What’s so bad about proton, and is there alternatives to all of their services?

3 days ago by 1121219165 to c/privacy

I keep hearing bad stuff about proton, but I don’t really get most of it. Could someone please explain all of the controversy to me. Lastly, what are the best alternatives to all of their services?

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LewdLemon 33 points 3 days ago

I'll keep it short, but provide links for further reading. First off, I don't think proton is "bad", or anyone is trash-talking them legitimately. Both their jurisdiction (Switzerland), dedication to FOSS and good audit results make them a solid choice.

Diversification is my main reason why I'd never go all-in on Proton. Over the years, they've grown an ever more complete suite of apps (e-mail, calendar, VPN, password manager, docs, AI) that does share some similarity with the Google app suite in that you're essentially putting all eggs in one company's basket - and a lot of trust with that. If Proton got hacked, got subverted by a three-letter agency, or just got taken advantage of by a rogue employee, the effects would be much more impactful than if it had just been your e-mail provider, just your VPN service, just your...

Also, Proton's official social media account echoing CEO Andy Yen's private statements on U.S. politics haven't helped convince people that the company is, indeed, politically neutral and solely focused on privacy.

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nfreak 11 points 3 days ago

This sums it up well. Their products are fine, but putting everything into one company isn't a good idea, and the political statements leave little faith.

I use their free Drive for sharing files, but I've moved to Tuta for email and just about everything else selfhosted. I'm still running out a mullvad subscription but I'll be switching that to IVPN when it expires.

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LewdLemon 11 points 3 days ago

I’m still running out a mullvad subscription but I’ll be switching that to IVPN when it expires.

I'm in the same boat: still on Mullvad, but eager to switch due to... things. May I ask what your main reason is to consider IVPN above all others? I'm still stuck choosing between IVPN, Proton and Nym.

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TrollAccount69 1 point 2 days ago

If you don’t need to switch from mullvad I recommend you do not.

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LewdLemon 1 point a day ago

If the CEO of a privacy company supports political forces that are deeply anti-liberty and anti-privacy, that does constitute a "need" to switch, don't you think?

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sompreno 1 point a day ago

I don't see how a ceo's opinion matters if it does not impact the product. mullvad has the best privacy track record or any VPN I've looked into and is a better deal overall the ivpn in cost for what you get.

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TrollAccount69 1 point 19 hours ago

No.

You are not donating to a cause when you purchase goods or services. You are not liable for what someone else does with their money.

Boycotts are only effective when paired with direct action. There is no direct action in this case.

Boycotts that involve not using some necessary service are paired with replication of service through the group organizing the boycott. There is no replication of service in this case.

So you aren’t responsible for the actions of the mullvad owner and not using it isn’t an effective method of changing his behavior (there is no direct action or service replication to accompany an organized boycott, which I would also argue there isn’t since people who made the decision to switch didn’t do so in a unified way or with any demands).

But does it protect you to leave mullvad?

No.

You’re leaving the most straightforward, private and secure vpn with if not the best apps, certainly best in class apps, and a history of literally functioning as a brick wall against investigations by the authorities. No other provider has done what mullvad has done when the screws were put to them because no other provider has had that happen.

So it accomplishes nothing and makes you less safe.

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