Electronic data communication system

Abstract

Described is an electronic mail messaging system in which a plurality of user computers are connected to a mail registration server via the Internet. The mail registration server stores plural sets of decryption data, each set being required to decrypt a corresponding encrypted electronic mail message. Following receipt of an encrypted electronic mail message, a user computer communicates with the mailed registration server to effect decryption of the encrypted electronic mail message using the corresponding decryption data stored by the mail registration server. In this way, the accessing of the electronic mail message can be monitored by the mail registration server.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to electronic data communication systems and components of electronic communication systems. The invention is of particular relevance to systems for electronically sending mail messages to and receiving mail messages from people. Background technique [0002] Email messaging involves email messages being sent to an email address that directs the email message to a virtual mailbox. The use of such email messaging, primarily using email programs such as Microsoft Outlook, is becoming more and more widespread. The problem with traditional email programs is that sent messages can be intercepted and read. [0003] There have been proposals to encrypt e-mail messages using public key cryptography in which asymmetric encryption algorithms are used. Specifically, the sender encrypts the email message using the public key associated with the recipient of the email message. The resulting encrypted message can only be decrypted u...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0005] Asymmetric encryption algorithms used in public key cryptography are slower than symmetric encryption algorithms that use the same encryption key for encryption and decryption

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