Solicited authentication of a specific user

A computer program product encoded in at least one computer readable medium and comprising:

• a first functional sequence executable in a secure messaging system to transmit a first message to a recipient not previously enrolled in the secure messaging system, wherein the first message includes a recipient-specific resource locator;
• a second functional sequence executable in the secure messaging system to service a session initiated by the recipient using the recipient-specific resource locator and to authenticate identity of the recipient;
• and
• a third functional sequence executable in the secure messaging system to supply the private information after successful authentication of the recipient.

A method for authenticating a first user for a data transaction between the first user and a second user wherein the second user has identified the first user, the method comprising:

• responsive to identification of the first user by the second user and prior to creation of an account for the first user, sending a first message to the first user;
• in a session with the first user in response to the message, receiving user account information from the first user;
• and
• sending a second message to the first user wherein the second message informs the first user regarding creation of a user account in accordance with the received user account information.

A method of securely conveying private information from a sender to a recipient using a push-oriented messaging system, the method comprising:

• receiving from the sender both the private information and at least one criterion for use in authenticating identity of the recipient if the recipient has not previously been enrolled in the messaging system;
• transmitting a first message to the recipient, the first message including a recipient-specific resource locator;
• and
• in a session initiated by the recipient using the recipient-specific resource locator, authenticating identity of the recipient and thereafter supplying the private information to the recipient.

A system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• memory operatively coupled to the processor;
• and
• a delivery service for use in securely directing private information to recipients, including a recipient not previously enrolled therewith, the delivery service embodied as instructions instantiated in the memory and executable on the processor to receive from a sender both the private information for delivery to the recipient and at least one criterion for authenticating identity of the recipient, to transmit a first message to the recipient, wherein the first message includes a recipient-specific resource locator, to service a session initiated by the recipient using the recipient-specific resource locator and to authenticate identity of the recipient based on the criterion received from the sender.