% email, privacy, protonmail, tutanota, pgp, encryption # ============================================================================ # EMAIL PRIVACY OVERVIEW # ============================================================================ # Email privacy challenges # - Metadata always visible (sender, recipient, timestamp, IP) # - Content readable by email provider (unless E2EE) # - Subject lines never encrypted # - Forwarding/CC/BCC creates multiple copies # - Email headers reveal technical information # Privacy hierarchy (best to worst) # 1. Self-hosted encrypted email (high effort) # 2. ProtonMail / Tutanota (E2EE, Switzerland/Germany) # 3. Mailfence (Belgian, PGP support) # 4. FastMail (Australian, privacy-focused but not E2EE) # 5. Gmail / Outlook (convenient, zero privacy) # ============================================================================ # PROTONMAIL (END-TO-END ENCRYPTED EMAIL) # ============================================================================ # ProtonMail features # - Zero-access encryption (provider can't read emails) # - Swiss jurisdiction (strong privacy laws) # - Open source clients # - Tor onion service available # - No logging of IP addresses (with some caveats) # Sign up for ProtonMail # https://proton.me/mail # Free tier limits # - 500 MB storage # - 150 messages per day # - 1 email address # - Limited support # Paid tier benefits # - More storage (15 GB - 500 GB) # - Custom domains # - Multiple addresses # - ProtonVPN included (Plus and higher) # ProtonMail encryption # ProtonMail ↔ ProtonMail: Automatic E2EE # ProtonMail ↔ Other: Optional password-protected encryption # Send encrypted email to non-ProtonMail user # Compose → Lock icon → Set password → Share password separately # ProtonMail Bridge (desktop email client) # Allows using ProtonMail with Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Outlook # https://proton.me/mail/bridge # Install ProtonMail Bridge (Linux) wget https://proton.me/download/bridge/protonmail-bridge_amd64.deb sudo dpkg -i protonmail-bridge_amd64.deb # Configure Thunderbird with Bridge # Bridge → Add account → Copy IMAP/SMTP settings → Add to Thunderbird # ============================================================================ # TUTANOTA (GERMAN E2EE EMAIL) # ============================================================================ # Tutanota features # - End-to-end encryption (email + subject line + contacts) # - German jurisdiction (GDPR compliance) # - Open source # - No third-party trackers # - Encrypted calendar included # Sign up for Tutanota # https://tutanota.com/ # Free tier # - 1 GB storage # - 1 email address # - 48-hour support response # Paid tier benefits # - More storage (20 GB - 1 TB) # - Custom domains # - Aliases (up to 100) # - Faster support # Tutanota encryption # Tutanota ↔ Tutanota: Automatic E2EE (subject included) # Tutanota ↔ Other: Optional password-protected E2EE # Tutanota desktop app # Download: https://tutanota.com/download/ # ============================================================================ # EMAIL ALIASING (HIDE REAL ADDRESS) # ============================================================================ # Email alias services # Protect primary email, prevent tracking, reduce spam # SimpleLogin (recommended) # https://simplelogin.io/ # - Unlimited aliases (Premium) # - Reply from alias # - PGP support # - Open source # Sign up for SimpleLogin # https://simplelogin.io/ # Create alias # Dashboard → New alias → Enter name → Create # AnonAddy (alternative) # https://anonaddy.com/ # - Similar to SimpleLogin # - Self-hostable # Firefox Relay (Mozilla) # https://relay.firefox.com/ # - Free tier: 5 aliases # - Premium: Unlimited aliases # Apple Hide My Email (iOS/macOS) # Settings → iCloud → Hide My Email # Generates random addresses that forward to real email # DuckDuckGo Email Protection # https://duckduckgo.com/email/ # - Free # - Removes trackers from emails # ============================================================================ # PGP/GPG EMAIL ENCRYPTION # ============================================================================ # PGP/GPG for any email provider # See gpg.cheat for full key management guide # Generate PGP key gpg --full-generate-key # Export public key (share with contacts) gpg --armor --export > publickey.asc $ your_email: echo "you@example.com" # Import contact's public key gpg --import $ contact_publickey.asc: echo "friend_key.asc" # Encrypt email message echo "Secret message" | gpg --encrypt --armor --recipient > encrypted.asc $ contact_email: echo "friend@example.com" # Decrypt received email gpg --decrypt encrypted_email.asc # ============================================================================ # THUNDERBIRD WITH PGP (ENIGMAIL/OPENPGP) # ============================================================================ # Install Thunderbird sudo apt install thunderbird # Built-in OpenPGP support (Thunderbird 78+) # No Enigmail extension needed # Generate key in Thunderbird # Account Settings → End-To-End Encryption → Add Key # Generate new key # Import existing PGP key # Account Settings → End-To-End Encryption → Add Key # Import key from file # Send encrypted email # Compose → Options → Encrypt message # Select recipient's public key # Sign email # Compose → Options → Digitally sign message # ============================================================================ # MAILFENCE (PGP-COMPATIBLE SECURE EMAIL) # ============================================================================ # Mailfence features # - Belgian jurisdiction (privacy-friendly) # - Built-in PGP support # - Digital signatures # - No ads # - 2FA support # Sign up for Mailfence # https://mailfence.com/ # Mailfence pricing # Free: 500 MB storage # Entry ($2.50/mo): 5 GB storage, custom domain # Pro ($7.50/mo): 20 GB, advanced features # Import PGP key to Mailfence # Settings → Security → Encryption → Import key # Send encrypted email # Compose → Encrypt (lock icon) → Send # ============================================================================ # TEMPORARY/DISPOSABLE EMAIL # ============================================================================ # Use for signups, one-time registrations # 10 Minute Mail # https://10minutemail.com/ # Temporary email (10 minutes, extendable) # Guerrilla Mail # https://www.guerrillamail.com/ # Disposable email, can send/receive # Temp Mail # https://temp-mail.org/ # Random temporary address # Burner Mail # https://burnermail.io/ # Create disposable forwarding addresses # ============================================================================ # EMAIL HEADER ANALYSIS (PRIVACY LEAKS) # ============================================================================ # Email headers reveal # - Originating IP address # - Email client software # - Mail server path # - Timestamps # View email headers (Thunderbird) # Open email → More → View Source # View email headers (Gmail web) # Open email → Three dots → Show original # Common header fields # From: Sender address # To: Recipient address # Subject: Email subject (never encrypted) # Date: Timestamp # Received: Mail server path (contains IP addresses) # X-Originating-IP: Sender's IP address # Analyze headers for privacy leaks # Look for: Real IP, location data, identifying info # Strip revealing headers (when forwarding) # Use email provider's privacy features # Or: Copy content to new email (don't forward) # ============================================================================ # EMAIL TRACKER BLOCKING # ============================================================================ # Email tracking pixels # Invisible 1x1 pixel images embedded in emails # Reports when email opened, device type, location # Blocking trackers (Thunderbird) # Preferences → Privacy → Mail Content → Block remote content # DuckDuckGo Email Protection # Automatically removes trackers from emails # https://duckduckgo.com/email/ # Hey.com (tracker blocking built-in) # https://www.hey.com/ # $99/year, strong privacy features # ============================================================================ # EMAIL PROVIDER COMPARISON # ============================================================================ # ProtonMail # Pros: E2EE, Swiss privacy, Tor support, open source # Cons: Web only (unless Bridge), Bridge requires paid account # Cost: Free tier available, paid from $4/mo # Tutanota # Pros: E2EE (including subject), German privacy, open source # Cons: Less integration with other apps, custom protocol # Cost: Free tier available, paid from €1/mo # Mailfence # Pros: Standard protocols (IMAP/SMTP), PGP support, Belgian privacy # Cons: Not zero-knowledge (provider can access if compelled) # Cost: Free tier available, paid from $2.50/mo # Posteo # Pros: Anonymous signup (no personal info required), green energy, ethical # Cons: No free tier, basic features # Cost: €1/mo # StartMail # Pros: Privacy focus, PGP support, disposable aliases # Cons: Netherlands jurisdiction # Cost: $59.95/year # ============================================================================ # SELF-HOSTED EMAIL (MAXIMUM CONTROL) # ============================================================================ # Self-hosted email advantages # - Complete control over data # - No third-party access # - Custom configuration # Self-hosted email disadvantages # - Complex setup and maintenance # - Spam filtering challenges # - Deliverability issues (blacklists) # - Server costs # Mail-in-a-Box (easy self-hosted email) # https://mailinabox.email/ # One-command installation # Ubuntu 22.04 required # Install Mail-in-a-Box curl -s https://mailinabox.email/setup.sh | sudo bash # Mailcow (Docker-based email server) # https://mailcow.email/ # Modern web UI, comprehensive features # ============================================================================ # EMAIL OPSEC BEST PRACTICES # ============================================================================ # Separate email accounts by identity # Personal: Real name email # Work: Work email # Anonymous: ProtonMail / Tutanota # Signups: Disposable / alias # Never link identities # Don't use personal email for anonymous activities # Don't reference other accounts in emails # Subject line privacy # Never put sensitive info in