Abstract:
A method for classification and enforcement of security requirements in an information dissemination system, said information dissemination system not being designed for said security requirements and enforcement. The method comprising the steps of: accepting a user specification of said security requirements for dissemination of respective information, said specifying is done using a user interface; Associating with said dissemination system an enforcement module, said module being operable to receive said security requirements and apply them to control dissemination via said dissemination system, and then enforcing said dissemination via said module.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/353,997, filed Feb. 5, 2002, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to monitoring transport of electronic documents, more particularly but not exclusively to such monitoring for the enforcement of secrecy and confidentiality.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Modern businesses and industries rely heavily on the creation, storage and transportation of digital documents and other kinds of digital files as a primary means of communication, information storage, and documentation. In many cases, the digital documents and files contain proprietary and/or confidential material. These documents and files may easily be disseminated in an unauthorized manner using standard electronic mail. Companies are therefore at daily risk of disclosing sensitive internal documents, leading to substantial financial losses. Banking, legal, medical, government, and manufacturing companies have much to lose if sensitive internal documents are leaked. The safe distribution of internal documents, memos, blueprints, payroll records, patient medical information, banking and financial transactions etc, is becoming more complex to ensure. In fact, as a consequence of such leaks, the United States federal government was prompted to intervene and has mandated that companies should protect sensitive information such as financial and patient medical records. From the company and business standpoint, potential risks include financial losses, fiduciary risks, legal problems, competitive intelligence, public relations problems, loss of clients and privacy liability. There is therefore a great interest in methods that mitigate disclosure of confidential digital documents.  
           [0004]    One of the greatest obstacles to a reliable security system and mechanism is what known as “the human factor”: methods and systems for securing digital documents and digital media content that require the user to perform tedious and/or cumbersome operations in order to secure the media are rendered, in many cases, ineffective. If the user does not perform the required operations, the digital documents and the digital media remain unprotected, regardless of the strength of the basic security mechanism which underlies the system. It is therefore vital for any practical security system to be “user friendly”, such that the very action of securing the digital documents and the digital media will be a natural part of the workflow. Many of the currently used security procedures are not embedded into the natural workflow, thereby effectively discourage the users from follow the established security procedure by making it possible to neglect to use those procedures without effecting the workflow, thereby effectively causing an overall decrease in the total security level.  
           [0005]    Another important aspect of successful security system is its compatibility with current standards and formats and with popular mailing software. Many security systems do not comply with popular formats and software which enjoy a large customer base. Such security systems present a hazard for potential costumers, regardless of the security and the sophistication of the underlying mechanism.  
           [0006]    Another important aspect of securing documents and other confidential material, which does not exist in some of the current systems, is an effective classification method. Since there is a cost and overhead for any level of security, the level of confidentiality may be matched by different protection measures, in a manner that would balance the hazards of unauthorized disclosure and the overall cost of the protection measures, in order to assure that the system is cost-effective and that the classification tags are being taken seriously by the users  
           [0007]    There is thus a recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a method and system that allows control of unauthorized dissemination of electronic mail, which overcomes the drawbacks of current methods as described above.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention seeks to provide a novel method and system for the mitigation of illegal and unauthorized disclosure of electronic documents, without otherwise interfering with rightful usage and the privacy of the users. Specifically, the current invention provides methods for constructing a user-friendly e-mail security system that is compatible with current modes of operation and current electronic mailing software and standards.  
           [0009]    According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for classification and enforcement of security requirements in an information dissemination system, where the information dissemination system is not designed for the specification and enforcement comprising the steps of:  
           [0010]    A user specifying the security requirements for dissemination of a the information, the specifying is done using a user interface;  
           [0011]    An enforcement module operable to perform the enforcement receiving the security requirements; and  
           [0012]    The enforcement module enforcing the security requirements.  
           [0013]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the security requirements are specified implicitly, by classifying the information, the classification implies the security requirements.  
