ProtonMail claims its NSA-proof and provides 100% encrypted email service to its users
Those in need of encrypted email service have reason to cheer up and relax since the world’s largest encrypted email provider ProtonMail is now offering open registrations. The email service provider firm is reportedly leaving beta and launching its iOS and Android mobile apps for users all over the world through Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store.
It is definitely ground-breaking news since now users will be able to enjoy secure emailing and communications. ProtonMail offers end-to-end encryption which makes it literally impossible to access user messages. Not only the spying agencies, and governments but ProtonMail itself cannot breach a user’s security, at all. This is certainly the highest level of privacy that one can enjoy.
According to ProtonMail co-founder Andy Yen, “Strong encryption and privacy are a social and economic necessity. Not only does this technology protect activists and dissidents, it is also key to securing the world’s digital infrastructure. This is why, all things considered, strong encryption is absolutely necessary for the greater good.”
ProtonMail is under development at CERN since 2014 and the purpose was to address the excessively increasing concerns of innocent citizens after the scandalous revelations from Edward Snowden about the spying practices of governments.
The Switzer-land based ProtonMail has over time become the fastest-growing companies around the world and boasts of three globally operational offices. In fact, Business Insider ranked it as the hottest new startup in Switzerland last year.
The announcement, however, doesn’t come as a big surprise because public resentment over the governments’ growing efforts to emasculate online privacy is quite evident.
Yen added that: “The best way to ensure that encryption and privacy rights are not encroached upon is to get the tools into the hands of the public as soon as possible and widely distributing them.”
“This way, we put the choice in the hands of the consumer, and not government regulators. The past decade has been marked by a massive erosion of privacy and we’re working to reverse this trend. Encrypted communications are the future and ProtonMail is committed to making online privacy a reality again for all Internet users.”
In case you are wondering if you will be able to open an account on ProtonMail, FYI any user can create an account without exposing personal details and the signup process also works on TOR.
The sign-up page at ProtonMail reveals that it takes only two minutes to create a free, secure email account. Included in this free service are 500MB storage and several other paid services. The lowest premium plan is priced at $5/month and if annually paid then, it becomes $4/month. This plan includes 5GB storage as well as a custom domain. Users can pay via credit card, PayPal and even Bitcoin, which is a step that complements the company’s promise of securing the users’ anonymity.
Yen states that:
“ProtonMail and Bitcoin actually have a long history together.“Back in 2014 when PayPal instituted a payment block against us, we relied on BTC donations to keep the service running.”
He further added that the company views “Apple case as very troubling” one. “Unfortunately, Apple is likely to lose this one in the court of opinion since the FBI picked their case very carefully. However, Apple is not Lavabit and if the world’s largest tech company is standing on the side of privacy, the entire movement just gained a very powerful ally.”
