Proton Mail Finally Gets a Desktop App For Encrypted Email and Calendar

Amrita Khalid reports via The Verge: Proton has released a desktop version of its Proton Mail app that will give users full access to both Proton Mail and Proton Calendar and (eventually) the ability to view your emails offline. The desktop app is available in beta is optimized for both Windows and macOS, and encrypts sent emails end-to-end just like with the browser version, according to the Swiss company, while offline access to emails will be available "soon." [...] It's important to note that you'll still need internet access to both send and encrypt your emails on Proton. But the offline feature will let you view and draft emails while traveling, during a power outage, or any other situation where you don't have access to the internet.

Proton is also bringing encrypted auto-forwarding to paid users, both on its desktop and browser versions, though the encryption for forwards will only apply when the forwarded emails go to other Proton users. The company says it has made improvements to Proton Calendar, too, including a fully searchable web version. Not everyone will be able to access Proton's desktop app right away. Proton is restricting access to its paid "Visionary" tier for legacy users at first (though the company is reopening subscriptions to that tier through January 3rd, 2024). The plan is to make the desktop app available to all users in early 2024.

Open source?

[pipatron]

I couldn't find any information in the fine article if it is open or closed source?

Since it's not available for Linux I guess it's closed, but do they plan to release it? I mean, who in their right mind would use a closed-source encryption solution today?

Re: Open source?

[klipclop]

What do you mean by crazy to use closed source? They've been around and you hold your own master encryption password.... Right now you can use the Proton Mail bridge with email clients or the webmail or the app on your phone.

Re: Open source?

[pipatron]

It has nothing to do with who holds the master key, it's about being able to inspect the algorithms and implementation for backdoors.

All [github.com] serious [gnupg.org] security [github.com] products [zx2c4.com] are open for inspection to guarantee no intentional or accidental backdoors for good reason.

Re: Open source?

[Hawks]

Their products are up en source and have been audited [slashdot.org]

Re: Open source?

[Hawks]

Ack

https://proton.me/mail/security

Re:

[dalrun]

Am I missing something? I'm to lazy to link to the individual GitHub etc. pages. https://proton.me/community/open-source [proton.me]

Re:

[nicubunu]

I never used Proton and don't intend to switch away from Thunderbird, but it seems they have some source available [github.com]

Re:

[jpkunst]

You can combine Thunderbird and Proton with Proton Mail Bridge.

Re:

[Rotting]

I thought it was open source.

https://proton.me/community/op... [proton.me]

Re:

[Rotting]

Upon further inspection, it appears they have a git repo setup for it https://github.com/ProtonMail/... [github.com] but there's no code in there available to the public as of yet.

Re:

[VeryFluffyBunny]

Why would anyone put sensitive emails on a device that is fully accessible & controlled by a corporation that is based in the USA with its not-so-secret blanket surveillance by the NSA, CIA, DEA, FBI, etc., i.e. Windows & MacOS? (Don't forget that intelligence agency employees are often encouraged to moonlight for corporations too.) Isn't that like building a gate to a field but with no fence around it?

Nice

[havoc]

The web app is great but I am looking forward to this. I just hope it isn't a glorified web app. I really would like to be able to sort by sender and see the full list of emails in a folder, not paged, if I want to.

is optimized for both Windows and macOS

[thedarb]

No thanks.

Re:

[VeryFluffyBunny]

No thanks.

Yeah. Exactly. I forgot that this is /. & that my long, elaborate reasoning above is entirely superfluous.

Optimization

[JThundley]

Why isn't the Linux version optimized?

Not open-source and Windows client

[gavron]

Companies offering Windows+Mac only are either have shown to have weaker products than FOSS solutions that are OS agnostic.

As much as I like Proton Mail's concept, this is worse than a dick move... it's a first step down the escalator to hell.

Too bad. So sad. Your dad.

Re:

[Uldis Segliņš]

Exactly. It is like offering world class running shoes with a discount for disabled people. Looks nice, but can't provide the primary function.

protomail was ok

[kaoshin]

I tried protonmail many years ago. Even back then, they had a really sleek product, it was just a bit limited. Their developer focus seemed to be very narrow, and mainly working on their VPN client rather than implementing features that I wanted, most importantly an encrypted calendar. I gave it a really long try but eventually switched to posteo [posteo.de] after a while because it already had a functional calendar, worked easily on different platforms including Linux and mobile using a regular mail client. For much less money I could give accounts to my entire family which was also nice. I didn't realize the protonmail calendar for web finally exited beta 2 years ago. I'm interested in giving it a test drive. Unfortunate they aren't giving first class support for Linux in their new software products, but no one is perfect.

Why develop a new mail client ?

[superzerg]

I think it would have been much easier to develop a plugin for Thunderbird, plus they would have linux support