           [0014]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the classification comprises at least one of the following:  
           [0015]    The identity of the information;  
           [0016]    The authorized recipient groups of the information;  
           [0017]    The authorized recipients of the information;  
           [0018]    The authorized sender groups of the information;  
           [0019]    The authorized senders of the information;  
           [0020]    The security level of the information;  
           [0021]    The allowed destination and sending methods of the information;  
           [0022]    The allowed sending methods of the information;  
           [0023]    The confidentiality level of the information;  
           [0024]    The secrecy level of the information; and  
           [0025]    The subject of the information.  
           [0026]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the security requirements comprise requirements about at least one of the following:  
           [0027]    The authorized recipient groups of the information;  
           [0028]    The authorized recipients of the information;  
           [0029]    The authorized sender groups of the information;  
           [0030]    The authorized senders of the information;  
           [0031]    The security level of the information;  
           [0032]    The allowed destination and sending methods of the information; and  
           [0033]    The allowed sending methods of the information.  
           [0034]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information comprises at least one of the following:  
           [0035]    At least one E-mail message;  
           [0036]    At least one document; and  
           [0037]    At least one file.  
           [0038]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the security requirements are stored in at least one of the following:  
           [0039]    Embedded in the information;  
           [0040]    In meta data;  
           [0041]    In the access control data;  
           [0042]    In a database; and  
           [0043]    In the enforcement module.  
           [0044]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information comprises at least one E-mail message, and the security requirements are embedded in at least one of the following:  
           [0045]    At least one attachment;  
           [0046]    In meta data;  
           [0047]    In the access control data;  
           [0048]    In at least one header; and  
           [0049]    In the message&#39;s body.  
           [0050]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the enforcement module comprises at least one of the following:  
           [0051]    A mail server add-in operable to interface a mail server and to enforce the security requirements on the mail server&#39;s mail traffic; and  
           [0052]    A mail security server operable to intercept mail messages from a mail server and enforce the security requirements on the mail server&#39;s mail traffic.  
           [0053]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information dissemination system comprises software, and the method is implemented by at least one of the following:  
           [0054]    implementing an extension to the mailing software;  
           [0055]    intrinsic support within the mailing software;  
           [0056]    at least one external software utility;  
           [0057]    at least one component object model (COM) object;  
           [0058]    at least one COM object utilizing add-in interface in the dissemination software;  
           [0059]    at least one outlook plug-in;  
           [0060]    Extending the meaning of at least one existing data storage field;  
           [0061]    Extending the meaning of at least one existing data field in a protocol;  
           [0062]    Extending the meaning of at least one existing data entry field in an existing user interface;  
           [0063]    Changing enumerated type ranges;  
           [0064]    Expanding enumerated type ranges;  
           [0065]    Additional user interface;  
           [0066]    Additional user interface supported by handling at least one event in the dissemination software;  
           [0067]    Additional user interface supported by at least one additional property sheet;  
           [0068]    Additional user interface supported by at least one additional command bar;  
           [0069]    Additional user interface supported by at least one additional command bar button;  
           [0070]    Additional user interface supported by at least one COM object;  
           [0071]    Additional user interface supported by at least one ActiveX control;  
           [0072]    Additional user interface supported by at least one COM object utilizing an add-in interface in the dissemination software;  
           [0073]    Additional user interface supported by at least one outlook plug-in;  
           [0074]    Additional user interface supported by implementing at least one extension to the mailing software;  
           [0075]    Additional user interface supported by intrinsic support within the mailing software; and  
           [0076]    Additional user interface supported by at least one external software utility.  
           [0077]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the enforcement comprises at least one of the following:  
           [0078]    Blocking the dissemination of the information;  
           [0079]    Requiring authorization by an authorized party for the sending of the information;  
           [0080]    Changing the information;  
           [0081]    removing parts of the information;  
           [0082]    Logging dissemination of the information; and  
           [0083]    Alerting about dissemination of the information.  
           [0084]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information dissemination system comprises at least one of the following:  
           [0085]    IBM Lotus notes;  
           [0086]    IBM lotus domino server;  
           [0087]    Microsoft exchange;  
           [0088]    Microsoft Outlook; and  
           [0089]    Microsoft outlook express.  
