Secure Simple mailbox Transport Protocal (SSMTP)

While there are many ways of encrypting ones personal email before sending it, there is one major problem with todays smtp based internet email system. Email is sent in plain text with no encryption. While a total revamping of todays email system is unfeasable, I bealieve that the following is quite do-able.

Step 1. Create a new internet mail protocal utalizing a well proven encryption system such as Secure Shell (SSH). I call it SSMTP, but names are unimportant at this point. This protocal will use certificate based encryption where both the host and the recipiant servers will require trusted certifcate in order to comunicate and encrypt data sent between the two systems.

Step 2. integrate this new protocal with existing email server system such as exchange, lotus notes, etc.

Step 3. Include a visible option in the client software (outlook) where the sender can resolve and tell if a recipiants email system accepts encrypted mail. Also include a tag where the recipiant can tell wheather or not email in their inbox was sent encrypted.

I realize that a. no encryption is hack proof, and any certificate can potentaly be duplicated. I only know that this would be much more secure than today's SMTP protocal with no encryption at all. b. this is most likely not a new idea. This is however is my version of it, and I strongly feel that this is not only do-able, but a must in a world where email has become one of the most widly used forms of long distance and busisness communication known today.

Please let me know your opinion and be easy on me I do have feelings.

-David Lapham