tips hat
Posted on 02/12/2014 6:07:13 PM PST by Windflier
If 'read receipts' on emails weren't annoying enough, a San Francisco-based firm has taken the art of tracking emails to the next level.
The Streak plugin lets Gmail account holders monitor which of their sent items have been opened, who opened them, the exact time they were opened and how many times those emails have been viewed since.
It also reveals details about the device used to read the email, and even the reader's approximate location.
Streak is aimed at sales and marketing professionals, and the company calls it a 'Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) in your inbox.'
However, the plugin can be installed by anyone using Gmail on Google Chrome and Safari.
Aside from tracking emails, the plugin can also track stories and keywords, and keep track of bookings made as part of a wedding or other event.
Once installed, users can set Streak's Email Tracking function to be enabled by default and each time they send an email, Streak will automatically track it.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
What program is that screen grab from?
That’s not new, AFAIK. You could always send a “return receipt” with an email. Is it new for Gmail?
(check freepmail)
I'll pray for us both, friend. I don't use Gmail, but lots of my customers do, and sometimes my income hinges on them receiving data from me via email in a timely manner.
I'm thinking the client in this case is the email sender who can tell that you, as the recipient have opened it. The recipient can't do anything about it and wouldn't even know that it happened. My concern is that it also shows where you are. Potential to let people know when you are away from your house so the thieves can drop by while you are on vacation.
Sadly that aint me, but I would like to invest in that endeavor.
I never used 'return receipt'. Did that let you know whether the recipient opened the email you sent them?
Thanks, bud.
That's exactly how I understand the article. This is a function that operates from the sender's end, and allows them to know what you've done with the mail they've sent you without your express knowledge.
Very creepy stuff.
tips hat
Proper Freeper etiquette includes putting in the name of a person if you refer to them in a post.
As far as your beef with Google, have it your way. As far as the secrets I tell via email, I am not worried about their terms of service as it relates to my privacy. Good luck with your crusade.
That was my understanding. I’ve never used it on Gmail, but have occasionally encountered it in other mail implementations, particularly the Notes implementation at a company I once worked with.
The question I don’t know is whether it is automatic or voluntary. There is a topic “return receipt” on Wikipedia, which makes it sound voluntary. That is, a successful delivery can be reported, but not necessarily the opening of the message. I’m sure someone more knowledgeable on this can chime in.
Sorry dude or dudette, that I talked about your wrong advice without pinging you to it. Some of us have other things to do other than to micromanage threads and sometimes it is imperative to negate bad advice.
You picked up on it right away anyway, though, thank goodness, MONGREL, so no harm done.
Amazing it was the first thing you mention instead of addressing the issue.
Nice diversion from your support for a company that is part of the problem rather than part of the solution.
Crusade? When have I every mentioned it other than today?
Why are you trying to promote the use of a dangerous “resource” by Freepers? Maybe Paul Revere should have all sent his mail though the London post office.
Meh. Outlook’s been doin’ that since the 90s.
Outlook is an HKLM app .. Gargle is Leviathan Jr.
even the readers location?
Gee, that couldn’t be abused by a criminal now could it?
If you're using Gmail (to receive email, as opposed to sending and tracking using the Streak plugin), you probably want to choose not to show images automatically.
It used to be that Gmail would always require confirmation before showing images, except for ones from white-listed senders. But last November, they introduced a new "feature", whereby images are now shown by default. However, a Google server proxies the image fetch. That keeps the sender from learning your IP address and doing certain other nefarious things (images are also scanned for viruses), but, because Google's proxy doesn't fetch until you open, the sender still gets to know whether and when you opened the email. Unless you follow the instructions at the above link to disable the new "feature".
Because a spam filter would probably not actually fetch the image. The only reason for a spam filter to fetch an image would be to OCR it and decide if it contained spammy text. I haven't heard of any spam filters that are that advanced.
The usual trick is to embed a 1x1 transparent image in the email with a URL that uniquely identifies the individual email. If the recipient opens the email with images enabled, his email client will request the image from the server, thus revealing that the recipient has viewed the email and from what IP address (giving a clue as to the recipient's location). If the recipient forwards the email, the image will again be fetched as each forwardee opens the email with image display enabled.
One refinement is to refuse to serve the image when requested and note how long it takes the TCP/IP connection to drop. This will give a clue as to how long the recipient viewed the email. If the recipient blows past the email, the connection will drop right away. But if the user lingers on the email, then the connection will remain open until it times out some time later.
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