           [0090]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information dissemination system comprises Microsoft Outlook and the method is implemented by utilizing at least one of the following fields:  
           [0091]    categories;  
           [0092]    user properties;  
           [0093]    companies;  
           [0094]    sensitivity;  
           [0095]    importance;  
           [0096]    mileage; and  
           [0097]    billing.  
           [0098]    According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for classification and enforcement of security requirements operating in conjunction with an information dissemination system, where the information dissemination system is not designed for the specification and enforcement, the system for classification and enforcement of security requirements comprising:  
           [0099]    A user interface for specifying the security requirements for dissemination of a the information; and  
           [0100]    An enforcement module operable to perform the enforcement and to receive the security requirements.  
           [0101]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the security requirements are specified implicitly, by classifying the information, the classification implies the security requirements.  
           [0102]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the classification comprises at least one of the following:  
           [0103]    The identity of the information;  
           [0104]    The authorized recipient groups of the information;  
           [0105]    The authorized recipients of the information;  
           [0106]    The authorized sender groups of the information;  
           [0107]    The authorized senders of the information;  
           [0108]    The security level of the information;  
           [0109]    The allowed destination and sending methods of the information;  
           [0110]    The allowed sending methods of the information;  
           [0111]    The confidentiality level of the information;  
           [0112]    The secrecy level of the information; and  
           [0113]    The subject of the information.  
           [0114]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the security requirements comprise requirements about at least one of the following:  
           [0115]    The authorized recipient groups of the information;  
           [0116]    The authorized recipients of the information;  
           [0117]    The authorized sender groups of the information;  
           [0118]    The authorized senders of the information;  
           [0119]    The security level of the information;  
           [0120]    The allowed destination and sending methods of the information; and  
           [0121]    The allowed sending methods of the information.  
           [0122]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information comprises at least one of the following:  
           [0123]    At least one E-mail message;  
           [0124]    At least one document; and  
           [0125]    At least one file.  
           [0126]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the security requirements are stored in at least one of the following:  
           [0127]    Embedded in the information;  
           [0128]    In meta data;  
           [0129]    In the access control data;  
           [0130]    In a database; and  
           [0131]    In the enforcement module.  
           [0132]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information comprises at least one E-mail message, and the security requirements are embedded in at least one of the following:  
           [0133]    At least one attachment;  
           [0134]    In meta data;  
           [0135]    In the access control data;  
           [0136]    In at least one header; and  
           [0137]    In the message&#39;s body.  
           [0138]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the enforcement module comprises at least one of the following:  
           [0139]    A mail server add-in operable to interface a mail server and to enforce the security requirements on the mail server&#39;s mail traffic; and  
           [0140]    A mail security server operable to intercept mail messages from a mail server and enforce the security requirements on the mail server&#39;s mail traffic.  
           [0141]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information dissemination system comprises software, and the system for classification and enforcement of security requirements is implemented by at least one of the following:  
           [0142]    implementing an extension to the mailing software;  
           [0143]    intrinsic support within the mailing software;  
           [0144]    at least one external software utility;  
           [0145]    at least one COM object;  
           [0146]    at least one COM object utilizing add-in interface in the dissemination software;  
           [0147]    at least one outlook plug-in;  
           [0148]    Extending the meaning of at least one existing data storage field;  
           [0149]    Extending the meaning of at least one existing data field in a protocol;  
           [0150]    Extending the meaning of at least one existing data enrty field in an existing user interface;  
           [0151]    Changing enumerated type ranges;  
           [0152]    Expanding enumerated type ranges;  
           [0153]    Additional user interface;  
           [0154]    Additional user interface supported by handling at least one event in the dissemination software;  
           [0155]    Additional user interface supported by at least one additional property sheet;  
           [0156]    Additional user interface supported by at least one additional command bar;  
           [0157]    Additional user interface supported by at least one additional command bar button;  
           [0158]    Additional user interface supported by at least one COM object;  
           [0159]    Additional user interface supported by at least one ActiveX control;  
           [0160]    Additional user interface supported by at least one COM object utilizing an add-in interface in the dissemination software;  
           [0161]    Additional user interface supported by at least one outlook plug-in;  
           [0162]    Additional user interface supported by implementing at least one extension to the mailing software;  
           [0163]    Additional user interface supported by intrinsic support within the mailing software; and  
           [0164]    Additional user interface supported by at least one external software utility.  
