Latest news with #ProtonDrive
TechCrunch
30-06-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Privacy-focused app maker Proton sues Apple over alleged anticompetive practices and fees
Privacy-focused software provider Proton, makers of Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, and other apps, has sued Apple, alleging anticompetitive practices in Apple's App Store. In the new lawsuit, Proton says the iPhone maker holds a monopoly in the smartphone, app distribution, and app payment processing markets. It also compares Apple's fees to tariffs on internet commerce, calling them 'artificial and arbitrary.' The suit is looking for changes to the App Store and monetary damages, which Proton says will be donated to organizations fighting for democracy and human rights. The court papers, filed in the Northern District of California, are a part of a larger class-action suit against Apple. Proton says it's joining other developers, including a group of Korean developers, who are also suing the tech giant. The suit is among the latest to challenge Apple's chokehold on the mobile app market. It follows another yearslong battle between Epic Games and Apple, which Apple largely won as it was declared not to be a monopoly, setting a precedent for the new lawsuit to argue against. However, the judge in that case also ruled that Apple must let U.S. app developers link to their websites where they offer alternative payment mechanisms, without charging a commission on those sales. (Apple is still fighting this matter on appeal.) Proton's case takes a different angle. It cites the Epic case, saying that the evidence proved that Apple makes such a large profit on App Store fees that it questions whether the fees are really necessary to support the maintenance of the App Store, as Apple claims. Proton, similarly, takes issue with Apple's policies around payments. It points out how Apple barred developers from talking directly to their customers in the app, where they could inform them of discounts on the web. In addition, apps that don't support Apple's payment system are at risk of being removed from the App Store, the suit states. Techcrunch event Save $450 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW The arguments around payments delve into other nuances about how the system works, like how it's harder to manage payments and subscriptions across devices because of Apple's rules. For instance, the company explained in a blog post that customers who upgraded their accounts on the web can't downgrade from their iOS device, which is a poor customer experience. Proton also argues that its Calendar app can't be set as the default, although iOS allows users to swap out the defaults for other apps like browsers, email, phone calls, messaging, and more. And it notes that its Proton Drive is restricted from background processing, whereas iCloud is not. Notably, Proton's case focuses on how Apple's single point of distribution with the App Store makes it a tool used by dictatorships around the world to silence free speech. On this front, it points to all the apps Apple has to remove to comply with laws in markets like Russia and China. That decision trickles down to iOS developers, Proton says, like when its VPN app was threatened with removal because it claimed to 'unblock censored websites.' 'Apple's monopoly control of software distribution on iOS devices presents a myriad of problems for consumers, businesses, and society as a whole,' Proton's post reads. 'Anti-monopoly laws exist because the power gifted by monopoly status inevitably leads to abuse. In the case of oligarchic tech giants, these abuses have wide implications for society, and it's vital to the future of the internet that they be addressed now.' We reached out to Apple for comment and did not immediately hear back.
