Abstract: A method of authorising electronic mail sent by a sender to a recipient, the method including the steps of: identifying and intercepting an unauthorised electronic mail before delivery to the recipient, the unauthorised electronic mail being identified through a comparison of details of the sender with details contained on a list of authorised senders; and automatically requesting that the sender of the unauthorised electronic mail provide verification in the form of pre-determined information about the recipient before delivery of the electronic mail to the recipient; wherein upon receipt of the verification, the sender is added to the list of authorised senders and the electronic mail is forwarded to the recipient.

Abstract: A method of delivering email from a sender to a recipient, via a redirection service, including the step of the sender obtaining the recipient's telephone number. Thereafter, the sender forwards an email message to the email address: <telephone number>@<redirection service domain>. The redirection service receives the message and checks to see whether the recipient's telephone number is registered with the redirection service. If the recipient's telephone number is registered, the redirection service forwards the email message to an address which has previously been specified by the recipient. A similar method applies for directing a computer user to an Internet site associated with a person or business, via a redirection service.