ProtonMail is the world’s largest secure email service, developed by scientists at CERN and MIT. Your source code is open and protected by the Swiss Privacy Act.

The project has been running since 2013. From 2013 to 2014 it was in the testing phase. The creators of the service are CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) employees Andy Yen, Jason Stockman and Wei Sun (it is clear why it is called Proton Mail). The offices and servers are located in Geneva, Switzerland.

ProtonMail differs from other email services in its ability to encrypt an email before it is sent to the server. The whole encryption/decryption process takes place directly in the web browser, and only encrypted data is stored on the service’s server. According to the authors of the service, even in court, they will not be able to decrypt user’s messages.

Service features

• The functionality is created in JavaScript. There is no open API;
• The service successfully works with Cyrillic alphabet;
• The service has the ability to create your own domain (only for paid accounts);
• Email attachments are encrypted together with the text of the email;
• Client applications for mobile devices: Android and iOS.

Advantages of the service

• Free of charge (and without sms);
• Freedom from EU legislation obliging to give out users’ information (Switzerland is not part of the EU);
• Freedom from similar legislation of the USA;
• Freedom from the authorities of Switzerland itself – local laws protect the inviolability of servers and without a special “pain in the ass” some government bastard has no right to even look at them;
• All servers are located in Switzerland, there is a constant process of improving the technique: adding memory, functions;
• At login you have to enter 2 passwords (the second password is automatically enabled if you close the tab or put the laptop in “sleep” mode);
• Full control over private keys in development;
• Email encryption – emails between Proton users are encrypted by default, but when sent to third-party email services they can be password protected. Then the recipient receives not the body of the email, but a link to the Proton website where he/she can enter the password (you provide the password by another communication method) and access the content, including attachments;
• If you have lost your mailbox password, it is no longer possible to recover it. Resetting the password is possible, but then you will lose your emails forever. Do not forget your passwords!