Introduction to Proton Mail
Proton Mail, a service offered by Proton AG, is a highly secure and privacy-focused end-to-end encrypted email service founded in 2013. It is designed to protect user data and communications with robust encryption and stringent privacy policies.
Key Features and Functionality
Encryption and Security
- Proton Mail uses a combination of public-key cryptography and symmetric encryption protocols. When a user creates an account, their browser generates a pair of RSA keys: the public key for encrypting emails and a private key that is symmetrically encrypted with the user’s mailbox password using AES-256. This ensures that only the user can decrypt their emails, and Proton Mail developers cannot access the unencrypted data.
Data Protection and Privacy
- Proton Mail is based in Switzerland, which provides protection under some of the world’s strictest privacy laws. The service does not store unencrypted user data or mailbox passwords, and it only responds to official requests from Swiss authorities, subject to strong privacy laws.
Email Sending and Receiving
- Emails sent between Proton Mail accounts are automatically encrypted with the recipient’s public key. For emails sent to non-Proton Mail addresses, users can opt for end-to-end encryption using a user-supplied password. These encrypted emails can be set to self-destruct after a specified period.
Additional Security Measures
- Proton Mail supports PGP encryption, allowing users to communicate securely with recipients outside the Proton Mail network. It also offers features like password-protected emails and self-destructing messages.
Infrastructure and Data Centers
- Proton Mail maintains highly secure data centers in Switzerland, Germany, and Norway. These centers use load balancing, redundant power supply, full disk encryption, and exclusive use of Linux and other open-source software. The data centers in Switzerland are particularly secure, with one located in a former military bunker under 1,000 meters of granite.
User Interface and Accessibility
- Proton Mail offers a user-friendly interface with various improvements such as spam and trash email filtering, attachment previews, swipe gestures on iOS, and enhanced accessibility features including high-contrast themes and font size adjustments.
Integration and Business Features
- Proton Mail supports SMTP Submission, allowing organizations to integrate their email with third-party services like CRMs and ERPs while maintaining zero-access encryption. It also features automatic email forwarding, preserving end-to-end encryption for forwarded emails, which is particularly useful for business integrations.
Multi-Service Bundle
- Proton Mail is part of a broader ecosystem that includes Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, Proton Pass, and Proton VPN. Users can opt for various plans that bundle these services together, offering features like custom email domains, unlimited labels and folders, and priority customer support.
Transparency and Audits
- Proton Mail’s apps are open-source, allowing for community scrutiny and improvement. The code has been independently audited by third-party security experts, with the audit results publicly available. This transparency enhances the security and trustworthiness of the service.
Anti-Censorship Features
- Proton Mail offers encrypted email access over Tor and alternative routing to ensure users can access their emails even if the service is blocked by their government.
Conclusion
In summary, Proton Mail is a robust and secure email service that prioritizes user privacy and data protection through advanced encryption, strict privacy policies, and a transparent and audited infrastructure. Its features make it an ideal choice for both personal and business use, ensuring secure and private communication in an increasingly digital world.