SYSTEM, METHOD AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR AUTHENTICATING AN E-MAIL AND/OR ATTACHMENT

A system, method and program product for authenticating an e-mail. A user requests to register a visual signature image with a sending mail server, and in response, the sending mail server furnishes a first identifier to the user. Subsequently, the user requests the sending mail server to send an e-mail with the visual signature image and supplies the e-mail and first identifier to the sending mail server. In response, the sending mail server validates the first identifier, and sends the e-mail with a second identifier to a receiving mail server. In response, the receiving mail server validates the second identifier. The second identifier identifies an addressee of the e-mail, and the receiving mail server validates the second identifier by comparing the addressee identified by the acceptance identifier to an addressee within the e-mail. The sending mail server embeds the second identifier in the visual signature image and sends the visual signature image with the embedded second identifier to the receiving mail server. The invention also resides in the image representing an originator of an e-mail and/or an attachment to the e-mail; the image is included in the e-mail, an icon for the attachment or the attachment. The image includes an identity of an originator and an identity of a recipient intended by the originator. The e-mail with the added image is sent to the intended recipient. The image and identities of the originator and recipient authenticate the e-mail and/or the attachment.