           [0165]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the enforcement comprises at least one of the following:  
           [0166]    Blocking the dissemination of the information;  
           [0167]    Requiring authorization by an authorized party for the sending of the information;  
           [0168]    Changing the information;  
           [0169]    removing parts of the information;  
           [0170]    Logging dissemination of the information; and  
           [0171]    Alerting about dissemination of the information.  
           [0172]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information dissemination system comprises at least one of the following:  
           [0173]    IBM Lotus notes;  
           [0174]    IBM lotus domino server;  
           [0175]    Microsoft exchange;  
           [0176]    Microsoft Outlook; and  
           [0177]    Microsoft outlook express.  
           [0178]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information dissemination system comprises Microsoft Outlook and the system for classification and enforcement of security requirements is implemented by utilizing at least one of the following fields:  
           [0179]    categories;  
           [0180]    user properties;  
           [0181]    companies;  
           [0182]    sensitivity;  
           [0183]    importance;  
           [0184]    mileage; and  
           [0185]    billing.  
           [0186]    The present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of the presently known configurations by providing a method and system for for controlling unauthorized dissemination of electronic mail, which can efficiently serve digital information protection. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0187]    For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0188]    With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the accompanying drawings:  
         [0189]    [0189]FIG. 1 is a simplified conceptual illustration of a system for content segregation and classification of confidential content, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0190]    [0190]FIG. 2 is a simplified illustration showing a conceptual illustration of a system, substantially similar to the system described in FIG. 1, but in which, additionally, classification information as well as identifying data are registered in a data storage associated with the mail server security add-in;  
         [0191]    [0191]FIG. 3 is a simplified illustration showing a system, substantially similar to the system described in FIG. 1, where a mail security server is charged with the interception and classification of outgoing mail and of handling it accordingly;  
         [0192]    [0192]FIG. 4 is a simplified illustration showing a system, substantially similar to the system described in FIG. 2, where a mail security server is charged with the interception and classification of outgoing mail and of handling it accordingly; and  
         [0193]    [0193]FIG. 5 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a workflow of the method in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0194]    The present embodiments deal, generally speaking, with protection against unauthorized dissemination of classified digital documents.  
         [0195]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method provides a utility that allows the leverage of current features to create classification of security requirements, to be utilized by components of the security system, in order to govern the routing of e-mail messages.  
         [0196]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the user uses a user interface in order to provide details regarding the required security handling policies with respect to the content of the mail he or she creates. These details may, for example, include limitation on distribution such as authorized recipients groups or security and confidentiality level. After these details are entered, the system enforces the indicated handling of outgoing mail by intercepting and blocking mails whose destination and sending method is not allowed according to those details. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the system alerts authorized personnel and/or the sender and/or the original composer of the mail when blocking occurs. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mail is not blocked for certain security handling policies and only the alerting occurs. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, for certain security handling policies, the blocked mails can be sent by authorized users in order to override the blocking action  
         [0197]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the user interface is integrated into the mailing software by implementing an extension to the mailing software.  
         [0198]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the user interface is integrated into the mailing software by intrinsic support within the mailing software.  
         [0199]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the user interface is integrated into the mailing software by an external utility.  
         [0200]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the user interface is integrated into the mailing software by a combination of an external utility and an extension of the mailing software and/or intrinsic support within the mailing software.  
         [0201]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mailing software is Microsoft&#39;s Outlook™.  
         [0202]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention Outlook™ is extended by implementing a COM (Microsoft&#39;s Component Object Model) object preferably implemented as a dynamic link library—DLL, which utilizes Outlook&#39;s Add-In support COM interfaces. This is referred to as an Outlook Add-In.  
         [0203]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mailing software is Microsoft&#39;s Outlook Express™.  
