Abstract: This invention concerns methods for the protection of resources in an open digital communication system, which resources are residing in or owned by physically and organizationally distributed, independent entities connected through that system, e.g. the Internet. Since, in such an open system, any entity can in principle access any resource of any other entity, precautions must be taken to avoid or minimize the danger of resource corruption and destruction, to maintain privacy and, where necessary, confidentiality. Thus, protection of resources is of ultimate importance to warrant integrity and function of an entity. For the intelligent protection of such resources, in particular against unauthorized access, a variable-grained control of the name space (consisting of all names an entity provides) and/or the provision of attachable and detachable guards accompanying each call for a file and/or service is provided.