Do you care about the security of your personal data? You must then opt for encrypted and secure electronic messaging. What an alternative to Gmail, Yahoo! Mail and Outlook? In this new series of articles, we will discuss several services such as Tuta, Mailfence and FastMail. For this first article, focus on Proton Mail, a Swiss-based email service offers end-to-end encryption, a strict privacy policy. The ideal choice for users concerned about the protection of their privacy? This is what we are going to see.
This article will serve as your guide to Proton Mail in 2024:
What is Proton Mail (and who is Proton)?
Proton Mail is a secure and encrypted email service based in Switzerland. Founded in 2014 by scientists and engineers at CERN, Proton Mail’s mission is to protect online privacy by providing a secure alternative to traditional email providers like Gmail and Outlook.
Proton Mail is developed open Source (Source code on Github).
Why encrypted and secure email?
Traditional email providers (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail/Outlook, GMX) often collect and analyze their users’ data, which can lead to data breaches and privacy abuses.
Proton Mail solves this problem by encrypting all emails end-to-end (as Tuta also does(note)). This means that only the sender and the recipient can read the contents of the emails. Even Proton Mail employees do not have access to user data, which guarantees a greater level of security.
What can you do with Proton Mail?
Proton Mail manages your email, address book, calendars and files (Proton Drive). Your Proton account also provides access to Proton Pass (open Source password manager with Passkeys support) and Proton VPN.
With a Proton Mail account (free or paid) you also benefit from additional services:
- Email Protection. PhishGuard blocks known phishing attempts and lets you know if a message is suspicious.
- A.k.a “hide-my-email”.
- Unsubscribe mailing lists in 1 click.
- Native applications and webmail. Open Source applications for the web, desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), Android and iPhone.
- Password protection. You set passwords and expiration dates for your emails to securely send confidential information to your contacts, even if they don’t use Proton Mail.
What Proton Mail offers compared to Gmail or Outlook
Proton Mail offers several benefits compared to traditional email providers:
- End-to-end encryption: All emails are end-to-end encrypted, meaning only the sender and recipient can read the content.
- Open Source: Proton Mail’s Source code is open to anyone, allowing security experts to verify its integrity and security.
- Strict Privacy Policy: Proton Mail does not collect or share any personal data with third parties.
- Advanced features: Proton Mail offers a number of advanced features, such as email aliases (SimpleLogin), encrypted calendars, and cross-platform support.
How to create a Proton Mail account
Creating a Proton Mail account is simple. You can register for free on the Proton Mail website. Simply choose a username and password, and provide a recovery email address.
Is it fast?
Once you have created your account, you can start sending and receiving encrypted emails. Proton Mail offers an intuitive web interface as well as mobile apps for iOS and Android.
How much does it cost ?
The free version offers 1 GB of storage (email) and 5 GB for your files (Proton Drive). If you want to make the most of Proton Mail, our advice and our notice : you can opt for a paid plan (per month, per year or for 24 months), from €3.99 per month.
Conclusion
Proton Mail is an ideal choice for privacy-conscious users who are looking for a safe and secure way to communicate via email. With its end-to-end encryption, strict privacy policy and advanced features, it is a solid alternative to Gmail, Outlook/Hotmail or even Yahoo! Mail. We will soon discover other services like Tuta, Fastmail or Mailfence.
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