The formatted mail tab allows you to control how Security Bulldog handles web content in email.

Modern email can be sent in HTML format, the same format that web pages are written in.
This can be nice since it allows text of different colours as well as other formatting.
However, it also allows all sorts of things that you may want on a web page but you do not want in your email.
These include the automatic downloading of pictures, animations, sounds, as well as full blown programs which will run on your computer often without your knowledge or consent.

All of these pose serious potential security and privacy risks.

Formatted Mail (HTML)
This setting controls how Security bulldog deals with potentially risky web content.
In all cases if Security Bulldog converts and email to plain text it will advise you as to why it has done so and provide you a link to retrieve the original unmodified email.

The options are:

• Plain Text Only
  If this option is chosen, Security Bulldog will convert all incoming email to plain text.
  Plain text is completely safe since it cannot contain any executable code or cause and content to be downloaded from the web.
  Most email programs send email with two versions of the message one in plain text and the other in HTML.
  However, most email readers will display the HTML version if it is provided.
  In this case Security Bulldog simply removes the HTML version so that the plain text version is displayed by your email reader.
  If an email contains only an HTML version Security Bulldog will convert it to plain text.
  
  
• Safe HTML only (recommended).
  If this option is chosen, Security Bulldog will allow only safe email HTML through.
  Any HTML that contains scripts, executable code, or causes content to be downloaded will be converted to plain text.
  Only normal formatting such as coloured text, indenting, and such will be allowed through.
  
  
• Advanced
  This option gives you the most control over what HTML content you want Security bulldog to allow through.
  
  
  • Block all Scripts (recommended)
    Scripts are bits of executable code that are triggered when you read an email.
    They can pop up windows or download content without your knowledge or consent.
    

    If scripts are allowed to remain in your email, every time you view or even preview and email the sender's code could be run on your computer.
    If you have not installed the latest security patches these scripts could allow hackers to take over your computer.

    Scripts can also be used to download other content from the web without your knowledge.
    Because this content is not actually in the email it may not be screened by your virus scanner and could be dangerous and can pose a serious privacy risk.
    

  • Block embedded Frames (recommended)
    Imbedded frames can cause content to be downloaded from the web and displayed in your email reader.
    This content could contain scripts or other objects that could be run on your computer without your knowledge or consent.
    Again, because this content is not actually in the email it may not be screened by your virus scanner and could be dangerous and can pose a serious privacy risk.
    
    
    
  • Block embedded Objects (recommended)
    Imbedded frames can cause content to be downloaded from the web and displayed in your email reader.
    This content is meant to be run within the email it's self.
    It could be as harmless as a flash animation or sound file, however you would be relying on your email reader's security to distinguish between dangerous and safe objects.
    Again, because this content is not actually in the email it may not be screened by your virus scanner and could be dangerous and can pose a serious privacy risk.