Abstract: There is disclosed a Protocol and Common Method for remotely and securely controlling a plurality of target applications on a server network. The system includes a mail server configured to send and receive emails to and from a plurality of remote users, the mail server having a unique mailbox for storing emails received from each of the remote users. The system further includes a control application configured to control each target application by means of a plurality of text commands and read emails in the unique mailboxes. The control application is further configured to identify a text command in an email. The control application is configured to read a reference file containing a set of instructions for each target application on how the control application shall treat text commands for that target application, the control application being further configured to execute the text commands pursuant to the sets of instructions.