Latest news with #ProtonMail
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Courts cannot remain mute spectators, Karnataka HC says in order to ban Proton Mail over digital sexual abuse
The Karnataka High Court, which ordered the Union government to block Proton Mail in India last month, released the full written version of its judgement on Thursday (May 29, 2025), in which it observed that courts could not remain 'mute spectators' when such a platform became a 'menace'. Its order was in response to a complaint that Proton had refused to help identify users sexually harassing a woman via the Swiss end-to-end encrypted email platform. Despite the April 29 order, Proton Mail is still easily accessible in most of India. Karan Saini, a security researcher who has developed a tool to detect website blocking by various internet service providers, told The Hindu that as of Thursday (May 29, 2025), most ISPs did not seem to be blocking Proton Mail. The text of the full judgement shows that K. Arvind Kamath, the Additional Solicitor General of India who represented the Union government in the case, did not push back on the court's right to block Proton Mail. However, he said that such orders 'require procedure to be followed and the balance of bilateral relations between the two countries.' Swiss authorities had reportedly engaged with the Union government on Proton's behalf after a complaint last year. The High Court's order directed the Union government to 'initiate proceedings in terms of Section 69A of the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 r/w Rule 10 of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009 to block Proton Mail... Till such proceedings are taken up by the Government of India, the offending Uniform Resource Locator - URLs that are indicated in the petition shall be blocked forthwith.' 'Undermines women's privacy, integrity' The order came in response to a petition filed by M Moser Design Associates, a Bengaluru-based firm which said that it had received multiple emails from an anonymous Proton Mail account targeting a senior executive at the firm. The judgement described the first email from the anonymous account as containing 'obscene, abusive, vulgar, sexually coloured, derogatory and defamatory remarks in respect of one of the female senior personnel' of the company. While the email ID was taken down after M Moser Design complained to Proton, another account sent a similarly obscene email within the same week. Even following formal complaints to the police, Proton Mail did not provide any details that could lead to the identification of the individual or individuals behind the account. An email by the platform reproduced in the order said that Proton would only be able to act on a formal law enforcement request from India. 'Courts cannot remain mute spectators when faced with such menace which undermines privacy and integrity of women in particular,' the order said. Swiss intervention Proton AG, which runs the email platform, said in a post last year that Swiss authorities had interceded on its behalf after a formal recommendation by Tamil Nadu police to block Proton Mail in India. This year too, Proton Mail updated that blog post after the High Court pronounced its judgement, saying that Swiss authorities were engaging the Indian government in the matter. However, Marc Løebekken, Head of Legal at Proton, told The Hindu that this was an erroneous statement, as the update was referring to discussions Swiss representatives had with India last year. The blog was eventually amended. Mr. Løebekken told The Hindu on May 10 that the company was awaiting the publication of the court order in full. A Proton spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment after the court order was released. The company was not represented in the Karnataka High Court. Jurisdiction hurdles 'The investigation, though earnest, in endeavour, faltered against the bulwark of international jurisdiction, and encryption,' the court said. 'The State machinery hamstrung, by the absence of enforceable cooperation from Proton AG and the lack of a server within its jurisdiction, submitted its helplessness, in the form of a report.' Ordering the blocking, the court said that Proton 'undoubtedly falls short of the duties prescribed under Indian Law,' adding that the firm's 'inaction and opacity strike at the heart of digital accountability and embolden the malicious.'
