Apple Mail Security: Disable Loading of Remote Content

See also all security topics.

Spammers like to send emails with tiny 1 X 1 pixel images; if the image is loaded, they know they have a “live one”. Don’t do this to yourself, it’s just inviting more spam. But it need not be hidden; any remote content in an email serves the same “live one” purpose.

macOS Monterey and later

Ensure that Protect Mail Activity is checked, as shown below

Ensure that Protect Mail Activity is off

macOS, older versions

Make sure the Load remote content in messages box is unchecked as shown below.

When reading a mail message, you can always Load Images in any particular email by clicking the Load Images button at the top right of the mail message.

Tip: another way to detect if a message is a scammer is to display extra message headers. These often reveal skanky details that are a big red flag.

Ensure that Load remote content in messages is off (unchecked)