Re: www.readnotify.com

[Chris Poldervaart <chris.listserv () comcast net>]

I must be coming into this conversation a bit late...so I don't know  
if this has been covered yet, but simply choosing not to display  
images in the email will also circumvent the read/notify process.

I open ALL messages in plain text under normal circumstances.  I sent  
myself a test message, opened it (plain text), and then checked the  
readnotify site.  There was no indication that the message was ever  
opened.

I then sent myself a second message, and "displayed pictures" within  
the message, and received instant feedback that my message was opened.

The read/notify service imbeds a picture of single pixel size, among  
other things, that effectively acts as a call home when the picture  
is displayed (since it resides on their servers).

Here is some content of the test message (NOTE:  My email was simple  
text message of 5 words):

<Img moz-do-not-send="true" border=0 height=1 width=3 alt="" lowsrc=""
Src=http://www.r1bjkf5e0krvy8.ReadNotify.com/nocache/r1bjkf5e0krvy9/ 
footer0.gif><Img moz-do-not-send="true" Border=0 Height=1 Width=2 Alt=""
Lowsrc=http://www.readnotify.com/ca/rspr47.gif ><BgSound  
volume=-10000 Alt='' Lowsrc=""
Src=https://tssls.r1bjkf5e0krvyv.ReadNotify.com/nocache/ 
r1bjkf5e0krvyv/rspr47.wav>
</pre><table height=1 width=3 border=0><tr><td
 background
 =http://0320.185.62311/nocache/r1bjkf5e0krvyP/rspr47.gif> </td></ 
tr></table>

Regards,

Chris

On Jan 30, 2006, at 3:01 PM, Ebeling, Jr., Herman Frederick wrote:

> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
>
> Just to let ya all know I have been "playing" with  
> www.readnotify.com and
> I have recently sent myself two E-Mails, one the "regular" way and one
> the "silent" way.  Then checked d/led my E-Mail.  When I saw the  
> test MSG
> that I sent myself, I disconnected from the Internet, then opened said
> MSG.  After "reading" said MSG I closed it, and reconnected to the
> Internet.  And then went to www.readnotify.com , and their web site
> reported that they had NOT been opened yet. . .
>
> So I guess for the time being that that that IS an effective method of
> defeating www.readnotify.com 's tracking.
>
> I'm sure that somewhere down the road that www.readnotify.com will  
> figure
> away around that, but for now that method works.
>
> Herman
> Live Long and Prosper
>  ___________________          _-_
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EARN A MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION ASSURANCE - ONLINE
The Norwich University program offers unparalleled Infosec management 
education and the case study affords you unmatched consulting experience. 
Tailor your education to your own professional goals with degree 
customizations including Emergency Management, Business Continuity Planning, 
Computer Emergency Response Teams, and Digital Investigations. 

http://www.msia.norwich.edu/secfocus
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