Patent ID: 8806190

Claim:
A method for transmitting encrypted email attachments using an email application, the method comprising: a. generating an interface that accepts, from a user, an input indicating that an encryption process should be applied to a drafted email, having a message body and a file attached thereto, prior to transmission; b. generating an interface that accepts, from the user, an input designating an encryption option from among a plurality of encryption options; c. based upon said input designating an encryption option and based upon a format of said file, causing a separate application to encrypt said file, wherein said separate application is at least one of a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, or a presentation application and wherein said encryption option is invoked by, and within, said separate application; d. attaching the encrypted file to the email; e. encrypting text inputted by said user in said message body; f. erasing text inputted by said user in the message body; g. attaching the encrypted message body to the email; h. transmitting the email with the encrypted message body and the encrypted file attached thereto to at least one recipient email address using the email application; and i. automatically transmitting a second email containing an indication of a password to the at least one recipient email address using the email application, wherein the password is adapted to be used to decrypt the encrypted attachment.