The Self-Destructing E-mail

After the usage of invisible ink, self-destruct cassette tapes to securely exchange information, now it’s the turn of self-destructing e-mails. The development is designed to improve security and avoid potentially sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.

The idea is simple, allows the sender to create e-mails that will expire after a set time. The sender will also be able to restrict who is allowed to read the e-mail and prevent recipients from forwarding messages or printing them. The new technology could potentially be used by governments and companies to prevent leaks of sensitive information.

There are several free online services available like willselfdestruct. In most cases the recipients are sent a link to the message. The message is displayed on a browser window and vanishes (self-destructs) after the specified interval, all records of the e-mail are erased.

Microsoft Office 2003 also includes e-mail privacy and security features, including the ability to designate specific readers, prevent message forwarding and printing, and a "time-stamp" which results in e-mail deletion on a specified date. However, the e-mail will still be retained on the sender's computer, and in corporate networks copies would be kept on the back-up tapes of mail servers.

Self-destructing e-mails could also help those involved in shady dealings as well, who might have other reasons for not wanting a permanent record of their dealings. As the technology evolves it remains to see how the idea might take shape and how successful it might be in sealing its flaws.

Related Links: Inside Office 2003, from PCWorld.com.