A method for securely controlling the printing of a plaintext document generated by a first source includes the steps of receiving at a printer via a first communication channel a first key sent by the first source and obtaining at the printer a second key based on communication between the printer and a second source. The printer receives from the second source via a second communication channel an encrypted version of the plaintext document. The printer decrypts, using the first and second keys, the encrypted version of the plaintext document to obtain the plaintext document at the printer and then prints the plaintext document. A system incorporates the method.