Originally Posted by Garak
With respect to secure email, Hushmail is a very good alternative. Contrary to one of the linked articles, it will work on a Mac, and I'm not sure why someone would think it wouldn't. If you can browse the web and/or use an email client, then the computer will work with Hushmail. It's worked with Linux from the start of the service. Phil Zimmerman was involved in the service early on. Unfortunately, their free service has disappeared and they only have a free trial.
Now, regarding privacy versus data accessibility, if one of these email services were a victim of ransomware (as was asserted, but I know nothing of any circumstances), that's a problem. First off, great, the data is encrypted at the outset and nothing was leaked. However, if I'm using an online service, not only do I want my data protected, I want to be able to get at my data. If it's been locked by a hacker, that's a problem. Why are they using Windows to run an email server?
With most of these services, the problem is compatibility with other email, which really doesn't exist. Either those with whom you correspond use the same email service, which is unlikely, or there is some less secure hack offered (i.e. Hushmail's password protected email option), or the recipient is proficient in PGP/GPG and the service will work through that, too.
Realistically, with these free email services (Gmail and the ilk), we worry about privacy and rightfully so. Perhaps one's own ISP's email service is a better option. At least my ISP allows email clients and webmail. The proper solution is GPG encrypted email, but I've only personally dealt with about five other people who know how to actually use it; one of these was a PhD computer scientist and another was Phil Zimmerman himself.
One is always free to set up one's own email domain and server, but that would be more hassle than it's worth. The simplest thing to start with is to tell people to bugger off with HTML email, but that's a rant for another day.
Garak,
1. Protonmail is free too, If you do not need a lot of space, which most people dont, its also the largest and most respected in the world. But any one can research by simply doing internet searches for best private email service and best private free email service. There are others.
2. "if one of these email services were a victim of ransomware (as was asserted, but I know nothing of any circumstances)"
This is the problem with a forum, people can make claims and posts but nothing to provide any back up to what they say. Yes I noticed this post to from someone in here, all BS.
3. Protonmail is encrypted, doesnt matter who or what gets hacked, it can only be decrypted by your password and only you have it.
Bottom line is, the best free or one of the best private email where the email provider doesnt sell your information for profit is Proton mail and the others which can be found by doing a search.
Using yahoo, aol, gmail, hotmail, your ISP email and you are agreeing to let them sell your information.
