Privacy

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So Protonmail / ProtonVPN is not a good option? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 3 years ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by ff0000@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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I'm trying to get rid of my Google dependency and one of those steps was moving over to Protonmail. Now in the past few days i have been picking up signals that even Protonmail is not as clean as it might be.

Does this really impact the privacy of how i use email and so is moving to Protonmail a step forward from Google, or is Protonmail just as bad?

If so, what could be alternatives?

edit:

Some of the alternatives being mentioned in the comments are:

Email:

VPN:

edit 2 (2023):

There seems to be some new activity around this post. At the time of writing the post (2 years ago) there were some stories going as user @UnfortunateShort described in their comment. This made me question the best options available at that moment. Currently i am still a Proton user, using their Mail and Calendar service, and Mullvad for VPN.

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[–] Axaoe@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 years ago (1 children)

I'd argue that this:

Basically they sell you the peace of mind, not really any actual security as far as anyone can tell.

Is demonstrably false, as their encryption methods for emails at rest as well as other options (PGP) are tested. They're also upfront with their threat protection model ("the ProtonMail threat model document specifically states that, “we cannot guarantee your safety against a powerful adversary.”) and as far as coming from Google or another free provider is concerned are a definitive step in the right direction. A good overview if OP is interested is this writeup here: https://www.techspot.com/news/82776-protonmail-review-secure-email-really-secure.html

Personally I'd be hesitant to recommend self-hosting email unless really necessary (since that has it's own risks/threat model) and think OP would do well to start off with Tutanota or Protonmail.

As an aside if we're alluding to Protonmail being a honey pot with the Hong Kong riots I'd rather see it stated as such; this is the second place on Lemmy I've seen such criticism levied when a company that has a privacy/security based product and did a statement on the protests and I don't find it that suspect that they would be interested in furthering their brand or "putting their money where their mouth is" by coming out in support of anti-censorship/CCP measures.

[–] dengismceo@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 years ago

Hong Kong riots

support for the riots is not "support of anti-censorship". it had nothing to do with censorship. a brief summary of how things began:

a man murdered his pregnant girlfriend while on holiday in taiwan
taiwan wanted the man extradited to face charges but hong kong did not have an extradition treaty with taiwan
an extradition bill is introduced in hong kong listing 46 crimes for which extradition may be requested by taiwan, macau, and the PRC. nine crimes listed were financial (these were later removed)
angry rich kids realized they would not be able to commit the same financial crimes their parents did

it was never about being censored. it was about wanting to continue to exploit others without consequence.

protonmail didn't just "come out and support" the color revolution by merely making a statement. i'm not making the assertion that their support means that they are a honey pot. i am asserting, however, that their support means that, unlike their claims, they are decidedly not "pro-freedom" (unless, of course, their definition of "freedom" is getting away with murder).