subject # Subject always visible (even with PGP) # Tutanota encrypts subjects (ProtonMail doesn't) # Avoid email for highly sensitive communication # Use Signal, Element, or other E2EE messengers # Email has inherent metadata leakage # Use aliases for online accounts # SimpleLogin, AnonAddy for account signups # Prevents tracking across services # ============================================================================ # METADATA MINIMIZATION # ============================================================================ # Email metadata always visible to provider # - Sender, recipient, timestamp # - IP addresses (in headers) # - Email size # Reduce metadata leakage # Use Tor when accessing webmail (hides IP) # Use VPN (hides IP from email provider) # Use ProtonMail / Tutanota (minimal logging) # Tor with ProtonMail # ProtonMail onion service: https://protonmailrmez3lotccipshtkleegetolb73fuirgj7r4o4vfu7ozyd.onion/ # Tor with Tutanota # Use Tor Browser to access: https://tutanota.com/ # ============================================================================ # PROTONMAIL ADVANCED FEATURES # ============================================================================ # Custom domain (paid plans) # Settings → Domains → Add domain # Configure DNS records (MX, SPF, DKIM) # ProtonMail import/export # Settings → Import-Export → Import emails # Supports: Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo # ProtonMail filters (paid plans) # Settings → Filters → Add filter # Auto-organize incoming mail # ProtonMail encrypted contacts # Contacts stored with zero-access encryption # Can't be read by ProtonMail # ProtonMail VPN integration # ProtonVPN included with Plus and higher plans # Unified account management # ============================================================================ # TUTANOTA ADVANCED FEATURES # ============================================================================ # Encrypted calendar # Calendar tab → Create event # E2EE, syncs across devices # Secure password reset # Can disable password reset (maximum security) # Settings → Security → Disable password reset # WARNING: If you forget password, account is unrecoverable # Tutanota for business # Custom domain, team management # Admin console for organization # Tutanota whitelist mode # Settings → Security → Whitelist # Only receive emails from approved senders # ============================================================================ # SECURING EMAIL ON MOBILE # ============================================================================ # ProtonMail app (iOS/Android) # Download: App Store / Play Store / F-Droid # F-Droid (open source): https://f-droid.org/ # Tutanota app (iOS/Android) # Download: App Store / Play Store / F-Droid # K-9 Mail (Android, open source) # Supports PGP via OpenKeychain # https://k9mail.app/ # Install K-9 Mail + OpenKeychain # F-Droid → K-9 Mail, OpenKeychain # Import PGP key to OpenKeychain # Configure K-9 to use OpenKeychain # FairEmail (Android, privacy-focused) # https://email.faircode.eu/ # Tracker blocking, encryption support # ============================================================================ # EMAIL MIGRATION # ============================================================================ # Migrating to secure email # Step 1: Set up new secure email # ProtonMail, Tutanota, or Mailfence # Step 2: Import old emails (optional) # ProtonMail Bridge → Import via IMAP # Or: Manually forward important emails # Step 3: Update accounts gradually # Start with new signups # Update critical services (banking, social media) # Notify contacts # Step 4: Set up forwarding (temporary) # Old email → New email # Gradually phase out old address # Step 5: Close old account # After 6-12 months of forwarding # Delete or abandon old account # ============================================================================ # EMAIL PRIVACY CHECKLIST # ============================================================================ # Setup # [ ] Choose privacy-focused provider (ProtonMail / Tutanota) # [ ] Enable 2FA on email account # [ ] Set up email aliases (SimpleLogin / AnonAddy) # [ ] Import PGP keys (if using) # [ ] Configure email client securely # Daily use # [ ] Use aliases for new signups # [ ] Don't put sensitive info in subject lines # [ ] Verify recipient before sending sensitive info # [ ] Use disappearing messages for sensitive topics (Signal instead) # Maintenance # [ ] Review connected services quarterly # [ ] Delete old unnecessary emails # [ ] Update PGP keys before expiration # [ ] Check for data breaches (haveibeenpwned.com) # ============================================================================ # RESOURCES # ============================================================================ # Privacy email guides # EFF Email Self-Defense: https://emailselfdefense.fsf.org/ # Privacy Guides Email: https://www.privacyguides.org/email/ # Email security testing # Email Privacy Tester: https://www.emailprivacytester.com/ # PGP key servers # keys.openpgp.org # keyserver.ubuntu.com # Communities # r/ProtonMail (Reddit) # r/tutanota (Reddit) # r/privacy (Reddit)