Patent ID: 7162738
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for filtering e-mail messages transmitted from an external site to an internal site associated with a first policy, comprising: i. intercepting a plurality of data packets associated with an e-mail message having a sender address associated with an external site; ii. assembling said data packets to an application level message; iii. detecting whether the application level message includes a digital signature attachment; iv. applying at least one policy condition to said application level e-mail message, said policy condition applied by reference to said attached digital signature, said applying providing a policy application result; v. applying at least a second policy condition to said application level e-mail message in response to a predetermined condition of the attached digital signature, the second policy condition selected by reference to an identity associated with the valid digital signature; vi. detecting that the digital signature is a valid digital signature; and vii. processing said application level e-mail message in accordance with said applying at least a second policy condition.