Time Business News
11-06-2025
- Time Business News
The Top 5 Secure Email Providers (2025)
Your email inbox holds more than just messages. Messages may contain your conversations, work-related details, and information about your bank account. Now, more than ever, ensuring your emails are private is crucial. Sending emails through Gmail or Yahoo is simple, but these services will read through your mail and pass your information to marketers. Are you concerned about your privacy? Now is the time to use a safe email service. We've put together a list of the best 5 secure providers for 2025, and we'll also tell you which one we'll pick as our top choice. Based in: Germany Open Source: Yes Encryption: End-to-End (E2EE) Tuta is one of the most secure email services available. It encrypts not just your emails, but also the subject lines, your contacts, and your calendar. You don't even need to give your phone number to sign up! Strong, quantum-resistant encryption for emails, calendars, and contacts Anonymous sign-up Apps for phones and computers Two-factor login (2FA) Can send password-protected emails to anyone No ads and follows European privacy laws (GDPR) Best for: Anyone who wants strong privacy and low cost. Based In: Switzerland Open Source: Yes Proton Mail is well known for privacy. Made by scientists at CERN, it's easy to use and works with other tools like Proton VPN and Proton Drive. Emails are encrypted end-to-end Messages can delete themselves Safe contact list Can use your domain Part of a secure suite (VPN, cloud storage, etc.) Best for: People who want privacy with a modern, clean interface. Based in: France Open Source: Partially Mailfence gives users full control of their encryption keys. It also includes calendar, contact, and file storage tools. Uses PGP encryption (you control the keys) Adds digital signatures Includes a secure calendar and file space Custom domain support Strong Belgian privacy laws Best for: Tech-savvy users who want full control. Based in: Netherlands Open Source: No StartMail is from the team behind Startpage (a private search engine). It uses PGP encryption and offers lots of email aliases for better privacy. Supports PGP encryption Create unlimited fake email addresses (aliases) Private search features Custom domain options 7-day free trial (no free plan) Best for: Professionals and small businesses. Based in: Germany Open Source: Partially Posteo is all about privacy and being eco-friendly. It runs on green energy and lets you sign up without sharing your name. No personal info needed to sign up Optional PGP encryption Powered by 100% renewable energy No ads or trackers Works with email apps (IMAP/SMTP) Best for: Privacy lovers who also care about the planet. Email Provider Anonymous Sign-Up Encrypted Calendar Open Source Free Plan Custom Domains Tuta ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ (paid) Proton Mail ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ (paid) Mailfence ❌ ✅ Partial ✅ ✅ StartMail ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌ ✅ Posteo ✅ ✅ Partial ❌ ✅ In 2025, email privacy should be a basic right, not a luxury. These secure email providers give you back control over your digital life. If you want top-level encryption, anonymous sign-up, and affordable pricing, we recommend Tuta as the best secure email provider in 2025. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Albums in Proton Drive has Google Photos in sight, with a robust privacy pitch
A few weeks ago, the Swiss privacy-focused tech company had shared an update roadmap for its increasingly powerful ecosystem for apps, and the first of those big changes has arrived on schedule. Proton Drive, the company's cloud storage service that rivals the likes of Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox and Box, has added a feature called Albums. This gives Proton Drive versatility as a photo backup service on Android devices as well as the Apple iPhone and iPad. This specific feature means Proton Drive squarely has Google Photos in its sights. This update, and with the roadmap suggesting significant updates for the Docs suite within Drive, improved Drive app for macOS, as well as split-tunnelling additions in ProtonVPN for macOS and Linux, improved categorisation in Proton Mail and File Attachment in Proton Pass being some examples, gives the company enough arsenal to continue to build an alternate ecosystem to Google and Microsoft, as well as specific usability including cloud storage and identity manager apps such as LastPass and Apple Passwords. Also read:Agentic AI: Next big leap in workplace automation 'Highly requested by our community, this new feature enhances Proton Drive's existing secure file and photo storage experience. Albums lets you manage your memories with ease and privacy — all while continuing to protect your files with Proton's industry-leading privacy and security safeguards. The only people who can access your images are you and the people you choose,' explains Anant Vijay, Product Lead for Proton Mail and Drive. The updated Proton Drive adds functionality to organise photos that have already been backed up further into specific albums, creating a shared album, and marking favourite photos within the gallery. Arriving soon, the ability to generate links to share photos via these links, instead of giving a friend or family member access to an entire album. 'Just like everything stored in Proton Drive, every Album you create is protected by end-to-end encryption. That means only the people you choose can access them — album names and metadata like photo locations included. Our advanced privacy and security measures keep your memories safe from advertisers, algorithms, and hackers alike,' Vijay details the privacy layer for Albums in Proton Drive. Also Read:VPNs evolve to counter quantum security risks In comparison, Google does encrypt photos backed up by users on Google Cloud, but it isn't end-to-end encryption. At rest on Google's servers, the keys to the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES; AES-256 specifically), remain with Google. This is the underlier for features such as Gemini powered search, face grouping, and location-based organisation, all of which mostly rely on server-side processing. It is still a long way to go for Proton, in its pursuit to dent Google Photos' user base. While the company hasn't shared numbers in a while, the last official stats Google shared in 2023 pegged Google Photos with 1 million monthly active users, and over 4 trillion photos and videos stored by users, on their cloud. Google Photos has the advantage of having the service preloaded in millions of Android phones worldwide, though regulators in many countries, including India, are increasingly taking note of these practices. For Google, the Photos service plays an important role in building and unlocking value with Gemini, their artificial intelligence (AI) layer, for Google One subscribers. And that may be a challenge for Proton, because they don't have an AI model as yet. Google Photos' AI-driven features, like automatic tagging and location-based search, are still unmatched for accuracy and convenience. Proton's timing may well prove to be strategic. There are increasing concerns about data privacy, as the world regularly hears about tech giants utilising user data for training AI models too, in addition to the open secret that defines how personalised advertising is served up.