         [0204]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an existing interface is extended as part of the user interface support (for example the sensitivity drop-down box in Microsoft&#39;s Outlook™).  
         [0205]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a property sheet is added to the options interface as part of the user interface support.  
         [0206]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a command bar button is added as part of the user interface support.  
         [0207]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, some of the events (for example composing a new mail, or sending mail) are handled as part of the user interface support (e.g. causing a window to pop up).  
         [0208]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention windows in which user interaction is possible are parts of the user interface support.  
         [0209]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention ActiveX controls (a specialized kind of COM objects conforming to a specified interface) are utilized as part of the user interface support.  
         [0210]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention an external utility handles events in the mailing software and implements part of the user interface support.  
         [0211]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, part of the user interface support in Microsoft Outlook™ include utilizing the categories and/or sensitivity and/or importance fields in order to reduce (or eliminate) the need to implement an extension. E.g. a distribution groups can be indicated by some of the categories selected and sensitivity can indicate the confidentiality level classification.  
         [0212]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, part of the user interface support in Microsoft Outlook™ includes extending and/or changing the sensitivity and/or importance fields&#39; underling enumerated type ranges.  
         [0213]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, part of the user interface support in Microsoft Outlook™ includes utilizing the mileage and/or the billing information and/or the companies.  
         [0214]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, part of the user interface support in Microsoft Outlook™ includes utilizing the user properties fields that provides support for adding named property fields.  
         [0215]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention some of the information is embedded in mail headers and/or attachments  
         [0216]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is applicable to other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0217]    Reference is firstly made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified illustration showing a conceptual view of a system that allows for content segregation and classification of confidential content, constructed and operative according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A mail client  110  is equipped with a mail client add-in  112 . The mail client add-in  112  provides the user with an interface, which facilitates classifying authored mail-messages and the like. A classification tag is embedded in the outgoing mail; thereby facilitating its classification, after its interception by the mail server security add-in  122 , while it is destination and sending method via the mail server  120  to outside network  130 . If the classification tag indicates that the intended recipients are authorized, the mail server destination and sending methods it to its intended recipients, otherwise it is blocked. The classification may indicate other handling methods such as alerting, asking an authorized user to authorize the routing of the mail to the as yet unauthorized recipients, etc.  
         [0218]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the enforcement module comprises at least one of the following:  
         [0219]    A mail server add-in operable to interface a mail server and to enforce the security requirements on the mail server&#39;s mail traffic; and  
         [0220]    A mail security server operable to intercept mail messages from a mail server and enforce the security requirements on the mail server&#39;s mail traffic.  
         [0221]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information dissemination system comprises software, and the system for classification and enforcement of security requirements is implemented by at least one of the following:  
         [0222]    implementing an extension to the mailing software;  
         [0223]    intrinsic support within the mailing software;  
         [0224]    at least one external software utility;  
         [0225]    at least one COM object;  
         [0226]    at least one COM object utilizing an add-in interface in the dissemination software;  
         [0227]    at least one Outlook™ plug-in;  
         [0228]    extending the meaning of at least one existing data storage field;  
         [0229]    extending the meaning of at least one existing data field in a protocol;  
         [0230]    extending the meaning of at least one existing data entry entry field  
         [0231]    an existing user interface;  
         [0232]    changing enumerated type ranges;  
         [0233]    expanding enumerated type ranges;  
         [0234]    adding a further user interface;  
         [0235]    adding a further user interface to be supported by handling at least one event in the dissemination software;  
         [0236]    adding a further user interface to be supported by at least one additional property sheet;  
         [0237]    adding a further user interface to be supported by at least one additional command bar;  
         [0238]    adding a further user interface to be supported by at least one additional command bar button;  
         [0239]    adding a further user interface to be supported by at least one COM object;  
         [0240]    adding a further user interface to be supported by at least one ActiveX control;  
         [0241]    adding a further user interface to be supported by at least one COM object utilizing an add-in interface in the dissemination software;  
         [0242]    adding a further user interface to be supported by at least one Outlook™ plug-in;  
         [0243]    adding a further user interface to be supported by implementing at least one extension to the mailing software;  
         [0244]    adding a further user interface to be supported by intrinsic support within the mailing software; and  
         [0245]    adding a further user interface to be supported by at least one external software utility.  
