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Department of Defense Now Blocking HTML Email

Posted by Zonk on from the nuke-them-from-orbit-only-way-to-be-sure dept.

oKAMi-InfoSec writes "The Department of Defense (DoD) has taken the step of blocking HTML-based email. They are also banning the use of Outlook Web Access email clients. The DoD is making this move because HTML messages can easily be infected with spyware and executable lines of code that enable hackers to access DoD networks, according to an article in Federal Computer Week by Bob Brewin . A spokesman for the Joint Task Force for Global Network Operations (JTF-GNO) claims that this is a response to an increased network threat condition. The network threat condition has risen from Information Condition 5 to Information Condition 4 (also called Infocon 4). InfoCon 5 is normal operating conditions and Infocon 4 comes as a result of 'continuing and sophisticated threats' against DoD Networks. The change to Infocon 4 came in mid-November, after the Naval War College suffered devastating attacks that required their entire system be taken offline, but the JTF-GNO spokesman claims there is no connection."

2 of 262 comments (clear)

  1. As They Should by deKernel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This I guess will just show my age, but I am soooo OK with this. Email should be just text, period. I personally believe that people should spend more time using complete sentences which includes punctuation and correct capitalization.

    I guess I should get back to chiseling my notes on stone slabs now.....

    1. Re:As They Should by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
      Personally I'd miss the formatting features of HTML. Bold, Italic, etc. I'm a little surprised there hasn't been a middle ground estbalished at some point. You know... pretty text, no exploits. Well, I can dream.



      I think that you have /really/ hit the nail on the proverbial head there. To make plain text emails usable we need a STRONG and well defined _SYNTAX_ for visually communicating "text style". Until then, this email thing will _never_ catch on.