Android Authority
26-05-2025
- Android Authority
Survey shows Gmail users would gladly sacrifice features for more privacy
Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority Privacy seems to become a bigger deal every year as an increasing number of people aren't cool with their data becoming a commodity. Proton Mail purports to offer more privacy than Gmail — unlike Google, even the Proton team can't take a look at your inbox. As such, privacy-conscious users should want to flock to Proton Mail, right? We were interested in finding out, so we polled our readers. For Android Authority's Calvin Wankhede, it wasn't that simple. He tried switching from Gmail to Proton Mail for better privacy but found the trade-offs too frustrating. Proton's end-to-end encryption only works if both parties use it, which is still relatively uncommon. The Android app also lacks standard features like formatting and swipe navigation. With just 1GB of free storage and key features locked behind a paywall, Calvin decided it wasn't worth the hassle. He's now back to using Gmail. Calvin included our poll in his article, so let's find out if you agreed with him. Would you use Proton Mail instead of Gmail? The chart above suggests that you'd be more accepting of the trade-offs than Calvin. Around 73% of you said you would use Proton Mail instead of Gmail, with more than half of those people saying that they'd even pay for it. Less than 27% of you said you were happy with Gmail. One really interesting thing about these results is that when one of our team members offers their opinion on a product or service and then adds a poll, our readers rarely disagree in the overall response. It shows what a hot-button issue privacy is in 2025, and Google might want to take note. Google might want to take note. For complete context, we also included the poll in a more neutral article on the issue. However, in Calvin's piece, several people pushed back in the comments section. One recurring theme was frustration with what readers saw as a misunderstanding of end-to-end encryption. Barry pointed out, 'You complain that both parties need Proton… then say [you use] Signal or WhatsApp,' which also requires both parties to use the same app for encryption. In Calvin's defense, a significant difference is that you can't send a Signal or WhatsApp message to another messaging service, so you know anything you send is to someone with the same encryption protocols. That's not the case with email. Other commenters highlighted practical reasons for sticking with Proton. One user said their $3.99/month Proton bundle over 30 months secured them for email, VPN, and cloud storage, which they felt was a 'pretty competitive price.' Another described the Proton suite as a smart business investment, especially when consolidating multiple privacy services into one subscription. Still, a few agreed with the article's conclusions, citing similar frustrations or limited use cases for encrypted email.
Gizmodo
26-05-2025
- Gizmodo
Download Proton Mail (free) for Windows, macOS, Android, APK, iOS, Linux and Web App
Various email service providers exist in the market. The majority of users prefer the email system they learned in their childhood or the one included with their smartphone and devices. The majority of these services maintain unknown extra fees after users sign up. Your information and focus, together with your visible presence, function as the exchange for a free email service provision. Every email is scanned. Every click logged. Every contact is stored. Users find their boundary at Proton Mail. Email management serves only as a gateway to take ownership of your personal communication activities. Any action to obtain Proton Mail requires users to make a conscious choice. You are selecting a departure from standard online environments that monitor all your conduct. Proton Mail provides users a safe zone to communicate freely because this system belongs entirely to you, without any suspicious monitoring of your words. Such implementation of choice will matter less frequently in regular communications. The defense of sending sensitive or private information stands as one of the most important occasions where Proton Mail makes a substantial impact. Proton Mail maintains your messages exclusively between you and your message recipient. Not your provider. Not an algorithm. Just the two of you. The user-friendly nature of the service serves as a useful feature. The service requires no knowledge of cryptography for users to begin using it. Enrollment happens automatically to start writing messages. Encryption occurs automatically while you continue using the service. Using this service is effortless because you only need to begin. When contacting Proton Mail users through email, the service enables encryption without any intervention from your side. The system allows you to apply password encryption to your messages while sending to recipients outside the Proton Mail network. The service gives you enhanced protection options that you can use whenever you need them and according to your preferences. Both devices and platforms synchronize perfectly through this application. All devices which run phone or tablet or desktop systems maintain both real-time synchronization and data protection features. This application stays away from presenting features which you never requested. The program delivers an easy-to-use workspace for secure message delivery which does not offer any distractions. The issue of trust comes into play as the deciding factor. The email service operates from Switzerland, which stands out for its strict privacy regulations. Government laws safeguard your data alongside technical protections that secure it. Such reassurance about data security is exceptionally difficult to locate in other systems. The normal state of data breaches and targeted advertising combined with surveillance makes ProtonMail stand out as an essential tool for reclaiming privacy. The platform shows you how email used to operate during its early days when it provided three fundamental characteristics: privacy and personal touch along with user-friendly design. The service is definitely for you if this description fits your view of email services. In addition to its mail service, Proton also offers its users access to other office tools like Proton Drive (cloud storage), Proton Calendar, Proton VPN and Proton Pass (to manage passwords securely).
