A method involves retrieving from an email message, information concerning
at least one remotely monitored device. The method involves obtaining a
line of the email message containing the information, decoding the line
obtained from the email message if it has been encoded, and decrypting
the decoded line. The decrypting involves using an abstract decrypter
class configured to perform a virtual function and using any one of a
plurality of derived decrypter classes each of which is configured as a
derived class of the abstract decrypter class. The abstract decrypter
class and the any one of the derived decrypter classes are collectively
configured to decrypt the decoded email message, using the any one of the
derived decrypter classes with the abstract decrypter class without
having to modify the abstract decrypter class. An exemplary system for
remotely monitoring devices uses the SMTP email protocol to send status,
configuration, or other information concerning at least one of the
devices in a MIME attachment of an email message. A POP3 processing
module in the receiver of the email has a class structure. An interface
class accesses an email server and obtain the email message including the
MIME attachment. An extractor class extracts the MIME attachment from the
email message, and a decoder class performs Base64 decoding of the
attachment. An abstract decrypter class and each of plural derived
decrypter classes configured as a derived class thereof, permit
flexibility in adopting new decryption processes without having to modify
the abstract decrypter class.