Digital Trends
14-05-2025
- Business
- Digital Trends
Proton Drive review: Secure your files and photos with end-to-end encryption
Proton Drive Plus MSRP $119.88 Score Details 'Proton Drive Plus maximizes cloud security at an affordable price, particularly if you subscribe to other Proton services.' Pros Strong end-to-end encryption and privacy Good cross-platform support Convenient web app for file access Easy file and folder sharing by users or a link Built-in document editor with collaboration Cons Photo gallery isn't searchable Windows app lacks photo access Table of Contents Table of Contents Tiers and pricing Design Features Support Privacy and security Is Proton Drive right for you? If you've been questioning whether Google Drive, iCloud, and OneDrive are secure enough for your personal data, Proton Drive could be the answer you're looking for. It's great that computers and phones come with easy backup and syncing options, but eventually, you could need more. Recommended Videos The best cloud storage services ensure privacy, enhance security, and more at competitive prices. I researched the security of Proton Drive's free and paid plans, then went hands-on to review the features and ease of use to confirm its quality and long-term value. Tiers and pricing Proton Drive subscriptions start at $5 monthly, but it's unlikely you'll want to stop accessing the files and photos you've uploaded after only a month. The best cloud storage deals require a commitment of at least a year. An annual subscription to Proton Drive Plus costs $48 for 200 GB of cloud storage with end-to-end encryption for maximum security. That's 24 cents per GB, a bit higher than most cloud storage. However, it includes an online document editor that stores previous versions of files so you can revert to an earlier draft of a document. It's similar to how you can revert files in Google Docs. If you need more space, the Proton Unlimited suite increases storage to 500 GB for $120 annually, matching the price per GB of Proton Drive Plus. It also adds several popular security services like Proton Mail, Proton VPN, and Proton Pass. Proton Duo is a two-person version of Proton Unlimited that doubles secure storage to 1 TB for 50% more, $180 per year. Proton Family is a 6-user account with 3 TB of encrypted cloud data for $288 annually. As usual, the cost per GB decreases as your storage needs rise. If you're unsure about subscribing, you don't have to pay to enjoy the protection of Proton's end-to-end encryption cloud storage. Proton Free includes the same apps as Proton Unlimited, with some restrictions. It's limited to 5 GB of storage and lacks document version history, but uses the same end-to-end encryption as Proton Drive Plus. Proton offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which could ease your mind if you're considering one of the more expensive Proton Drive plans. Design I tested Proton Drive as part of a Proton Unlimited subscription, starting with my Windows PC, then syncing files and photos with my iPhone. The Windows app guided me to select the folders I wanted to back up, and gave me an option to choose a location on my local drive for synced files. The default choices were good, but I added my DJI Neo drone footage to the list so I could easily access and share those videos on other devices. The backup started immediately and ran in the background as I continued using my computer. I synced several GB of photos, videos, files, and folders in my testing, and it quickly started appearing in the Proton Drive app on my iPhone. A new option lets me minimize local storage use by selecting folders that only sync files when I request them, instead of maintaining multiple copies on various devices. It's also possible to sync cloud changes as they happen for quicker access. I chose optimized storage for most folders to keep my local drive space free. Proton also develops apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android that let me backup and sync data across devices. Chromebooks can use the Android app, but Linux computers can only access Proton Drive via the web app, which is quite useful but lacks a backup option. The desktop apps manage backup and sync settings, but to see items synced from mobile, I need to use the web app by going to my Proton account. From Proton Drive's web app, I can browse, search, upload, and download files and folders from almost any device. It's somewhat like using Microsoft OneDrive with media and files accessible in one