For the past decade or so, it has been common for most Internet users to have a free Gmail or Yahoo email address. These users also tend to be satisfied with the features and capabilities provided by these services and do not need a more secure email provider.
Many users believe that additional security is unnecessary for their needs, since they have little to hide from prying eyes. These same users are also unaware that companies like Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook will sell your email data to government agencies or to the highest bidder.
When you sign up for a new Gmail account, you consent to Google scanning your emails for keywords. These keywords are then analyzed and the results are used to personalize the product.
As for the more popular names like Gmail and Yahoo, they are still reliable email providers. However, they pale in comparison to lesser-known providers that offer top-notch security and encryption features in addition to much better online privacy protection.
Most Secure Email Providers Today
Most of these email providers offer a variety of free and paid plans. Free plans often provide limited functionality in terms of email accounts and storage capacity. Paid plans are more of a low-cost, full-featured service where your money can really make a big difference.
These secure email providers will not collect or sell your data, scan your emails for keywords, or allow government agencies to view your server data. If you want to keep your emails as secure as possible, you should consider using one of the following email services.
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CounterMail
CounterMail
CounterMail has a simple philosophy: to provide a secure and easy-to-use online email service, while ensuring maximum security and privacy with minimum hassle. If you have serious email privacy concerns, CounterMail offers a secure implementation of OpenPGP encrypted email in the browser. CounterMail servers only store encrypted emails.
Servers located in Sweden do not store email on hard drives, preferring instead to store them on CDs. This method prevents others from reading inbound and outbound traffic, and the moment someone tries to tamper with the server directly, data is likely to be lost.
CounterMail is also the only Internet secure email provider that implements the USB dongle feature. This provides an additional layer of protection in the form of physical security. This is similar to the physical version of 2FA, you must first enable this feature.
The decryption key, which is required to log in and decrypt your email, can also be found on the device itself. This makes decryption impossible even if a hacker gets hold of your password.
Countermail offers a weekly free trial that includes 3MB of storage, after which you will need to purchase a plan to continue using the service. If you need more storage space, you can purchase additional storage. The extra space requires a one-time payment, so you only need to pay once.
ProtonMail
ProtonMail
ProtonMail is a free, open source secure email provider that supports end-to-end encryption. This means no one decrypts your encrypted emails without your unique password.
It’s kind of a double-edged sword. You see, it’s so secure that not even ProtonMail can help you recover your emails if you forget your password. The Service will also not store your IP address information, which means that emails you send or receive cannot be tracked to you.
When you send an email to a recipient who is not using ProtonMail, you can choose whether to send the email in encrypted or unencrypted form. It works like this: ProtonMail sends the message encrypted, but leaves the link in the email. You will need to provide the recipient with a password so that they can decrypt it on their side.
You don’t need to install any software on your computer, and ProtonMail offers apps for iOS and Android devices. The free version supports 500MB of email storage, but limits the number of messages to 150 per day.
There are paid plans for both individual and business users that will provide more storage space, fewer restrictions, and more features. The higher the tier, the higher the price, so make sure you pick the plan that suits you.
Hushmail
Hushmail
Hushmail is an encrypted email service that has been around for quite some time. This service keeps your email safe and secure using the most advanced encryption methods. Like ProtonMail, Hushmail cannot access your messages like anyone else who does not know the password.
The service offers an easy-to-use interface, streamlined design and top-notch privacy features. It also allows users to send encrypted messages both between other Hushmail users and non-Hushmail users who prefer their less secure providers.
Creating a Hushmail account gives you the ability to choose from a variety of domains to use in your address, such as @hushmail, @ hushmail.me, @ hush.com, @ hush.ai, and @ mac.hush.com.
Every email is encrypted using OpenPGP encryption, which means every recipient who uses Hushmail will be able to decrypt and read it. For users not using Hushmail, the service provides an encrypted message with a link that can only be accessed through the provided passphrase. This is possible on the website, as well as on iOS and Android devices. However, it is not compatible with macOS.
Like most reliable email providers of this level, Hushmail offers both personal and business options when registering. As for the free one, there is a free two-week trial that allows you to test all features before purchasing. When it comes time to buy, Hushmail is available starting at $ 49.98 per year.
Tutanota
Tutanota
Another open source web email application is Tutanota. The service is focused on providing an easy-to-use application with the highest security and privacy standards. All Tutanota’s servers are located in Germany, which means that all relevant privacy laws apply.
Tutanota provides end-to-end encryption that is very easy to use and works for both Tutanota users and others. This seems to be the topic for these trusted email account providers. Only you and the recipient will be able to see the emails. So, like the last three entries on the list, do yourself a favor and remember your password.
Content access is simplified as all emails and attachments are stored directly on Tutanota’s servers. The service uses a custom solution that uses 2049-bit RSA keys and AES-128 encryption keys to enhance security.
The biggest and best thing about Tutanota is how she sets prices. The app is completely free, giving you access to one email address and 1 GB of disk space. If that’s not enough for you, a Plus account starts at just $ 1.50 per month and includes the ability to use your own domain for email, additional email aliases, and a premium support line.
A desktop version is available, as well as iOS and Android apps. Overall, with so many great features available for most major operating systems, Tutanota might be the best reliable email provider for those on a budget.
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