Patent attributes
Systems and methods for tracking electronic messages and data are provided. In one embodiment, the invention consists of a method of tracking email messages. In various embodiments, steps may include a) identifying an email message for tracking and b) inserting a linking object, into a tracked email message. Responsive to activation by a receiver of the email message, the linking object enables the receiver to submit information to a commercial anti-spam service or a commercial anti-virus service. The method can be used to identify and track email messages defined as spam or defined as containing viruses. The receiver's privacy may be preserved with respect to content of the email message by limiting the information submitted to signatures of the electronic message and other information associated with the electronic message that are reasonably required for spam or virus analysis.