Time Business News
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Best Secure Email Provider for Privacy and Security
A good email provider should ensure privacy, security, and compatibility with the functions you use daily. Depending on whether you are a regular user, a company, or a privacy expert, you will need a different service. To assist you, we are ranking the leading mainstream and privacy email providers listed below. Gmail is recognized worldwide for its smart organization, attachment to Google's other tools, and 15GB of free cloud storage space. Features: Confidential mode for expiration and passcode protection, offline access, seamless integration with Docs, Drive, and Calendar. With Outlook, users can focus on what matters thanks to a streamlined inbox, synced calendars, and tight partnerships with Office apps. Features: Smart inbox sorting, automatic calendar updates from emails, and integrated Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps. A well-made interface with up to 1TB storage and convenient ways to organize travel, files, and photos. Custom notifications and clean tabbed browsing improve accessibility. Features: Advanced filters, large inbox capacity, quick attachment access. In India's business sector, Rediffmail Pro is known for being reliable and following the required security guidelines. Features: DMARC and SPF are supported, there is real-time reporting, and the platform has a secure email gateway. A group of tools that offers email, sharing files, and calendars all in one dashboard, generally used by enterprises. Features: Personal cloud synchronization, integration with third-party apps, and secure real-time messaging. A solid platform used by large organizations for communication, scheduling work, and team collaboration. Features: It works together with Domino Server, lets people work together live, and uses robust encryption. A privacy-focused provider from Switzerland, ProtonMail allows users to register anonymously and keeps messages encrypted while remaining easy to use. Features: All data is secured by encryption, there is no IP logging done, and users sign up anonymously. Since everything in your mail and calendar is encrypted, Tuta is a great choice for those who care about privacy. Features: Everything is encrypted, the app is open-source, and you don't need a phone to create an account. Mailfence uses OpenPGP to ensure that users can email securely, store documents, and sign them all from one place. Features: Include password-protected emails, digital signing, and two-factor authentication. Designed by Startpage's creators, it centers on keeping things simple, strong encryption, and operates from the privacy-conscious Netherlands. Features: There is full PGP support, messages can be encrypted for non-users, and the company owns its Dutch servers. A German company focused on privacy that provides powerful encryption, and all the office tools professionals need. Features: Encryption using PGP, hides IP address, includes office tools, and offers cloud storage. HushMail makes it easy and secure for people and businesses to have their communications and online forms encrypted. Features: Automatic encryption, secure forms for the web, and email protection for health and legal fields. This Sweden-based service offers strong privacy with diskless servers and extra protection against MITM attacks. Features: 4096-bit encryption, USB security key support, anonymous signup, and no IP logging. In conclusion, all the mentioned email providers are some of the best you can find in the market. The final decision ultimately depends on your company's particular needs. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Android Authority
19-05-2025
- Android Authority
Poll: Would you use this privacy-focused Gmail alternative?
Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority Gmail is king as far as email apps are concerned, but it's not the most privacy-focused email platform out there. In fact, there are a variety of alternatives on the market. Colleague Calvin Wankhede recently spent some time with Proton Mail, perhaps the most prominent email platform for people who value privacy. Would you this service instead of Gmail, though? That's the topic of our featured poll, so let us know by voting below and leaving a comment! Would you use Proton Mail instead of Gmail? 2486 votes Yes, and I would pay for it 48 % Yes, if it's free 27 % No, I'm happy with Gmail 25 % We can understand if you're on board with Proton Mail. Gmail can effectively sift through your inbox to serve personalized ads, while Gmail additions like Gemini can also hoover up your data. By contrast, Proton Mail promises end-to-end encryption (more on this in a bit) and zero-access encryption. The latter means even the company can't read your emails. So it makes sense to switch if you really value your privacy or if your emails are sensitive. Then again, Calvin felt that he couldn't 'wholeheartedly' recommend Proton Mail due to several limitations. For one, end-to-end encryption only applies when both the sender and recipient are using Proton Mail. He also criticized the Android app for its lack of sender images and text formatting. Then there's the fact that you're limited to 1GB of free storage, forcing you to splash out $5 a month to match Google's 15GB of free storage. Are these limitations and issues enough to dissuade you from using Proton Mail or are you still keen on a privacy-focused service like this? Give us your thoughts! Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
