Abstract: A private message, formed generally by an e-mail manager or browser, has a privacy attribute. The private message with the privacy attribute is transmitted to a receiver where only certain permitted message processing, called private message processing, may be performed in response to the detection of the privacy attribute. For example, in response to a received privacy attribute only three message processing functions in the receiver of the message are activated, namely message reading, reply to addressee, and delete. Other edit and re-transmit functions which may exist with an e-mail manager or browser at the receiver are disabled in response to the privacy attribute so that the private message cannot be edited and retransmitted. Likewise, the message cannot be stored external from the e-mail manager or browser.