Patent ID: 7523496
Filing Date: 2009-04-21
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An authentication method for electronic mail, comprising the steps of: storing an authentication key in a memory of a recipient of the electronic mail at an address that is dependent upon a source identifier that identifies an originator of the electronic mail; receiving, by the recipient, the electronic mail from the originator; responsive to receiving the electronic mail, determining whether the authentication key is present in an open field of the electronic mail; responsive to determining that the authentication key is present, determining whether the authentication key is associated with the originator; and responsive to determining that the authentication key is not associated with the originator, rejecting the electronic mail, wherein said determining whether the authentication key is associated with the originator includes: reading the stored authentication key from the address at the memory of the recipient, and comparing the authentication key with the stored authentication key that had been read from the address at the memory of the recipient to determine whether the authentication key is associated with the originator.