DidTheyReadIt.com

[dzh]

This service claims to be able to track opening and reading of all emails. It's a bit vague about how it works. Does it depend on the reader being online at the time the message is read? Does it depend on displaying images or html mail?

(Without opening that Website)
Yes to both questions.

It is impossible to track messages which are read as plain text, or which cannot connect back to report the message was read.

Exception: storing the message on a Web site and sending the recipient a link to the message. Even then, you don't know who read it - only when it was accessed.

[dzh]

I tried it out. It looks like it inserts a single pixel image like this (I've obscured the code): <br><img src="http://didtheyreadit.com/index.php/worker?code=yrgdftertergetert" width="1" height="1" /> at the end of the message.

Is there a way I could do this myself without paying someone else to supply and track the image?

Read Kander's notice:

http://www.emaildiscussions.com/...threadid=21611

This code depends on both the recipient being online, and allowing Webbugs.

It is impossible to track messages.

[Killer]

Originally posted by dzh
I tried it out. It looks like it inserts a single pixel image like this (I've obscured the code): <br><img src="http://didtheyreadit.com/index.php/worker?code=yrgdftertergetert" width="1" height="1" /> at the end of the message.

Is there a way I could do this myself without paying someone else to supply and track the image?

Unless you have your own server to run those codes.

[LrdVader]

Gawab is free, and their webmail interface provides an option to track messages.

I wholeheartedly agree with Kander's cautionary comments, though. I would consider sending me a bugged message to be borderline malicious, and would definitely not react favorably.

[FMRocks]

I think that Mozilla (and moz based products) does not automatically send messages back. It will open the image, yes, but won't send anything back.

Besides, this thing is a blatant violation of privacy of the recepient. I will read my mail how I want, when I want. I don't want to be sending notices every time I read *my* email. They literally peak in my inbox. The only good thing about it is that it costs money, so most people won't flock to it.

PS: the way to learn if someone has read your message is to request a return receipt - which lets you know and doesn't violate their privacy.

[LrdVader]

Originally posted by FMRocks
I think that Mozilla (and moz based products) does not automatically send messages back. It will open the image, yes, but won't send anything back.

The act of loading the image is what notifies them that you've read the message. No way around that, other than not loading the image at all.

Mozilla Mail and Thunderbird have an option to not load remote images in mail. Unfortunately, it's disabled by default.

[FMRocks]

Hmm... I guess I will have to set a filter (sieve) on my account so anything coming through this thing is automatically rejected.

[LrdVader]

Originally posted by FMRocks
Hmm... I guess I will have to set a filter (sieve) on my account so anything coming through this thing is automatically rejected.

Setting Thunderbird not to load remote images would do the trick, too. But I can certainly understand rejecting mail from this service on principle. I don't plan to do it automatically, though, as I'd rather have the opportunity to reply and give the sender a thorough scolding for being so rude.

[FMRocks]

Originally posted by LrdVader
Setting Thunderbird not to load remote images would do the trick, too.

Yes it would, but I often get emails from legitimate sources that have remote images (newsletters etc). Besides, I don't want the sender thinking it's actually ok to try to find out if, how, when, for how long, and where I am reading it.

Speaking of scolding, it is possible to set a custom reject message, isn't it (Fastmail)?

[LrdVader]

Originally posted by FMRocks
Speaking of scolding, it is possible to set a custom reject message, isn't it (Fastmail)?

Yeah. You just have to manually edit your script, and replace the default message with one of your own.

[rob_au]

Additional discussion on Slashdot at http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/04/05/23...&tid=95&tid=99

[kander]

Interesting! I just sent myself a testmessage.. here's what I find:

1. It uses a Webbug. Of course.
2. Somehow the server keeps the connection open, sending data with 0 k/s. The webbug image is never completely loaded. This means that it can track how long you've read the email. (closing the mail = closing the connection)

Interesting concept... I'd definitely not be happy if someone sent me such an email. I'm probably going to block their servers using my Sieve rules.

By the way, my Test message didn't appear to arrive at first, it turns out it ended up in my Junk Mail folder

--K

[rob_au]

Originally posted by kander
Somehow the server keeps the connection open, sending data with 0 k/s. The webbug image is never completely loaded. This means that it can track how long you've read the email. (closing the mail = closing the connection)

This is done by employing a non-cached, non-stored animated GIF which is cycled.