Proton: Difference between revisions

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'''{{Wplink|Proton AG|Proton}}'''~~, officially known as '''Proton AG''',~~ is a Swiss company known for its commitment to privacy and security in the digital realm. Founded in 2014 by scientists from CERN and MIT, Proton is ~~best recognized for~~ its flagship product, [[Protonmail|~~ProtonMail~~]], which offers end-to-end encrypted email services~~. The company operates under the principles of transparency and user privacy, ensuring that user data is protected from unauthorized access~~. Proton AG has expanded its offerings to include various services that cater to individuals and organizations seeking secure communication solutions.

'''{{Wplink|Proton AG|Proton AG}}''' is a Swiss company known for its commitment to privacy and security in the digital realm. Founded in 2014 by scientists from CERN and MIT, Proton is most commonly associated with its flagship product, [[Protonmail|Proton Mail]], which offers end-to-end encrypted email services. Proton AG has expanded its offerings to include various services that cater to individuals and organizations seeking private secure communication solutions.

==Consumer-impact summary==

====Business model====

~~In addition to Proton Mail, Proton provides a range~~ of ~~services designed to enhance online~~ privacy ~~and security~~. ~~These include:~~

The company operates under the principles of transparency and user privacy, ensuring that user data is protected from unauthorized access.

*Proton ~~VPN~~: ~~A virtual private network service that encrypts internet traffic~~ and ~~hides~~ users' ~~IP addresses~~.

==Incidents==

This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Proton starts moving their infrastructure out of Switzerland===

Proton AG is relocating most of its infrastructure out of Switzerland in response to proposed changes in Swiss surveillance laws that threaten user privacy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maguire |first=Eamonn |date=23 July 2025 |title=Introducing Lumo, the AI where every conversation is confidential |url=https://proton.me/blog/lumo-ai#:~:text=Building%2520EuroStack%2520for%2520the%2520future |url-status=live |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=proton.me |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221124827/https://proton.me/blog/lumo-ai |archive-date=21 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Naprys |first=Ernestas |date=19 May 2025 |title=Proton threatens to leave Switzerland amid proposed law changes |url=https://cybernews.com/security/proton-considers-relocation-from-switzerland/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=cybernews.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251101043041/https://cybernews.com/security/proton-considers-relocation-from-switzerland/ |archive-date=1 Nov 2025}}</ref> The amendments would require companies, including VPNs and messaging services, to identify users and retain their data, which contradicts Proton's commitment to providing secure and private services. To maintain its privacy standards, Proton plans to move its infrastructure to countries like Germany and Norway, where it can operate without the risk of mass surveillance.

*Proton Drive: A secure cloud storage solution that ~~allows users to store and share files with end-to-end encryption.~~

CEO Andy Yen has emphasized that if these laws are enacted, Proton would be less confidential than competitors like Google, making it unsustainable for their business model.

*Proton ~~Calendar: A privacy-focused calendar application that ensures users' events and schedules remain~~ confidential.

*Proton Pass: A password manager that securely stores and manages passwords and sensitive information.

~~Through these services~~, Proton ~~AG aims~~ to ~~empower users~~ with ~~tools that prioritize their privacy and security in~~ an ~~increasingly digital world~~.

===Proton suspends journalists accounts who investigated North Korean cyberattacks===

In June of 2025, writers for the magazine Phrack were investigating cyberattacks from a North Korean group that targeted South Korea's defense infrastructure. The writers disclosed the news of this attack through a dedicated Protonmail account that would only be used for informing South Korea. At the start of August they stopped receiving communication from South Korea, and on August 15th, their dedicated account for disclosure was suspended. The next day a journalist's personal Proton account was suspended as well. When the suspension was appealed, Proton rejected the appeal stating "your account will cause further damage to our service, therefore we will keep the account suspended." After numerous attempts to make contact with Proton, Phrack reached out publicly via X to Proton. Proton responded saying they had received an alert from a CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) who claimed hackers were misusing the specified Proton accounts. The journalists' accounts were re-instated the day after, but the CERT who made the report was not identified.

==~~Incidents~~==

===Forced Arbitration and Class Action Waiver===

~~This is~~ a ~~list~~ of ~~all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the~~ [[~~:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category~~]].

