Cheradenine comments on Do you trust Proton?

submitted 2 years ago by eddie_of_ny@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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I've been using Proton Mail and VPN for a while now, and I'm just wondering how everyone else feels about them. I have this kind of inherent alight distrust of them just because they seem like they offer a lot for free and kind of have a Big Tech vibe about them, but there's nothing for me to really substantiate that distrust with, its mostly just a feeling. That being said, I do use their services as mentioned and they work pretty well, even on the free teir. So aside from that one instance where they gave that guy's info to the feds, is there any reason not to trust them with my data?

[–] Cheradenine@sh.itjust.works 71 points 2 years ago (7 children)

'So aside from that one instance where they gave that guy's info to the feds, is there any reason not to trust them with my data?'

They were under a court order. They still have to follow their country's laws.

That is not to say you shouldn't question them, but that particular example should not be used.

If that person had better opsec it never would have been a thing.

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[–] sudneo@lemmy.world 33 points 2 years ago (1 child)

Plus, the data they gave was minimal, basically just the recovery email address, if I remember. That person got caught because they used the same address on Twitter (or something) and then they could get more data, if I recall correctly.

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[–] ultratiem@lemmy.ca 20 points 2 years ago*

This is the key bit. So long as whatever they hand over still meets their services guidelines, the fact they cooperate with law enforcement is not in the least a knock to the promises they made.

It would be another matter altogether if they were providing law enforcement with logs or information they said they don’t collect.

People’s deductive reasoning is weak sauce.

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[–] ultratiem@lemmy.ca 15 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (4 children)

Yeah I think most people confuse privacy with criminal behaviour. Proton has your back when it comes to the former, but they aren’t there to enable you to pirate or cause trouble, hiding behind their service.

I don’t see how making sure criminals are brought to justice is the same as protecting your anonymity on the net.

And even if mandated under law, it’s not like they actually log your travels and are handing that to law enforcement. Whatever they hand over still falls under their services guidelines.

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