Not many people know that in addition to online tracking, emails can also be tracked. Depending on the email client you are using, any information such as when you opened the email, the link you clicked on, or the location where you opened said message can be detected. In these days when our online privacy is in question, these email trackers can provide a lot of information that you might not normally share.
Also read: How to Get Better with Gmail with Handling.
Email trackers — Overview
Traditionally, email trackers or read receipts were used by marketing companies. The purpose of these emails is simple — to know your options so that future emails are perfectly tailored to you. In a way, it is guaranteed that the products the company is promoting will sell out soon.
Email trackers come in many different forms. In Outlook, you’ll see it as an official read receipt, however, not everyone uses the humble read receipt.
The gimmick is to use an invisible pixel embedded in an email or use HTML links to pass information back to the sender. Another technique used is to insert images into emails.
When an email with any of the above is opened, the embedded object sends a ping signal to the server from where it originated with additional information like the time, IP address, name of the device, etc. In return, you will have a steroid runner back to tell the owner all about you.
These trackers raise privacy concerns, especially since not everyone is aware of this widely practiced method. Thankfully, there are a few methods you can use to prevent them from tracking you.
1. Change Gmail Settings
Gmail comes with a built-in setting that prevents external images from downloading. Additionally, Gmail scans photos and images in emails for malware and other vulnerabilities. Also, if the sender or message looks suspicious, Gmail will ask the user for permission before downloading.
For our part, we can enable the feature to prevent images from automatically downloading. All you have to do is go to Settings > General and turn off the picture option.
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2. Chrome Extensions
There are quite a few extensions in Google Chrome that help identify email trackers. One such extension is called Ugly Email. Developed by web engineer, Sonny Tulyaganov, Ugly Email contains a script to identify invisible 1×1 images or pixels.
The setup is simple, all you have to do is install the Chrome extension. Each message with a tracker embedded in it displays a small eyeball icon next to the subject line.
The best thing about Ugly Email is that it doesn’t read your emails, store or transmit your data anywhere.
Once a tracker is detected, this nifty extension will block the tracker and you can open your email without the risk of revealing your information. This app works seamlessly with Gmail, and you’ll be able to see the tracker’s source if you hover your mouse over the eyeball.
Most popular trackers like Yesware, MailChimp, SendGrid, Streak, MixMax, Tinyletter are compatible. And Ugly Mail is working on rolling out other trackers as well.
Is email tracking illegal?
However, while email tracking can be frustrating for many of us, it’s not illegal. Email tracking is basically useful for market research before launching any new product or by marketing students to study people’s behavior. As one popular tracking site pointed out, trackers help them determine when to send follow-up emails. And conversely, they know if they are at the top of the customer’s mind.
In short, it’s basically a personal choice of whether you should have one or not. But then, in an age where privacy is almost nothing, having an app that helps you maintain some privacy seems to be the best solution.
So when do you get it?
Also Read: How Smart Home Assistants Are Killing Your Privacy
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Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
