Patent ID: 8015250

Claim:
A method of modifying an electronic message during transmission through a communications network, said electronic message having a source address and a recipient address, the method comprising: interrupting transmission of the electronic message; identifying, by use of a processor, a first link specified within the electronic message, said first link directed to a first network location; analyzing, by use of a processor, at least the electronic message on the basis of at least one of an attribute of the first link, independent of content of the first network location associated with the first link, and at least an attribute intrinsic to the electronic message so as to classify the electronic message as either a suspect message or an acceptable message; in response to classification of the electronic message as a suspect message, modifying, by use of a processor, the electronic message, wherein modifying the electronic message comprises: modifying the first link to comprise link matter that represents the first link; and wrapping the link matter within a second link directed to an alternative network location, said alternative network location corresponding to a remote processing system different from that corresponding to the first link; transmitting the modified electronic message; and in response to classification of the electronic message as an acceptable message, transmitting the unmodified message.