         [0246]    Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a simplified illustration showing a conceptual illustration of a system, substantially similar to the system described in FIG. 1, constructed and operative in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention. Parts that are the same as in previous figures are given the same reference numerals and are not described again except to the extent necessary for an understanding of the present figure. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the classification of the mail messages is not embedded in the messages themselves. Instead, classification information, as well as identifying data, are registered in a data storage  124  associated with the mail server security add-in  122 .  
         [0247]    Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a simplified illustration showing a conceptual illustration of a system which is substantially similar to the system described in FIG. 1, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Parts that are the same as in previous figures are given the same reference numerals and are not described again except to the extent necessary for an understanding of the present figure. In the system of FIG. 3, a mail security server  126  is charged with the interception and classification of outgoing mail and handling of the mail accordingly.  
         [0248]    Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a simplified illustration showing a conceptual illustration of a system, substantially similar to the system described in FIG. 3, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Parts that are the same as in previous figures are given the same reference numerals and are not described again except to the extent necessary for an understanding of the present figure. In the system of FIG. 4, classification information as well as identifying data are registered in a data storage unit  124  associated with the mail security server  126 , which is charged with the interception and classification of outgoing mail, and handling of the mail accordingly.  
         [0249]    Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which is a simplified flowchart illustrating workflow of a method of restricting mail distribution in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. First of all, a mail message input  510  is obtained, typically through user generation. The input is registered  520  and security restrictions  530  are set. Afterward, when the message is distributed  540 , the legitimacy of the intended destination and sending method and recipients are validated  550 . If the message is approved it is then sent  560 . Otherwise it is blocked  570 , and possibly an alert is issued.  
         [0250]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the security requirements comprise requirements about at least one of the following:  
         [0251]    authorized recipient groups of the information;  
         [0252]    authorized recipients of the information;  
         [0253]    authorized sender groups of the information;  
         [0254]    authorized senders of the information;  
         [0255]    security level of the information;  
         [0256]    allowed destination and sending methods of the information; and  
         [0257]    allowed sending methods of the information.  
         [0258]    For example, a user with a secret security classification may not be allowed to send top secret classified information to external recipients, or may only be allowed to send secret classified information when encrypted or to a restricted set of recipients.  
         [0259]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the security requirements are stored in at least one of the following ways:  
         [0260]    embedded in the information;  
         [0261]    in meta data;  
         [0262]    in the access control data;  
         [0263]    in a database; and  
         [0264]    in the enforcement module.  
         [0265]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information comprises at least one E-mail message, and the security requirements are embedded in at least one of the following:  
         [0266]    at least one attachment;  
         [0267]    in meta data;  
         [0268]    in the access control data;  
         [0269]    in at least one header; and  
         [0270]    in the message&#39;s body.  
         [0271]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, enforcement is carried out using at least one of the following:  
         [0272]    blocking the dissemination of the information;  
         [0273]    requiring authorization by an authorized party for the sending of the information;  
         [0274]    changing the information;  
         [0275]    removing parts of the information;  
         [0276]    logging dissemination of the information; and  
         [0277]    alerting about dissemination of the information.  
         [0278]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information dissemination system comprises Microsoft Outlook™ and the system for classification and enforcement of security requirements is implemented by utilizing at least one of the following fields:  
         [0279]    categories;  
         [0280]    user properties;  
         [0281]    companies;  
         [0282]    sensitivity;  
         [0283]    importance;  
         [0284]    mileage; and  
         [0285]    billing.  
         [0286]    The default values of these fields may be changed, or interperted in a way which would encourage the user to utilize these field, for example, by changing the normal workflow for these values (e.g. by displaying a message box, or blocking the sending of the information for some or all recipients).  
