Tonight, I received more than one email with utterly meaningless confidentiality disclaimers attached to the end. There is one legal theory that attaching such disclaimers to non-confidential emails actually hurts you. All legalities aside, though, they’re pointless. Any disclaimers I encounter in the future will meet with the following response:

This message is digitally signed. Any confidential information sent to this email account should first be encrypted using the X.509 certificate included with this digital signature. The recipient of electronic communications controls neither the routers handling internet email nor the server upon which such messages will ultimately reside. Given the mechanics necessary for the transmission of email over the internet, it is impossible to compel any intermediary or recipient to delete or disregard information contained therein; the only reasonable guarantee of confidentiality is encryption. Failure to encrypt confidential information indicates that the sender accepts sole responsibility for any breach that may occur, regardless of any disclaimers or instructions that may accompany such information.