Is there a protocol that you follow/use/adhere to when using Probe Teams in PBEM games? Or do you just use Probe Teams with abandon?

I ask this for two reasons;
First, as you know, when a probe action takes place in a PBEM game there is no message informing the victem that they have just been probed. In PBEM the victem has no idea if a prbe action has taken place unless its something ambitious like a mind control probe of a base, or bribing of enemy troops. Most 'subtle' actions, like tech steal and drain energy reserves, remain undetected (unless the player is parrticularly vigilant—ie. friendly probes stationed in bases).
Secondly, this issue seems to have come up from time to time over on the General/Strategy boards, discussing whether a protocol of sorts should be implemented. One suggestions has been to send an e-mail to the 'probed' party after the act, informing them of the action.

I thought I'd ask you all what you think, since I'm involved in a game with some of you now, and maybe with the rest of you in some future game. What are your thoughts? How do you conduct Probe Team actions in your various PBEM games? Is it fine the way it is (ie. let the victem be vigilant, and figure it out on his own whether or not he has been probed)?

Personally, I'm not advocating we implement any Probe Team protocols, just asking what you all think (before I unleash my Probes on some unsuspecting nation ). I like it the way it is. Seems more real to me (ie. more cloak and dagger). I think players, who don't protect against enemy probe team actions, shouldn't be informed that they were just probed. Let them (myself included) figure it out on their own.

Thanks for the input

Does anyone have any thoughts on my query? Or should I not worry about it and use Probe Teams to my hearts content—as I've already being doing for the last 10-20 turns (ie. steal tech & energy reserves with reckless abandon, and then sabatoge some key base facilities in some prime targets before I send in the ground pounders).

Seriously, I think you should assume the worst. Defend against those you consider a threat, don't waste the production if you think you can get away with not putting in spy defenses, and as far as using them... if you are assuming others are doing it to you, you can pretty legitimately do it to them. Of course if somehow you WERE to get caught, trying to pull something, you'll need to accept the consequences.

Of course, I'm stuck on an island with the Data Angels, so I'm not taking any chances.