System and methods for reduction of unwanted electronic correspondence

A method of authenticating electronic correspondence between a sender and a recipient, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a sender client at the sender and a recipient client at the recipient;
• registering the sender client and the receiver client with a central authorization server;
• establishing a two-way communication link between the sender client and a central authorization server and a two-way communication link between the receiver client and the central authorization server;
• at the sender, creating an electronic correspondence for transmission to the recipient;
• authorizing, in the sender client, transmission of the electronic correspondence;
• at the recipient client, verifying the authenticity of the electronic correspondence;
• and
• allowing the recipient to view the electronic correspondence upon verification.

A method of authenticating electronic correspondence in a sender having a sender client, the sender client being in two-way communication with a central authorization server, the method comprising:

• receiving composed electronic correspondence in the sender client;
• determining whether the electronic correspondence is received from a server registered with the central authorization server;
• determining whether the electronic correspondence is received from a domain registered with the server on the central authorization server when the correspondence is determined to be from a registered server, and
• when it is determined that the server and domain are registered, encrypting and sending the electronic correspondence.