Software Makes It Easy To Track Your Emails

BOSTON (CBS) - Photographer Bob Johnson is looking for a job and likes to know if his resume is gaining any traction.

He now uses an email tracking program to see if his resume is getting viewed by the people to whom he sends it. "I know that my resume has gone where I sent it. I know how many times it has been opened."

Johnson knows this might appear to be a little creepy to some people, but it gives him a piece of mind. "I don't think people realize that this technology is out there and available to just about anyone."

A quick Internet search revealed just how many companies are now offering cheap email tracking programs.

Gary Miliefsky, a cyber-security expert, said that this type of technology was generally only available to big businesses just a few years ago. "Email tracking is the next big thing," he added.

So how does tracking work? Some programs have users put a code next to the recipient's email address that they won't be able to see. Others are even easier as they just require hitting a button on the email before it is sent.

Miliefsky said the person tracking their email can glean a great deal of information such as when the email was read and for how long. Some programs also indicate whether attachments or hyperlinks were opened.

Experts say these programs are legal. It only becomes a problem if someone uses information to harass or cyberbully a recipient.

Protecting yourself can be as simple as reading email in 'Text Only' mode. This prevents the computer from automatically downloading tracker images and attachments.