Patent ID: 8191105

Claim:
A method for handling secure-format electronic messages, the method comprising: receiving a secure-format electronic message at a host system associated with a recipient mobile communication device; when configured secure message policies are stored at the host system, comparing the secure-format electronic message with invalid message criteria comprised in the configured secure message policies to determine whether the secure-format electronic message is invalid; when no configured secure message policies are stored at the host system, comparing the secure-format electronic message with invalid message criteria comprised in default secure message policies to determine whether the secure-format electronic message is invalid; when the secure-format electronic message is determined to be invalid, implementing a message delivery option at the host system to prevent transmission of the received secure-format electronic message to the recipient mobile communication device, the message delivery option including sending to the recipient mobile communication device an invalid message notification in place of the secure-format electronic message, and none, one or more of: marking the secure-format electronic message for review at the host system; and deleting the secure-format electronic message from a mailbox at the host system associated with the recipient mobile communication device.