Every now and again, a cybersecurity-related story surfaces that makes us want to do everything we can to avoid becoming the next victim.The case of the "unclaimed Mac computer," in which a computer technician disclosed emails contained on the hard drive, is the most recent example of this.
We understand that computer professionals need access to a system's software in order to make repairs, but critical emails should never be included in that process. So, how do we provide the privacy we require?
Exchange Online in Office 365 and G Suite in Google both have sophisticated privacy features. Even if you're a solopreneur who handles everything in your firm, you're likely to have a technician or business partner that helps you with email administration. So, where can you keep your email if you don't want anyone else to read it?
ProtonMail is a brand-new and revolutionary solution for truly private messaging, a place where email may be hidden from prying eyes.
Let's go over some of ProtonMail's security features one by one.
Encryption from beginning to end
Email is protected both in transit (during transmission) and at rest (stored on the ProtonMail server)
Encryption with Zero Access
ProtonMail server technicians and anyone who comes into contact with ProtonMail's servers will not be able to access emails.
Jurisdiction in Switzerland
"Because ProtonMail is outside of US and EU jurisdiction, only a court order from the Cantonal Court of Geneva or the Swiss Federal Supreme Court may compel us to divulge the extremely little user information we have," according to Protonmail's website.
Emails That Destroy Themselves
Before sending an email, you can give it an expiration date, which will make it disappear from the recipient's inbox once the date has passed.
Individual communications are password-protected
You can set a password for each message by clicking the "lock" button in the lower left corner of any compose window.
Auto-Lock
You can make ProtonMail ask for a password every time you open it.
Log of Security
This functionality may be found in the ProtonMail web app's security settings panel. ProtonMail keeps track of who and what apps have accessed your email.
Authentication using two factors
This is, of course, an option, and we strongly suggest it.
Domains that are unique to you
Paid accounts will allow you to add a certain number of domains to your account (myemail.com).
ProtonMail is compatible with Outlook for PC and Mac, iOS devices including iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches, Android smartphones, and popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge Chromium.
The characteristics listed above are by no means exhaustive, but they serve as a good starting point. In terms of how ProtonMail fits into your digital life, I'd recommend using it as a personal, private email account for very sensitive communications, such as communication with your CPA, attorney, or medical. It's a terrific complement to your company's email system, which isn't always completely secure.
As always, I'd love to hear how your tech life is going, so don't hesitate to reach out!
