How to Copy Protect eMail & Prevent Forwarding
There are many ways that email and in-house messages can be sent and received, as there are
different options for securing them. This article discusses the
most suitable mail scenarios for copy protection and their best solutions
for them.
The ideal email security and most secure mail service
The ideal solution and one that will provide the most effective
copy protection is the solution that will not only prevent all
methods copy, but also prevent a recipient from sending the
information onto others who may not be authorized by the
original author.
Email security and limitations of a protected mail service
If we take into account all of the available services, such as
free mail services like Hotmail and Gmail, mail services
provided by your ISP, mail accounts provided by your
organization, plus all of the tools that can be used for reading
and sending mail such as web based mail applications (webmail),
mail clients like Thunderbird and Outlook Express, and the
variety of tools that can be used like computers, notebooks,
internet cafes, iPhones and web browsers... it's easy to realize
that there is no effective way to effectively copy protect email
or messages across all terrain.
A more practical approach for email protection
Now let's get real and start removing some problem areas and
narrow down what can be properly protected, because it's useless
trying to protect anything properly if a back door is left open.
The first things to drop are Mac and Linux computers because
nothing can be properly secured on them and they are such a
minute minority, they won't be missed and was their choice in
the first place to cut themselves off from innovation and
superior technology. Unfortunately this lot also includes
iPhones, iPads and other iToys that are not only based upon
inferior Mac/Linux technology, but also insist on restricting
development in what they consider their domain.
What have we got left so far is Windows, and that's pretty good
going because after removing all of the problem areas we can
still cater for more than 95% of Internet users. If Mac user's
don't like it, they can always repent and find themselves a
computer without limitations, more performance for their dollar
and a much larger selection of apps and software.
Copy protection for Windows is more than enough
More than 99% of all corporate networks are Windows based, which
means that their workstations will be running Windows and their
servers will more than likely be Windows. While the interface
for reading protected mail needs to be run from a Windows based
computer, user's with iPhones can at least be notified that they
have a new message by monitoring their webmail inbox. That way
they can informed when away from their desk of important
messages that they may be waiting for.
Webmail versus other mail client software
Here the first question to ask is "is a mail client necessary?".
Yes, they are necessary for performing general duties such as
sales and support responses emanating from a variety of sources,
traversing the Internet between different Internet service
providers that use different mail servers and eventually
arriving at an end destination like your inbox. General mail
such as this does not need to be protected, and any limitations
applied to their replies can only be of detriment.
The next question is "can mail read in a mail client be copy
protected?" to which the answer is... if it needs to be copy
protected, why bother with a mail client at all? This is more
true than some may realize because when you look at scenarios
where the communication channel is for providing either
pre-sales support or after sales support, then the help desk can
be much better organized when using a web based solution, which
is why most companies now use ticket based systems for all email
communication with the public.
The benefits of web based email services (webmail)
If all users are using the one system then it is possible to
properly protect emails and messages including attachments. It
is also possible to employ the following options (impossible
with mail clients):
- built-in address book of all
possible recipients related to your group or
organization
- option to publish newsletters to
users selected by group
- option to restrict which recipients
can access/read the email or message
- option to prevent onward forwarding
to persons outside of the organization
- option to restrict access to mail
by account login and/or unique computer signature
- option to protect mail from all
methods of copy and save including screen capture
- option to restrict access by web
browser type, IP address and more
- option to use a custom web reader
specially designed for protecting all content
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Which secure email service is best?
Even though we have narrowed down the options there are still
many scenarios that a single out-of-the-box application cannot
cater for. For example the client may insist on using an Apache
web server because that is all they have or want to have; or the
client may have an existing web based mail application or
ticketed-help system that they would like to extend.
Copy protecting an existing web based (webmail) mail
service
Regardless of the web application in place or the type of server
being used, anything web based can be copy protected. The level
of protection possible and the media that can be protected
depends on the copy protection solution used and the
restrictions that can be imposed by modifying the applications
templates and properties.
Protecting your email service with CopySafe Web
CopySafe Web (insert
version) can be added to any web application regardless of the
server platform and programming language or scripting used. Web
developers can add CopySafe Web to existing web mail services by
simply adding a few lines of html to the page's header template.
Protect email with ArtistScope Site Protection System (ASPS)
ASPS uses a custom web
reader and will provide the most secure copy protection for all
web based media including documents and videos which can be
displayed in your messages. ASPS can provide a secure umbrella
over any web application.
Email security using a protected web based mail services
A web developer can add the most secure copy protection
solutions to any existing web based application or integrate
them into new applications specially designed to your client's
requirements. There are many possible variations and a client's
requirements can also vary a great deal, which is why
ArtistScope does not at this time provide an out-of-box solution
ready to install to any web site.
If you are a web developer you need to look no further because
CopySafe Web and ASPS are the most secure options that will ever
be available. If you represent a organization that needs a fully
protected mail system, then let us create the perfect solution
for you... use our contact form to
outline your project and we will get back to you with an
obligation free cost estimate.
The ultimate mail service and the most secure email
Commencing October 1st 20011 ArtistScope started providing a
free copy protected mail service. For developers
CopySafe
Mail may serve as an example of what one can build using
ArtistScope software. For some developers it may help to explain
why copy protection cannot be taken lightly, ie: studying and
plagiarizing existing applications will not give you a cheaper
alternative.
For those who need the most secure mail service on the planet
right now, they can create a free account at
CopySafe
Mail straight away.
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