In order to create a Proton account, users accept Proton's Terms of Service, which include a [[forced arbitration]] agreement and [[class action]] waiver.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-02 |title=Terms of Service |url=https://proton.me/legal/terms |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-04 |website=Proton |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260126155126/https://proton.me/legal/terms |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref>

~~===Proton starts moving their infrastructure out of Switzerland===~~

~~Proton AG is relocating most of its infrastructure out of Switzerland in response to proposed changes in Swiss surveillance laws that threaten user privacy~~.<ref>{{Cite web ~~|last=Maguire |first=Eamonn~~ |date=~~23 July~~ 2025 |title=~~Introducing Lumo, the AI where every conversation is confidential~~ |url=https://proton.me/~~blog~~/~~lumo-ai#:~:text=Building%2520EuroStack%2520for%2520the%2520future~~ |url-status=live |access-date=~~12 Aug 2025~~ |website~~=proton.me}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Naprys |first=Ernestas |date=19 May 2025 |title~~=Proton ~~threatens to leave Switzerland amid proposed law changes~~ |url=~~https~~://~~cybernews~~.~~com~~/~~security~~/proton~~-considers-relocation-from-switzerland~~/ |~~url-status=live |access~~-date=~~12 Aug 2025 |website=cybernews.com~~}}</ref> The amendments would require companies, including VPNs and messaging services, to identify users and retain their data, which contradicts Proton's commitment to providing secure and private services. To maintain its privacy standards, Proton plans to move its infrastructure to countries like Germany and Norway, where it can operate without the risk of mass surveillance.

==Products==

~~CEO Andy Yen has emphasized that if these laws are enacted,~~ Proton ~~would be less confidential than competitors like Google, making it unsustainable for their business model. This strategic move reflects~~ Proton~~'s dedication to ensuring that its services remain secure and aligned with its foundational principles of user privacy in an evolving regulatory environment.~~

*Lumo AI

*Proton Authenticator

*Proton Calendar

*Proton Docs

*Proton Drive

*[[Proton Mail]]

*Proton Meet

*Proton Pass

*Proton Sheets

*Proton Wallet

*Proton VPN

*SimpleLogin

*Standard Notes

==See also==

~~[[Protonmail|Proton Mail]]~~

==References==

{{reflist}}{{Cite web |last=Mazurov |first=Nikita |date=2025-09-12 |title=Proton Mail Suspended Journalist Accounts at Request of Cybersecurity Agency |url=https://theintercept.com/2025/09/12/proton-mail-journalist-accounts-suspended/ |url-status=live |website=The Intercept |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260202140231/https://theintercept.com/2025/09/12/proton-mail-journalist-accounts-suspended/ |archive-date=2 Feb 2026}}

{{Cite web |date=2025-09-19 |title=Phrack Journalists Suspended from Proton Mail |url=https://redact.dev/blog/proton-mail-journalist-suspensions-cert-alert |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224122322/https://redact.dev/blog/proton-mail-journalist-suspensions-cert-alert |archive-date=24 Feb 2026}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

