in otherwise legitimate emails, like the merchant's confirmation
she
> received. Is it OK that I'm interested in knowledge for the sake of
> knowledge?

Let's hope so. But there will always be people
who find curiosity to be annoying at best. And
it certainly doesn't help to keep Microsoft's support
costs down when wippersnappers start fiddling around
to get the most from the product. :)

I, for one, would be very curious to see exactly what's
going on inside that Fingerhut email.
 
"JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborealis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Ypgaj.647$Sa1.471@news02.roc.ny...
> If they add risk, then obviously, they're not useful. But, the only reason
> this script was obvious was because of its error messages. What if it had
> been properly written, and there WAS a useful purpose for it?


news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.ie6_outlookexpress.stationery

--
Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
www.fjsmjs.com
Do not reply with email
 
"mayayana" <mayaXXyana1a@mindXXspring.com> wrote in message
news:%23mI2X5oQIHA.5692@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Fine, but I would still like to know more about the useful purposes of
>> scripts in otherwise legitimate emails, like the merchant's confirmation
> she
>> received. Is it OK that I'm interested in knowledge for the sake of
>> knowledge?
>
> Let's hope so. But there will always be people
> who find curiosity to be annoying at best. And
> it certainly doesn't help to keep Microsoft's support
> costs down when wippersnappers start fiddling around
> to get the most from the product. :)
>
> I, for one, would be very curious to see exactly what's
> going on inside that Fingerhut email.
>
>

Stay tuned.
 
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