ProtonMail – Is It the Best Secure Email Service in 2023?
One of the best encrypted email services in 2023 is Proton Mail, a Swiss based company that offers end-to-end encryption, zero access encryption, and Swiss privacy laws for your email needs. Proton Mail is an encrypted email service that was founded in 2014 by a team of scientists and engineers from CERN, MIT, and Harvard. Their mission is to create a more secure and private internet for everyone.
It uses open source, independently audited encryption technologies to ensure that only you and your intended recipients can read your messages. Not even Proton Mail, can access your inbox or decrypt your emails.
Proton Mail respects your data sovereignty and does not track or sell your information to third parties. Your data is stored on servers in Switzerland, a country with some of the strongest privacy laws and neutrality in the world.
Proton Mail User Experience
Proton Mail has a modern and easy-to-use interface that lets you customize your inbox and get through your messages faster. You can choose from different layouts, themes, colors, and fonts to personalize your inbox. You can also create folders, labels, sub folders, and filters to organize your emails. You can use the advanced search feature to find any email in your inbox by searching the full contents of your messages.
Proton Mail also has an easy and secure sign-up process that does not require any personal information. You can create a free account in minutes by choosing an username and password. You can also add an optional recovery email or phone number for account verification and recovery.
Wide range of features
Proton Mail has a range of features that make it a powerful and user-friendly encrypted email service. Some of the main features are:
Protonmail encryption
End-to-end encryption: Emails are encrypted on your device before they are sent to Proton Mail’s servers, and they remain encrypted until they reach your recipient’s device. This means that no one can intercept or tamper with your messages in transit or at rest.
– Zero access encryption: The emails are encrypted with your password, which only you know. Proton Mail does not have access to your password or the encryption keys that unlock your emails. This means that even if Proton Mail’s servers are compromised or subpoenaed, your data is safe.
It uses independently audited encryption algorithms to secure your emails. It uses AES256, RSA4096, and SHA512 for symmetric encryption, asymmetric encryption, and hashing respectively.
– OpenPGP for message encryption and digital signatures. Proton Mail encrypts your emails on your device before they are sent to the server, and decrypts them on your device after they are received from the server. This ensures that only you and your intended recipients can read your emails.
– Proton Mail supports two-factor authentication (2FA) for an extra layer of security. You can enable Protonmail 2fa from your account settings and choose between using an authenticator app (such as Google Authenticator or Authy) or a hardware token (such as YubiKey or Nitrokey) to generate a onetime code that you need to enter along with your password when you log in. This prevents unauthorized access to your account even if someone knows your password.
– Swiss privacy: Your data is protected by Swiss law and cannot be accessed by foreign governments or agencies without due process. Switzerland is known for having some of the strongest privacy laws in the world.
– Switzerland is not a member of the EU or the USled Five Eyes alliance, it is not subject to mass surveillance or data requests from foreign governments. Proton Mail follows the Swiss Federal Data Protection Act (DPA) and the Swiss Federal Data Protection Ordinance (DPO), which guarantee the right to privacy and data protection for individuals.
Proton Mail also has a strict no logs policy, which means that it does not keep any records of your IP address, email metadata, or email content.
Free private email: Proton Mail offers a free plan that gives you 500 MB of storage, 150 messages per day, and up to 3 addresses. You can upgrade to a paid plan to get more features and support the company’s development.
Custom domains: You can use your own domain name with Proton Mail to create a personalized email address. For example, you can have an address like name@yourdomain.com instead of name@proton.me or name@protonmail.com.
Multiple addresses: You can create multiple addresses linked to the same account and easily manage them from one inbox. You can use different addresses for different purposes or identities, such as work, personal, or online shopping.
Bridge: Proton Mail Bridge is a desktop application that allows you to integrate your Proton Mail account with your favorite email client, like Outlook, Thunderbird, or Apple Mail. You can use all the features of your preferred email client while enjoying the security of Proton Mail’s encryption.
Mobile apps: They have a protonmail app android and an app for iOS devices that let you access your encrypted inbox on the go. You can read and send emails securely from your smartphone or tablet.
Web app: They have a web app available that lets you access your encrypted inbox from any web browser. You can use the web app on any device without installing any software.