place, with a large file list on the right and an expandable folder tree to narrow in on the files I want in a left sidebar. On mobile devices, the Proton Drive app fills both purposes. I can control backup options for my iPhone and open and edit files and folders from any of my devices that sync to Proton Drive. Features For truly secure storage, I need data encryption to start on the device I'm using and remain until I'm ready to use that file again. That's called end-to-end encryption, a feature Proton Drive includes in every plan, even Proton Free. On my computer, that happens quickly, but there is a noticeable delay for encryption during the first sync of photos and videos from my iPhone 13 Pro Max. An iPhone 16 would be significantly faster. After the initial setup, Proton Drive works in the background, quickly syncing media and backups as changes happen. While it's important to securely back up data, I also want easy access to my files and convenient browsing from all my devices. While Google divides cloud storage into media on Google Photos and files on Google Drive, Proton Drive combines backups, documents, files, and media into a single web app. Proton Drive works well, syncing data quickly and reliably. I can search or browse computer backups, files, and documents. The document editor is similar to Microsoft Word online or Google Docs with version history, collaboration, comments, and the option to download in Word, PDF, and other formats. I have no complaints with the file system, but the photo gallery won't pose any threat to Google Photos, iCloud Photos, or any cloud service dedicated to media. Most notably, I can't search for a photo with keywords, dates, or even metadata. Browsing is the only option. Secure file sharing works very well. I can share media, files, and folders with specific contacts or create a link that anyone can access without needing a Proton account. Support Proton Drive has a nice support center with plenty of articles to search or browse for quick assistance. If I need more personal help, I can contact Proton with a web form that takes my name, email, and details about my question or problem. I tested Proton Drive support by asking about viewing photos in the Windows app. The reply took about three hours, which is fast for email support. I already knew the web app was the only solution for computers, but I learned others had asked about photos in the desktop app, and that feature might come in a future update. Overall, I found Proton Drive's support was quick, friendly, and helpful, despite the limitations of email. Privacy and security Proton was founded by CERN scientists to answer a need for private messaging. The company's first product was Proton Mail, one of the most secure email solutions available. Proton Drive follows in those footsteps with a clean privacy policy that keeps your data safe. Beyond privacy claims, Proton Drive's end-to-end encryption ensures all data is secure. Proton staff can't read the files or view the photos you've uploaded. Your devices hold the decryption key. If you use biometric authentication like Face ID or fingerprint scans to unlock your phone and computer, everything in Proton Drive should remain secure. Even if you lose your phone or a hacker gains access to your computer, it would take thousands of years to decrypt files without the key. Is Proton Drive right for you? Proton Drive is a great option for secure cloud backups. It's also a convenient way to sync files across devices without any risk of data leaking to hackers, government agencies, internet providers, and cloud storage providers. The default cloud services on your computer and phone lack end-to-end encryption, potentially exposing your photos and other personal information. You might pay a little more, but Proton Drive or other secure cloud services are worth consideration. If you already subscribe to Proton Mail, Proton VPN, or Proton Pass, a bundle that includes 500 GB or more of Proton Drive storage doesn't cost much more. Proton Free is a great way to get started since it includes all these apps at no cost. I like Proton Unlimited and recommend it if you need more privacy and safety online. That said, the photo gallery could be better, so you might want to keep your Google Photos or iCloud Photos subscription if you store photos in the cloud. There are other privacy-focused solutions like NordLocker, Dropbox Advanced, Sync, and pCloud, so stay tuned for more secure cloud storage reviews and comparisons.