~~[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]~~

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 }}
-'''{{Wplink|Proton AG|Proton}}''', officially known as '''Proton AG''', is a Swiss company known for its commitment to privacy and security in the digital realm. Founded in 2014 by scientists from CERN and MIT, Proton is best recognized for its flagship product, [[Protonmail|ProtonMail]], which offers end-to-end encrypted email services. The company operates under the principles of transparency and user privacy, ensuring that user data is protected from unauthorized access. Proton AG has expanded its offerings to include various services that cater to individuals and organizations seeking secure communication solutions.
+'''{{Wplink|Proton AG|Proton AG}}''' is a Swiss company known for its commitment to privacy and security in the digital realm. Founded in 2014 by scientists from CERN and MIT, Proton is most commonly associated with its flagship product, [[Protonmail|Proton Mail]], which offers end-to-end encrypted email services. Proton AG has expanded its offerings to include various services that cater to individuals and organizations seeking private secure communication solutions.
 ==Consumer-impact summary==
 ====Business model====
-In addition to Proton Mail, Proton provides a range of services designed to enhance online privacy and security. These include:
+The company operates under the principles of transparency and user privacy, ensuring that user data is protected from unauthorized access.
-*Proton VPN: A virtual private network service that encrypts internet traffic and hides users' IP addresses.
+==Incidents==
+This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
+===Proton starts moving their infrastructure out of Switzerland===
+Proton AG is relocating most of its infrastructure out of Switzerland in response to proposed changes in Swiss surveillance laws that threaten user privacy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maguire |first=Eamonn |date=23 July 2025 |title=Introducing Lumo, the AI where every conversation is confidential |url=https://proton.me/blog/lumo-ai#:~:text=Building%2520EuroStack%2520for%2520the%2520future |url-status=live |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=proton.me |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221124827/https://proton.me/blog/lumo-ai |archive-date=21 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Naprys |first=Ernestas |date=19 May 2025 |title=Proton threatens to leave Switzerland amid proposed law changes |url=https://cybernews.com/security/proton-considers-relocation-from-switzerland/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=cybernews.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251101043041/https://cybernews.com/security/proton-considers-relocation-from-switzerland/ |archive-date=1 Nov 2025}}</ref> The amendments would require companies, including VPNs and messaging services, to identify users and retain their data, which contradicts Proton's commitment to providing secure and private services. To maintain its privacy standards, Proton plans to move its infrastructure to countries like Germany and Norway, where it can operate without the risk of mass surveillance.
-*Proton Drive: A secure cloud storage solution that allows users to store and share files with end-to-end encryption.
+CEO Andy Yen has emphasized that if these laws are enacted, Proton would be less confidential than competitors like Google, making it unsustainable for their business model.
-*Proton Calendar: A privacy-focused calendar application that ensures users' events and schedules remain confidential.
-*Proton Pass: A password manager that securely stores and manages passwords and sensitive information.
-Through these services, Proton AG aims to empower users with tools that prioritize their privacy and security in an increasingly digital world.
+===Proton suspends journalists accounts who investigated North Korean cyberattacks===
+{{Main|Proton Mail discloses activist IP address to police}}
+In June of 2025, writers for the magazine Phrack were investigating cyberattacks from a North Korean group that targeted South Korea's defense infrastructure. The writers disclosed the news of this attack through a dedicated Protonmail account that would only be used for informing South Korea. At the start of August they stopped receiving communication from South Korea, and on August 15th, their dedicated account for disclosure was suspended. The next day a journalist's personal Proton account was suspended as well. When the suspension was appealed, Proton rejected the appeal stating "your account will cause further damage to our service, therefore we will keep the account suspended." After numerous attempts to make contact with Proton, Phrack reached out publicly via X to Proton. Proton responded saying they had received an alert from a CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) who claimed hackers were misusing the specified Proton accounts. The journalists' accounts were re-instated the day after, but the CERT who made the report was not identified.
-==Incidents==
+===Forced Arbitration and Class Action Waiver===
-This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
+In order to create a Proton account, users accept Proton's Terms of Service, which include a [[forced arbitration]] agreement and [[class action]] waiver.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-02 |title=Terms of Service |url=https://proton.me/legal/terms |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-04 |website=Proton |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260126155126/https://proton.me/legal/terms |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref>
-===Proton starts moving their infrastructure out of Switzerland===
-Proton AG is relocating most of its infrastructure out of Switzerland in response to proposed changes in Swiss surveillance laws that threaten user privacy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maguire |first=Eamonn |date=23 July 2025 |title=Introducing Lumo, the AI where every conversation is confidential |url=https://proton.me/blog/lumo-ai#:~:text=Building%2520EuroStack%2520for%2520the%2520future |url-status=live |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=proton.me}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Naprys |first=Ernestas |date=19 May 2025 |title=Proton threatens to leave Switzerland amid proposed law changes |url=https://cybernews.com/security/proton-considers-relocation-from-switzerland/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=cybernews.com}}</ref> The amendments would require companies, including VPNs and messaging services, to identify users and retain their data, which contradicts Proton's commitment to providing secure and private services. To maintain its privacy standards, Proton plans to move its infrastructure to countries like Germany and Norway, where it can operate without the risk of mass surveillance.
+==Products==
-CEO Andy Yen has emphasized that if these laws are enacted, Proton would be less confidential than competitors like Google, making it unsustainable for their business model. This strategic move reflects Proton's dedication to ensuring that its services remain secure and aligned with its foundational principles of user privacy in an evolving regulatory environment.
+*Lumo AI
+*Proton Authenticator
+*Proton Calendar
+*Proton Docs
+*Proton Drive
+*[[Proton Mail]]
+*Proton Meet
+*Proton Pass
+*Proton Sheets
+*Proton Wallet
+*Proton VPN
+*SimpleLogin
+*Standard Notes
 ==See also==
-[[Protonmail|Proton Mail]]
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{reflist}}{{Cite web |last=Mazurov |first=Nikita |date=2025-09-12 |title=Proton Mail Suspended Journalist Accounts at Request of Cybersecurity Agency |url=https://theintercept.com/2025/09/12/proton-mail-journalist-accounts-suspended/ |url-status=live |website=The Intercept |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260202140231/https://theintercept.com/2025/09/12/proton-mail-journalist-accounts-suspended/ |archive-date=2 Feb 2026}}
+{{Cite web |date=2025-09-19 |title=Phrack Journalists Suspended from Proton Mail |url=https://redact.dev/blog/proton-mail-journalist-suspensions-cert-alert |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224122322/https://redact.dev/blog/proton-mail-journalist-suspensions-cert-alert |archive-date=24 Feb 2026}}
 [[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
-[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]