Easy switch: Proton Mail has an easy switch tool that helps you migrate your existing emails, contacts, and calendars from your old email provider to your new secure inbox. You can move all your data in one click without losing anything.
Advanced search: It has an advanced search feature that lets you find any email in your inbox by searching the full contents of your messages. The search is performed on your device, so your data is always encrypted.
Unsubscribe: The service has an unsubscribe feature that lets you easily remove yourself from any mailing lists with one click. You can keep your inbox clutter free and avoid unwanted newsletters or spam.
Pros of Proton Mail
– High level of security and privacy
– End to end encryption and zero access encryption
– Open source and independently audited encryption algorithms
– Swiss jurisdiction and no-logs policy
– Two factor authentication and password recovery options
– Custom domains and multiple addresses
– Filters, auto-reply, and other features
– Integration with Proton VPN, Proton Drive, and Proton Calendar
– Free plan and affordable paid plans
Cons
– Limited storage and messages on the free plan
– No end-to-end encryption with non Protonmail users unless they use a password.
ProtonMail pricing
Proton Mail has four pricing plans: Free, Plus, Professional, and Visionary. The Free plan gives you basic features and limited storage, while the paid plans give you more features and storage.
The Plus plan costs $5 per month or $48 per year and gives you 5 GB of storage, 1000 messages per day, up to 5 addresses, custom domains, folders, labels, filters, auto-reply, priority support, and more.
The Professional plan costs $8 per user per month or $75 per user per year and gives you all the features of the Plus plan plus 5 GB of storage per user, unlimited messages per day, up to 50 addresses per user, multi-user support, catch-all email, admin panel, and more.
The Visionary plan costs $30 per month or $288 per year and gives you all the features of the Professional plan plus 20 GB of storage, up to 10 addresses, with Proton VPN and Proton Drive included.
You can compare the plans and features on Proton Mail’s website: https://proton.me/mail/pricing
Proton Mail is one of the best encrypted email services in 2023 that offers end-to-end encryption, zero-access encryption, and Swiss privacy for your emails.
It has a range of features that make it a powerful and user-friendly email service for personal and professional use. It has a free plan that lets you try it out without any risk or commitment.
If you are looking for a secure and private way to communicate online, you should give Proton Mail a try.
You can sign up for a free account here: https://proton.me/mail/signup
SecureMyEmail: A comprehensive review
SecureMyEmail is a platform that provides end-to-end encryption for any email address, including Gmail, Yahoo, Microsoft, iCloud, and others. It is developed by Witopia, an American software company that specializes in VPN and security solutions.
How can I encrypt my email?
It has many features that make it stand out from other encrypted email services. Here are some of them: Encrypt up to eight email addresses per account. You can use SecureMyEmail with your existing email addresses, without switching to a new provider or creating a new account. You can also encrypt multiple addresses from different providers, such as Gmail and Outlook, under one SecureMyEmail account. Send encrypted email to anyone with an email address. You can send and receive encrypted emails with other SecureMyEmail users automatically, without any hassle. You can also send encrypted emails to non SecureMyEmail users, who will receive a link to view the message on a secure web page.
They don’t need to download anything, use SecureMyEmail, or know a password. You can also set an expiration date for the message, so it will self-destruct after a certain time. Use your own PGP keys or generate new ones. SecureMyEmail uses PGP (Pretty Good Privacy), a widely used standard for email encryption. You can import your own PGP keys if you have them, or generate new ones with SecureMyEmail.
You can also export your keys and use them with other PGP-compatible applications. Add cryptographic signatures to your emails. SecureMyEmail allows you to sign your emails with your PGP keys, which proves that the message came from you and has not been tampered with. This adds an extra layer of authenticity and integrity to your communications.
Use SecureMyEmail on multiple devices. SecureMyEmail has apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. You can sync your encrypted email accounts across all your devices and access them anytime, anywhere. You can also use SecureMyEmail with your favorite email clients, such as Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and more.
Pros and cons SecureMyEmail has many advantages over other encrypted email services, but it also has some drawbacks. Here are some of them: Pros: User-friendly interface. SecureMyEmail has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to use. You can encrypt and decrypt your emails with just a few clicks or taps. You can also manage your encrypted email accounts and contacts from one dashboard.