Image shows if an email was read
Q. I have heard about something called a tracking pixel, which is used to track my email usage. Can you tell me more about this and how I can prevent it?
A. A tracking pixel is a tiny image hosted on a remote server and embedded in email messages so the sender can tell if you have opened and read the email they sent to you. The image does not show up in your message when you are reading it.
Typically, this is used by spammers and email marketers to help them determine the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns. It is also used by individuals who seem to get anxious about whether or not someone has read the message they have sent.
The tracking doesn’t tell the sender much, other than the IP address of the device that opened the message and what time it was viewed. A more complex version of this system will associate a tracking pixel with the recipient of the message that contained the tracker so they know who opened it.
To learn more about tracking pixels and how to block them, Fast Company has a nice article at https:// tinyurl.com/helplinepixel.
Q. There seem to be quite a few versions of Windows 10 out there. How can I tell which version I am running?
A.
The quickest and easiest way to see what version of Windows 10 you have, including which build and feature update you are using, is to open a command prompt and type the command winver and hit Enter.
This will bring up a window that displays the information.
Keep in mind that while Windows 10 is still a valid and supported operating system, certain versions are falling out of support, which means they will no longer receive updates.
If you skipped a feature update and you want to apply it manually, you can go to https://tinyurl.com/ helplineupdateassist and download the Windows Update Assistant.