If you’re using one of the common email providers like Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, MSN, or AOL, there’s a strong possibility that the information stored in your inbox could be sold to marketing and advertising companies. While they may be free to use, it comes at a heavy cost to your privacy.
That’s why I’m sharing this solution to help get back some of your personal data and stop letting tech companies run away with your life’s details willy-nilly.
What information is being leaked?
Big tech companies like your favorite email companies can sell your email information to the highest bidder.
This sensitive information can include:
- Medical records
- Business plans
- Social Security
- Online purchase history
- Who you communicate with and when
- Where you are going to be in the future
Email companies selling this information is extremely concerning because they can sell it to people who will create intrusive, targeted ads that could make you the target of phishing and identity theft.
So how do you actually send a secure email and not risk surveillance on all of your correspondences? Good question. Here’s what to do below.
How to create a private email address
The best way to keep your emails private is to use an encrypted email server. We’ve narrowed down our top choices to protect your privacy whether you want to keep your existing email address or create a new and completely safe one.
Best private and secure email providers
StartMail
Like StartPage, StartMail is all about privacy. StartMail keeps your email private because every email is encrypted, even if the recipient doesn’t use encryption.
Your data stays yours. This means Big Tech can’t read, scan, analyze, or sell my personal information – ever. StartMail also prevents government agencies from spying on you – like in dragnet operations, so not even Big Brother can snoop around your email. Also if you delete an email, it’s actually deleted and gone forever.
StartMail is backed by the most stringent privacy laws in the world, and they use their own servers so they can’t be put out of business.
Features
- You get unlimited, anonymous aliases. This feature protects your main email address from spam and phishing attacks. So when you’re giving your email to a company but want to protect your identity, StartMail can generate a shareable alias email, so people can’t sell your information. And they can be deleted at any time.
- You can send a password-protected message with a link to your private email that can be accessed for up to 28 days. That means the recipient of your email will receive a link and option to enter that password just to view the email.
- Malicious link protection allows you to see full links before clicking them and putting your device in harm’s way.
After testing out StartMail, our favorite feature is how easy it is to use and how clean the interface is. With just one simple click, your email can be encrypted or require a password for viewing. The password feature is important because it means you can send secure emails to users who don’t use encryption.
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Your plan includes:
- StartMail email address
- 20 GB of email
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- Access email on any device
- BTC payment (user only creates a username and thus stays completely anonymous when paying with Bitcoin)
- End-to-end encryption via IMAP/ OpenPGP
- Password-protected emails
- Easy email migration without technical expertise
- No ads, no tracking
- Advanced spam filter
Related
How StartMail works
ProtonMail
A Texas mom says she spent the night in jail after speaking up online about dirty water in her town. The case was later dropped, but her story raises a troubling question: could something you post online ever put you at risk?
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Like with StartMail, all of your emails on ProtonMail are encrypted. They remain encrypted within ProtonMail’s servers, so they can never be decrypted, meaning ProtonMail can never sell your personal information.
ProtonMail has been featured in TV Shows like Mr. Robot and movies like Knives Out because of its security features.
Features
- 5 GB storage
- Send up to 1000 messages a day
- Send encrypted messages to external recipients
- Create your own domain
- Up to 5 email aliases
Pricing
You can try a free account that offers basic features, but the best option is to pay $4 a month ($48.00 annually).
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1 comment
Good read.