notification of e-mail, by e-mail

DougLass · 12 May 2014, 05:59 AM

I'd like an account that I rarely use, that I use for "sensitive" information. That being the case, I'd like that account to send my regular e-mail account a notification e-mail (as in "you got mail!") WITHOUT forwarding the e-mail. That tells me to go to that "sensitive" account, log in, and see the message.

What are my options?

n5bb · 12 May 2014, 07:29 AM

Welcome to the EMD Forums!

Fastmail (which has a sub-forum here at EMD) can do this. You just set up a notification rule, which can be triggered by nearly any feature you can imagine in the source message. The default notification message (which can be changed) has the following in both the subject and message body:
New email from <from address> arrived at <destination address>
That's all that's in the notification message. Only the sender address and destination address (Fastmail account address or alias) are shown. You can change this to anything else, such as:
The Eagle has landed
You got a lot of guys about to turn blue.
or
You've got mail

Since you mentioned sensitive messages:
Fastmail is an Australian company with email servers in New York City, NY, USA. They have no advertising and don't scan your messages for advertising purposes. I have had accounts with them for ten years (since 2004) and trust their staff and technology, and I think you will find many others in this forum who trust them. The smallest account type (Lite) costs about US $10/year for use of their many email domains. A more expensive account (Enhanced) for US $40/year allows many more features, including use of your own domain to send and receive email.
Fastmail Privacy Policy
Fastmail has a wide range of password security options, including regular long secure passwords, two-factor authentication, and one-time passwords. They just added a number of advanced security features to their website:
Making FastMail even more secure
You can read your email using webmail (on a PC, Mac, iOS portable device, or Android device) or using any normal IMAP or POP email client.

Bill

DougLass · 12 May 2014, 01:21 PM

Thanks. That's interesting, and exactly what I'm looking for. But I'd rather not shell out even ten bucks a year for an account that, as I said, I wouldn't use much. Any free options? I don't even care if there are ads.

kangas · 12 May 2014, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n5bb

Welcome to the EMD Forums!

Fastmail (which has a sub-forum here at EMD) can do this. You just set up a notification rule, which can be triggered by nearly any feature you can imagine in the source message. The default notification message (which can be changed) has the following in both the subject and message body:
New email from <from address> arrived at <destination address>
That's all that's in the notification message. Only the sender address and destination address (Fastmail account address or alias) are shown. You can change this to anything else, such as:
The Eagle has landed
You got a lot of guys about to turn blue.
or
You've got mail

Since you mentioned sensitive messages:
Fastmail is an Australian company with email servers in New York City, NY, USA. They have no advertising and don't scan your messages for advertising purposes. I have had accounts with them for ten years (since 2004) and trust their staff and technology, and I think you will find many others in this forum who trust them. The smallest account type (Lite) costs about US $10/year for use of their many email domains. A more expensive account (Enhanced) for US $40/year allows many more features, including use of your own domain to send and receive email.
Fastmail Privacy Policy
Fastmail has a wide range of password security options, including regular long secure passwords, two-factor authentication, and one-time passwords. They just added a number of advanced security features to their website:
Making FastMail even more secure
You can read your email using webmail (on a PC, Mac, iOS portable device, or Android device) or using any normal IMAP or POP email client.

Bill

LuxSci.com has similar custom notification features -- notify for all email or only based on any criteria you like, including only at specific times of the day. However, like fastmail, it is also a paid service.

DougLass · 12 May 2014, 10:44 PM

I was under the impression that Outlook once did this, long ago. But I think it doesn't anymore.

I guess one answer is just to set up a utility that automatically checks that mail account. But that's not optimal.

Red_Machine · 13 May 2014, 02:19 AM

Any Everyone.net-based service offers it. Check out www.computermail.net, on the options page there is an "Email Notification" setting. Though watch out, they went into my spam box initially, so you'll need to send yourself a test email so you can add it to your whitelist for the future.

DougLass · 18 May 2014, 05:33 AM

Yep, computermail.net is what I'm looking for. Works great. Thanks much. And yes, I do have to whitelist it on my spam filter. Now, somewhat oddly, although my account is at computermail.net, the notification is from everyone.net. Now, you can choose to send a notification once every hour/4hours/day. I think what that means is that it will send ONE such notification during that period. If you get a second e-mail during that period at computermail.net, it won't send another notification until that period is over.

Red_Machine · 18 May 2014, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougLass

Now, somewhat oddly, although my account is at computermail.net, the notification is from everyone.net.

