Secure, Self-Destructing E-mail Arrives
MASTERING MANAGEMENTSecure, Self-Destructing
E-mail Arrives DIAMOND BAR, CA (Dec. 16, 2006) - According to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), companies concerned about their e-mails getting into the wrong hands can take solace in the new "self-destruct" secure e-mail services, which make it much tougher for e-mails to come back and bite you. The most basic of these services enables you to create e-mails that self-destruct in a certain time interval after they've been opened. More sophisticated applications enable you to "recall" and destroy an e-mail that you've already sent - even if that e-mail has been opened by a recipient. These higher-end applications also enable you to decide whether an e-mail you send can be forwarded, copied or printed by the recipient. Some of the new secure messaging services also enable you to set the same controls on text messages you send to mobile phones. For those with an extreme penchant for security, there is also at least one service that enables you to send an e-mail that never pairs the sender's e-mail address with the recipient's e-mail address in the e-mail's header information. The most basic of these services enables you to create e-mails that self-destruct in a certain time interval after they've been opened.Companies say they are using secure e-mail services to discuss sensitive human resource issues with colleagues, go over medical information with an employee, delve in to details on a firm's intellectual property and similar messages. Indeed, for the purposes of brainstorming alone, such firms believe that secure e-mail and/or secure mobile phone texting is well worth the modest price of admission. Both free and paid secure e-mail services are available. Free services are a good way to get a feel for the way these services work and what features are available. Kablooey Mail is one example. Another is Microsoft Outlook 2007, which offers both "no forwarding" and "no printing" options. If more security is desired, a paid service provides more accountability and a greater motivation on the part of the service provider to live up to its secure e-mail promises. A number of paid providers are available today, which include VaporStream, Echoworx and others. Designed for the truly security-conscious sender, messages on VaporStream are created on its Web site, which goes to great lengths to protect anonymity. Echoworx is a sophisticated plug-in that can be downloaded to Microsoft Outlook and similar e-mail programs, and the program enables users to send secure e-mails right from their PCs. Essentially, the plug-in adds a "send secure" button to a user's e-mail program. More information regarding features and pricing is available on the SEMA Web site.(Source: SEMA)
E-mail Arrives DIAMOND BAR, CA (Dec. 16, 2006) - According to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), companies concerned about their e-mails getting into the wrong hands can take solace in the new "self-destruct" secure e-mail services, which make it much tougher for e-mails to come back and bite you. The most basic of these services enables you to create e-mails that self-destruct in a certain time interval after they've been opened. More sophisticated applications enable you to "recall" and destroy an e-mail that you've already sent - even if that e-mail has been opened by a recipient. These higher-end applications also enable you to decide whether an e-mail you send can be forwarded, copied or printed by the recipient. Some of the new secure messaging services also enable you to set the same controls on text messages you send to mobile phones. For those with an extreme penchant for security, there is also at least one service that enables you to send an e-mail that never pairs the sender's e-mail address with the recipient's e-mail address in the e-mail's header information. The most basic of these services enables you to create e-mails that self-destruct in a certain time interval after they've been opened.Companies say they are using secure e-mail services to discuss sensitive human resource issues with colleagues, go over medical information with an employee, delve in to details on a firm's intellectual property and similar messages. Indeed, for the purposes of brainstorming alone, such firms believe that secure e-mail and/or secure mobile phone texting is well worth the modest price of admission. Both free and paid secure e-mail services are available. Free services are a good way to get a feel for the way these services work and what features are available. Kablooey Mail is one example. Another is Microsoft Outlook 2007, which offers both "no forwarding" and "no printing" options. If more security is desired, a paid service provides more accountability and a greater motivation on the part of the service provider to live up to its secure e-mail promises. A number of paid providers are available today, which include VaporStream, Echoworx and others. Designed for the truly security-conscious sender, messages on VaporStream are created on its Web site, which goes to great lengths to protect anonymity. Echoworx is a sophisticated plug-in that can be downloaded to Microsoft Outlook and similar e-mail programs, and the program enables users to send secure e-mails right from their PCs. Essentially, the plug-in adds a "send secure" button to a user's e-mail program. More information regarding features and pricing is available on the SEMA Web site.(Source: SEMA)