A method of establishing an e-mail secure transmission link between an initiator and a responder for the transmission of secure e-mail messages over a network comprising creation of a unique initiator designator or number, generation of a unique initiator exchange key component including the unique initiator designator or number, transmission of a request from the initiator to the responder to establish the e-mail secure transmission link and the unique initiator exchange key component, acceptance of the request by the responder to establish the e-mail secure transmission link, creation of a unique responder designator or number, combining of the unique responder designator and the unique initiator exchange key component to create a unique initiator/responder exchange key at the responder site, generation of a unique responder exchange key component including the unique responder designation, transmission of the unique responder exchange key component from the responder to the initiator, combining the unique initiator designator with the unique responder exchange key component to create the unique initiator/responder exchange key at the initiator site and to establish the e-mail secure transmission link to send and receive e-mail between the initiator and the responder exchange with the unique initiator/responder exchange key.