USA.NET, the largest hosted eMessaging service provider in North America, is now offering its subscribers the ability to encrypt and digitally sign all outgoing messages by simply clicking a button in their existing email application. USA.NET is the first hosted eMessaging service provider in the industry to offer this service in the marketplace.

USA.NET encrypted email gives small and medium size businesses, and larger enterprises an easy to use and cost effective solution that ensures the confidentiality of all outgoing email, be it highly sensitive business data or regulatory data subject to mandated security. Virtually anyone using Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express can subscribe to the service. Non-subscribers, no matter what email application they are using, can also receive and decrypt email messages without downloading any software or registering for the service. This service is easily installed by downloading a small plug-in. No additional hardware or infrastructure purchases are needed.

Encrypted email is a critical security service for business email users that need to ensure the confidentiality of information transmitted via the Internet. USA.NET encrypted email, provides public companies, law firms, health care providers, financial services firms and many other SMBs and larger enterprises with complete protection and confidentiality when transmitting sensitive information electronically, including employee and patient records, payroll and financial reports, legal documents, design specifications, account information and trade secrets.

"We are delighted to offer our customers one of the first mainstream solutions for encrypting email," said David Ramon, president and chief executive officer of USA.NET. "USA.NET encrypted email provides desktop-to-desktop encryption; a critical security service for all business email users who need to protect the confidentiality of information and remain in compliance with privacy legislation. With this solution, we offer a simple, efficient and secure service."

USA.NET encrypted email, the ultimate solution in end-to-end email security, was developed by Echoworx using industry trusted standards. encrypted email verifies and authenticates that the message has not been altered, allows the message to be opened only by the intended recipient, and allows users to lock incoming email so others are unable to view it. This subscription-based service is part of USA.NET's Enhanced Messaging Services Suite, and is now available nationwide.