If you are referring to ProtonMail encryption, i think it’s primarily about encryption at rest, so that nobody except you (not even Proton) can read your emails. Unlike other email providers (like Gmail) where the emails could be easily accessed by the email providers whenever they want/need to (like data for ads or legal orders from government etc). While not at rest (i.e., sending/receiving emails), emails between Proton and Gmail are on TLS unless it changed in recent years, unless the email is password protected in which case Gmail cannot read the email until you open it with the password
Comment on Google killing Basic HTML version of Gmail In January 2024
daq@lemmy.sdf.org 9 months agoI’m not defending Google. They are an evil fucking company, but are you not sending any emails to Google either? My point is Proton is charging you for something that makes no difference since your email comes from non Proton servers and goes to non Proton servers most of the time.
And Proton’s free offering is really not useful to most people. Maybe as a short term trial, but certainly not a replacement for main inbox.
MrMonkey@lemmy.world 9 months ago
daq@lemmy.sdf.org 9 months ago
Gmail is the exception because almost 100% of Google’s profit is from ads. Not that other providers of free email service aren’t parsing your emails for AI training or other reasons, but I can’t think of a single paid provider that accesses your email at rest.
Alk@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Again, we’re not just talking about email. Things like email aliases and other features are what people mainly stick with Proton for. Nobody knows my real email. They all get an instantly generated alias that I can revoke at any time. Plus if I get spam, I will know who leaked my email. Most people do not actually send many personal emails. It’s a secure platform with many benefits.
daq@lemmy.sdf.org 9 months ago
You mean aliases that every other email provider has? Even yahoo has had them for years.
MrMonkey@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Correct, aliases are one of the best built-in features. Unlimited aliases costs covers a decent part of the subscription
Fishytricks@lemmy.world 9 months ago
You just convinced me to get protonmail. Now I gotta learn of its functions and stuff. It will make my month if you’re able to forward emails from gmail, and reply using the same @gmail handle.