Emails show as opened with Google Image Proxy IPs even when recipients haven't opened them because Google and other email clients use image proxies for security, privacy, and performance. These proxies pre-fetch images, triggering open tracking pixels automatically, regardless of actual user interaction. Factors such as Apple's Mail Privacy Protection (MPP), firewalls, anti-virus scanners, and email security solutions like Proofpoint (though Proofpoint doesn't directly interact with Google's Image Cache) also contribute by pre-loading or scanning images. Consequently, traditional open rates based on pixel tracking are increasingly unreliable, reflecting machine interactions rather than genuine human engagement.