Yeah, Everyone.net is the backend system. They provide a pre-made email system for companies and individuals who want to create their own service. They started back in the 90s, with Computermail.net being probably the oldest one still going. Glad to help!

DougLass · 19 May 2014, 04:33 AM

It's worth noting that there are a few qualifications about this free service. As far as I can tell, there is no explanation of exactly what "notifications" mean. By some experimentation, what I've established is that what it means is that, you are notified ONCE if your INBOX has something in it. You are not notified every time you get an e-mail. So if you get two or more e-mails, you'll still just get notified once.

I think that once you clear your INBOX, the trigger is again set for the notification. Though you can select whether you want to be notified every hour/4hours/or day, and I gather it won't send out another notification if that time period hasn't elapsed.

It would be kinda nice to get a notification for each and every e-mail you get, but that's not what's being done here.

12 May 2014, 05:59 AM	#1
DougLass Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 56	notification of e-mail, by e-mail I'd like an account that I rarely use, that I use for "sensitive" information. That being the case, I'd like that account to send my regular e-mail account a notification e-mail (as in "you got mail!") WITHOUT forwarding the e-mail. That tells me to go to that "sensitive" account, log in, and see the message. What are my options?

12 May 2014, 07:29 AM	#2
n5bb Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: May 2004 Location: Irving, Texas Posts: 8,929	Welcome to the EMD Forums! Fastmail (which has a sub-forum here at EMD) can do this. You just set up a notification rule, which can be triggered by nearly any feature you can imagine in the source message. The default notification message (which can be changed) has the following in both the subject and message body: New email from <from address> arrived at <destination address> That's all that's in the notification message. Only the sender address and destination address (Fastmail account address or alias) are shown. You can change this to anything else, such as: The Eagle has landed You got a lot of guys about to turn blue. or You've got mail Since you mentioned sensitive messages: Fastmail is an Australian company with email servers in New York City, NY, USA. They have no advertising and don't scan your messages for advertising purposes. I have had accounts with them for ten years (since 2004) and trust their staff and technology, and I think you will find many others in this forum who trust them. The smallest account type (Lite) costs about US $10/year for use of their many email domains. A more expensive account (Enhanced) for US $40/year allows many more features, including use of your own domain to send and receive email. Fastmail Privacy Policy Fastmail has a wide range of password security options, including regular long secure passwords, two-factor authentication, and one-time passwords. They just added a number of advanced security features to their website: Making FastMail even more secure You can read your email using webmail (on a PC, Mac, iOS portable device, or Android device) or using any normal IMAP or POP email client. Bill Last edited by n5bb : 12 May 2014 at 07:44 AM. Reason: Added privacy and security comments

12 May 2014, 01:21 PM	#3
DougLass Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 56	Thanks. That's interesting, and exactly what I'm looking for. But I'd rather not shell out even ten bucks a year for an account that, as I said, I wouldn't use much. Any free options? I don't even care if there are ads.

12 May 2014, 10:44 PM	#5
DougLass Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 56	I was under the impression that Outlook once did this, long ago. But I think it doesn't anymore. I guess one answer is just to set up a utility that automatically checks that mail account. But that's not optimal.

13 May 2014, 02:19 AM	#6
Red_Machine Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Great Britain Posts: 24	Any Everyone.net-based service offers it. Check out www.computermail.net, on the options page there is an "Email Notification" setting. Though watch out, they went into my spam box initially, so you'll need to send yourself a test email so you can add it to your whitelist for the future.

18 May 2014, 05:33 AM	#7
DougLass Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 56	Yep, computermail.net is what I'm looking for. Works great. Thanks much. And yes, I do have to whitelist it on my spam filter. Now, somewhat oddly, although my account is at computermail.net, the notification is from everyone.net. Now, you can choose to send a notification once every hour/4hours/day. I think what that means is that it will send ONE such notification during that period. If you get a second e-mail during that period at computermail.net, it won't send another notification until that period is over.

19 May 2014, 04:33 AM	#9
DougLass Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 56	It's worth noting that there are a few qualifications about this free service. As far as I can tell, there is no explanation of exactly what "notifications" mean. By some experimentation, what I've established is that what it means is that, you are notified ONCE if your INBOX has something in it. You are not notified every time you get an e-mail. So if you get two or more e-mails, you'll still just get notified once. I think that once you clear your INBOX, the trigger is again set for the notification. Though you can select whether you want to be notified every hour/4hours/or day, and I gather it won't send out another notification if that time period hasn't elapsed. It would be kinda nice to get a notification for each and every e-mail you get, but that's not what's being done here.