Email Attachment Encryption via Automatic Password Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing email systems face security risks when sending and receiving emails with attached files, as users may forget to encrypt files, and automatic password settings require laborious input from recipients, compromising security.
Innovation Solution
An email sending-receiving system that stores passwords in association with mail addresses, encrypts files using these passwords, and decodes them upon receipt, ensuring secure transmission and convenience by automating the encryption and decoding processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a password is set for attached files to ensure security, then security is improved, but operation becomes troublesome and users may forget to encrypt
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically setting passwords and encrypting attached files before email transmission. The mail server intercepts emails with attachments, automatically assigns passwords, and encrypts the files without requiring user intervention, thus ensuring security while eliminating the burden of manual encryption operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by enabling the mail server to autonomously handle password setting and encryption processes. The server independently manages the security workflow by automatically encrypting attachments and managing password distribution, freeing users from the complexity of manual encryption operations while maintaining security standards
2Reliability
If automatic password setting is implemented to avoid security risks, then security is improved, but the receiver needs to input password which requires labor
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism where the mail server automatically manages password distribution to recipients. Instead of requiring recipients to manually input passwords, the server delivers passwords through automated channels (such as separate email communications), acting as a mediator that bridges the security requirement and user convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-distributing passwords to recipients before they need to access the encrypted files. The mail server automatically sends passwords to recipients in advance, so when recipients receive the encrypted email, they already have the password ready, eliminating the need for real-time password input and reducing time loss
3Ease of operation
If decoded attached file has no password set, then convenience is improved, but security is not ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic password management where the encrypted file maintains its password protection throughout the entire process. Rather than automatically removing passwords after decoding, the system dynamically adjusts password states based on security requirements, ensuring that files remain protected even after being accessed by authorized recipients
Data Source
AI summary
An e-mail sending-receiving system that enables to ensure security at the time of sending and receiving an e-mail including an attached file encrypted and to improve convenience. In an e-mail sending terminal, a first storing unit stores a password in a storage medium in association with a receiving-side mail address, an encryption unit encrypts a file attached to an e-mail so as to be decodable using the password, a generation unit generates the e-mail by attaching the file encrypted, and a sending unit sends the e-mail to the receiving-side mail address. In an e-mail receiving-side terminal, a second storing unit stores the password in the storage medium in association with a sending-side mail address, a reception unit receives the e-mail, and a decoding unit decodes the encrypted file using the password stored in association with the sending-side mail address of the e-mail received.