[LINK] RFI: ReadNotify.com

[Kim Holburn]

So what happens when you send an email to several people or say a  
mailing list??

I'm sure there is something like a return receipt mentioned in the  
smtp RFCs but it is voluntary.

The usual technique is to include an almost invisible image from a  
website like a 1 pixel transparent gif for instance.  It doesn't work  
if the person receiving the email has html viewing off or has their  
browser set to not display images from websites.  It works if the  
recipient is using a webmail system of some sort.  The site seems  
incredibly MS centric.

This is the giveaway section:

> Choose a message to display (shows up if the reader sees  
> unformatted email text, or moves the mouse over the banner)
>
>     	The sender of this message requests confirmation when you read  
> it. Click here to confirm.
>     	Click here to confirm to the sender that you received this  
> message.
>     	none
>     	Other: Please specify:
>
>     Note: this message goes out with all mail you send using  
> ReadNotify

It also takes longer and sends all the emails through their servers.   
Apart from anything else this will of necessity take longer.  Their  
servers would I assume strip the .readnotify.com from the recipients'  
emails addresses.

I notice nothing in their terms and conditions nor privacy statement  
about what they will or will not do with the contents of your emails.

On 2007/Oct/22, at 11:05 AM, Roger Clarke wrote:

> [Does anyone have any experience of this service?
> [On the surface of it, there seems to be a conflict between  
> "add: .readnotify.com to the end of your recipients email address  
> (they won't see this)" and "ReadNotify.com does not use or contain  
> any sp?yware, ma?lware, nor vi?rues, it is not ill?egal to use, and  
> does not breach any pri?vacy reg?ulations in any countries."]
>
>
> ReadNotify.com - What is it and how does it work?
> http://www.readnotify.com/readnotify/about.asp
>
> What is ReadNotify?
> ReadNotify is the most powerful and reliable email tracking service  
> that exists today. In short - ReadNotify tells you when email you  
> sent gets read / re-opened / forwarded and so much more
>
>  How do I send a tracked email?
> There are two ways you can send tracked emails:
> 1.	Simply add:   .readnotify.com   to the end of your recipients  
> email address (they won't see this)
> or
> 2.	Install our ActiveTracker plugin to add the tracking for you.
>
> Testing? If you send tracked emails to yourself, your anti-spam  
> filters may block them (people don't usually write to themselves) -  
> so we recommend you test by sending to other people.
>
>  What will you tell me about the tracked emails I send?
> ReadNotify will endeavour to provide the following in your tracking  
> reports:
>
> 	*	Date and time opened
> 	*	Location of recipient (per their ISP city /town)
> 	*	Map of location (available on paid subscriptions)
> 	*	Recipients IP address
> 	*	Apparent email address of opening (if available)
> 	*	Referrer details (ie; if accessed via web mail etc)
> 	*	URL clicks
> 	*	How long the email was read for
> 	*	How many times your email was opened
> 	*	If your email was forwarded, or opened on a different computer
>
> All messages sent via ReadNotify benefit from our SPF compliant and  
> Sender-ID compliant mail servers. This confirms safe transmission  
> of your messages, and also enables us to report delivery status to  
> you (including: bounce-backs, delays and success notifications).  
> Delivery information is listed in your Personal Tracking Page.
> Try hovering your mouse over the sections in our Live Sample  
> Receipt for more information.
>
> Note: ReadNotify.com does not use or contain any sp?yware, ma? 
> lware, nor vi?rues, it is not ill?egal to use, and does not breach  
> any pri?vacy reg?ulations in any countries.
>
> What else does ReadNotify do?
> There are lots of great features available to you - these include  
> the following sending options:
>
> 	*	Certified email
> 	*	Ensured-Receipts and retractable emails
> 	*	Invisible tracking
> 	*	Self-Destructing emails
> 	*	Block printing
> 	*	Adobe Acrobat PDF Document Tracking
> 	*	Track MS Word or Excel documents
> For more details regarding sending options, please see our: FAQ's
> You can also choose how to receive your receipts:
>
> 	*	In your Personal Tracking Page (when you log in)
> 	*	Email ReadNotifications
> 	*	Legal Proof-of-Opening receipts
> 	*	Delivery Service Notifications (DSN's)
> 	*	SMS alert on your cell-phone or pager
> 	*	Instant Messenger
> These options are available to you from "My Account" in Member  
> Utilities.
> Getting started
> ReadNotify offers a lot of features and sending options, but it is  
> very easy to use our service. On start up, your account is already  
> configured per our 'Recommended' tracking defaults - and we will  
> automatically send you email ReadNotifications when your tracked  
> emails are opened.
> If you'd like to take us for a 'test drive', please sign up for no- 
> obligation free trial from the ReadNotify.com Homepage
>
> -- 
> Roger Clarke                  http://www.anu.edu.au/people/ 
> Roger.Clarke/
> 			            Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St,  
> Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
>                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
> mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http:// 
> www.xamax.com.au/
>
> Visiting Professor in Info Science & Eng  Australian National  
> University
> Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program      University of Hong  
> Kong
> Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni  
> of NSW
> _______________________________________________
> Link mailing list
> Link at mailman.anu.edu.au
> http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link

--
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
Ph: +39 06 855 4294  M: +39 3494957443
mailto:kim at holburn.net  aim://kimholburn
skype://kholburn - PGP Public Key on request

Democracy imposed from without is the severest form of tyranny.
                           -- Lloyd Biggle, Jr. Analog, Apr 1961