My understanding is that mailbox.org is one of these services? But you still recommend them?
They just offer normal email features (TLS connections, PGP support, 2FA for webmail).
An “encrypted” service encrypts the messages at rest (on their server storage) but that makes it incompatible with normal email protocols which means you have to use their protocols and their apps to access it. Proton offers an adapter that allows you to use normal protocols (IMAP/POP3/SMTP) but it’s only for PC, and if they ever discontinue that your email becomes captive.
Yes. With a service that uses standard IMAP/POP3 protocols you can always download your entire mailbox and upload it somewhere else. If it’s dependent of their apps and they don’t provide full download as a feature, you’re stuck.
Of course if you’re the type that doesn’t keep much email on the server it wouldn’t affect you that much but then the whole encryption thing makes even less sense.
They just offer normal email features (TLS connections, PGP support, 2FA for webmail).
An “encrypted” service encrypts the messages at rest (on their server storage) but that makes it incompatible with normal email protocols which means you have to use their protocols and their apps to access it. Proton offers an adapter that allows you to use normal protocols (IMAP/POP3/SMTP) but it’s only for PC, and if they ever discontinue that your email becomes captive.
Oh I see what you mean now. Thanks!
But by captive, you mean inaccessible by any other means than their own interface, right?
Yes. With a service that uses standard IMAP/POP3 protocols you can always download your entire mailbox and upload it somewhere else. If it’s dependent of their apps and they don’t provide full download as a feature, you’re stuck.
Of course if you’re the type that doesn’t keep much email on the server it wouldn’t affect you that much but then the whole encryption thing makes even less sense.