Published resources are made available in an encrypted form, using
corresponding resource keys, published through resource key files, with
the publications effectively restricted to authorized peer systems only
by encrypting the resource keys in a manner only the authorized peer
systems are able to recover them. In one embodiment, the resource keys
are encrypted using encryption public keys of the authorized peer systems
or the groups to which the authorized peer system are members. In one
embodiment, the encryption public keys of individual or groups of
authorized peer systems are published for resource publishing peer
systems through client and group key files respectively. Group encryption
private keys are made available to the group members through published
group key files. Further, advanced features including but not limited to
resource key file inheritance, password protected publication, obfuscated
publication, content signing, secured access via gateways, and secured
resource search are supported.