An e-mail security programme, MailSecure, produced by Dublin cryptographic software company Baltimore Technologies, is attracting high interest from consumers. There have been 500 downloads and e-mail requests for evaluation copies in the first few days of operation.

The security product is the first worldwide full-strength e-mail product based on the S/MIME industry standard.

"Extensive market research clearly indicates that e-mail security is a major concern of corporations who are using e-mail for a wide variety of communications," said the head of product development, Mr Paddy Holohan.

S/MIME is the common standard for e-mail in most of the world, and the Baltimore programme is the first product developed outside the US to get the S/ MIME seal of approval from the licensing company RSA.

"We're talking to companies in Switzerland, Germany, Benelux, andScandinavia," said Mr Holohan. "There is intense interest." MailSecure can digitally sign and encrypt all e-mail messages, including attached files, guaranteeing that the mail stays confidential and that the receiver knows it really comes from the sender who signed it.

Baltimore Technologies said the programme would now allow email to be used for electronic commerce and general business applications.

MailSecure has the advantage of being easy to use and inexpensive - it costs £50 per user - and the company is offering corporate, educational and government discounts.

Baltimore Technologies is an Irish company headquartered in the International Financial Services Centre in Dublin which is a world leader in information security products and systems.