         [0287]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the user uses a user interface in order to provide details regarding the required security handling policies of the mail she or he creates. These details may include, for example, limitations on distribution such as to authorized recipients or groups thereof or confidentiality level classification. After these details are entered, the system enforces the indicated handling of outgoing mail by intercepting and blocking mails whose destination and sending method is not allowed according to those details. The system may also alert authorized personnel and/or the sender and/or the original composer of the mail when a block occurs. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, according to certain security handling policies, the mail is not actually blocked, but only the alerting occurs. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, for certain security handling policies, the blocked mails can be resent by authorized users in order to override the block, thereby allowing recovery from system errors.  
         [0288]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the user interface is integrated into the mailing software by implementing an extension to the mailing software, by intrinsic support within the mailing software, by an external utility or by combination of the above.  
         [0289]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mailing software is Microsoft&#39;s Outlook™.  
         [0290]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention Microsoft Outlook™ mailing software is extended by implementing a COM (Microsoft&#39;s Component Object Model) object, preferably implemented as a dynamic link library—DLL, which utilizes Outlook&#39;s Add-In support COM interfaces. This is referred to as an Outlook Add-In.  
         [0291]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mailing software is Microsoft&#39;s Outlook express™.  
         [0292]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an existing interface is extended as part of the user interface support, for example the sensitivity drop-down box in Microsoft&#39;s Outlook™.  
         [0293]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a property sheet is added to the options interface as part of the user interface support. Adding such a property sheet enables the additon of data entry fields to the user interface.  
         [0294]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a command bar button is added as part of the user interface support.  
         [0295]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, some of the events (e.g., composing a new mail or sending mail) are handled as part of the user interface support (e.g. causing a window to pop up).  
         [0296]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, windows in which user interaction is possible are parts of the user interface support.  
         [0297]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, ActiveX controls (i.e., a specialized kind of COM objects conforming to a specified interface) are utilized as part of the user interface support.  
         [0298]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an external utility handles events in the mailing software and implements part of the user interface support.  
         [0299]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, part of the user interface support in Microsoft Outlook™ include utilizing the categories and/or sensitivity and/or importance fields in order to reduce or eliminate the need to implement an extension. E.g., a distribution groups can be indicated by some of the categories selected and sensitivity can indicate the confidentiality level classification.  
         [0300]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, part of the user interface support in Microsoft Outlook™ includes extending and/or changing the sensitivity and/or importance fields and/or other enumerated type ranges.  
         [0301]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, part of the user interface support in Microsoft Outlook™ includes utilizing the mileage and/or the billing information and/or the companies and/or the user properties fields.  
         [0302]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, part of the user interface support in Microsoft Outlook™ includes utilizing the ability to add named fields in Microsoft Outlook™ in order to provide classification labels.  
         [0303]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention some of the classification information is embedded in mail headers and/or attachments (note that in the case of Microsoft&#39;s Outlook™, some of the aforementioned fields are automatically included as headers).  
         [0304]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the mailing software is IBM&#39;s Lotus domino server or Lotus notes™, and the information is embedded into the access control data. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the mailing software is IBM&#39;s Lotus domino server or Lotus notes™ and the information is transferred separately from the sent note. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the mailing software is IBM&#39;s Lotus domino server or lotus notes™ and the information is attached to the note as a part thereof.  
         [0305]    It is appreciated that one or more steps of any of the methods described herein may be implemented in a different order than that shown, while not departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0306]    While the methods and apparatus disclosed herein may or may not have been described with reference to specific hardware or software, the methods and apparatus have been described in a manner sufficient to enable persons of ordinary skill in the art to readily adapt commercially available hardware and software as may be needed to reduce any of the embodiments of the present invention to practice without undue experimentation and using conventional techniques.  
         [0307]    A number of features have been shown in various combinations in the above embodiments. The skilled person will appreciate that the above combinations are not exhaustive, and all reasonable combinations of the above features are hereby included in the present disclosure.  
         [0308]    While the present invention has been described with reference to a few specific embodiments, the description is intended to be illustrative of the invention as a whole and is not to be construed as limiting the invention to the embodiments shown. It is appreciated that various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art that, while not specifically shown herein, are nevertheless within the true spirit and scope of the invention.