In an unexpected mask off “secure” email and VPN provider Proton took the stance of siding with the fascist MAGA Reps. Proton’s services are no option for me and many others any longer. Let’s collect and discuss alternatives (E2E encrypted email and VPN) here 🔐👇

Always try to provide:

-Server location (jurisdiction)

-Governance

-Integrity/trustworthiness/transparency

-User experience/ease of use (grade 1 to 10, lets take Proton as a benchmark with an 8)

-Pricing and links

If you know alternative setups, feel free to share, too.

#ProtonExodus

Background: https://lemmy.ca/comment/13913116

Edit:typo

c1a5s1c
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Maybe not the contribution that you’re looking for, but going to tell you this story regardless.

I am Swiss, and am a former Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA / EDA) employee. My colleagues and I had organized an evening on cybersecurity, where we showcase what Switzerland has to offer. I invited stakeholders such as:

  • Dreamlab (really cool company, should look them up if you don’t know of them)
  • NCSC (Swiss National Cyber Security Center)
  • Some Swiss cyber regulator; and
  • Proton

Firstly, when speaking to a delegate of one of the above listed (don’t feel comfortably sharing publicly which one), he ushered a statement; upon me saying I’m a huge Proton fan and subscribed to all services - “they are lying to your faces”.

I was curious, so I spoke with the regulators and NCSC delegates, they said that Proton has been involved in a handful of leaks - some that were made public, some behind the scenes.

When I spoke to Andy, having told him that I grew up in Canada, I asked him what his plan was for North America. His response: “I will gladly take their money, but never open up shop there - too many national security departments that come knocking on the door”.

Now I see that (on the Proton page), that they are looking for a few US based positions for Marketing and Growth - going against what we discussed a few years back. In all honesty, I still have a Plus subscription with them, but beginning to questions a lot more things regarding security and ethics at Proton. Guess I’ll just self-host in the future. Trust no one but yourself with your personal data.

@ShotDonkey@lemmy.world
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Very interesting, thanks! Did you ask what kind of leaks because technically they shouldn’t be able to leak anything as they claim to have a zero knowledge policy?

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I genuinely don’t remember the exact instances we were speaking about, but it happens from time to team. They released data from a French citizen to Swiss & French authorities in the past, and I’m sure this isn’t the only case.

Edit: found the link: https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/protonmail-logged-ip-address-of-french-activist-after-order-by-swiss-authorities/

Seems from the article the data was related to the IP address and device but contained no content otherwise since it goes against their policies. Could it be purely based on having to abide by the law of Switzerland?

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