\u201cLooks like you already opened that email,<\/em>\u201d my friend said casually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But I hadn\u2019t! In fact, I hadn\u2019t even seen the email yet. When I checked Gmail, there was his test email, sitting unopened in my inbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet his software showed otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (The software\u2019s dashboard shows if an email it sent has been opened. Don\u2019t ask me how \u2013 it\u2019s all tech magic!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n At first, we thought it was a mistake. But then he checked with his son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s when his son dropped a bombshell: <\/strong>it wasn\u2019t a glitch\u2026 Google had \u2018opened\u2019 the email before I even touched it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I couldn\u2019t believe it. It felt like someone was snooping through my private stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I felt violated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I always knew Google could scan my emails. But knowing that vs. seeing the proof before me were two very different things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After that unsettling experience, I looked for a better, more private option\u2014and that\u2019s when I found ProtonMail<\/a><\/strong>. And I\u2019m so glad I did!<\/p>\n\n\n\n (At Senior Tech Cafe, we believe in transparency and trust. We only recommend products we personally use and believe in. Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them\u2014at no additional cost to you. This helps support our work and allows us to keep sharing valuable information with you. Rest assured, we only promote products that align with our standards and that we genuinely think will bring value to you.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the switch, Proton has become one of my favorite companies on the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was founded by a team of nuclear scientists with one goal in mind\u2014your privacy. Even better, they\u2019re a non-profit, so they\u2019re focused on people, not profits<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proton won\u2019t pry into your personal emails and files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They don\u2019t profile you, so they can target you with ads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They just build easy-to-use, privacy-focused, quality software products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a breath of fresh air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are the 8 key reasons I like using ProtonMail:<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m no international spy and don\u2019t have much to hide. But I still value my privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It makes me uneasy when Google, Yahoo! and others can access the contents of my emails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Especially when it comes to emails from my bank, accountant or medical providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m sure Google knows more about me than the FBI and CIA. But why give them access to everything?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using ProtonMail gives me some comfort, knowing that at least my emails are invisible to Big Tech\u2019s prying eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, my Yahoo! inbox has so many ads it looks like Times Square! Gmail\u2019s not so bad anymore, but I\u2019m still afraid they use info from my emails to target me with ads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, I\u2019ve never seen even a hint of an ad in my ProtonMail account. It\u2019s one of the few places in this world you can still say that about!<\/p>\n\n\n\n On a related note, in all my years of using ProtonMail, I can\u2019t remember getting a single spam email. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A big reason why is I\u2019m careful with who I share my Proton email address with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But this is another reason why switching to a new ProtonMail address makes so much sense. It\u2019s untouched, sacred ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And I\u2019ll tell you, it\u2019s WAY more pleasant checking email when you don\u2019t have to wade through junk from Nigerian princes, Viagra salesmen and hot singles in your area who want to \u201cconnect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n ProtonMail\u2019s website and app are very easy to use. It won\u2019t be long before you\u2019re using it like a pro!<\/p>\n\n\n\n ProtonMail offers a free version, and for many people, that\u2019s all they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But there\u2019s Mail Plus, which is $4 a month, and Proton Unlimited (which I use), which costs $10\/month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m not going to get into the differences between all these. You can see those for yourself on the Proton website here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I started with a free account but quickly upgraded because I found the benefits of the Unlimited plan to be 100% worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proton\u2019s code is Open Source, which means it\u2019s transparent\u2014anyone can look under the hood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of this, Proton software has been audited by 1000s of security experts worldwide who vouch for Proton\u2019s security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That gives me more peace of mind than the proprietary code Big Tech keeps under lock and key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proton is headquartered in Switzerland. And if there\u2019s one thing the Swiss love, it\u2019s privacy! (Oh, and chocolate.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the company falls under Swiss jurisdiction, they won\u2019t let any government access your email account. Ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ProtonMail emails are encrypted. Not even Proton\u2019s own servers can access your emails to see what\u2019s in them.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEnter ProtonMail<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/seniortechcafe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/proton-1024x339.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n8 Reasons I Love Using ProtonMail<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Keep My Data Out of Big Tech\u2019s Hands<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2. No Ads!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
3. Very Little Spam<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
4. Easy to Use<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
5. You Can Use the Free Version<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
6. Open Source<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
7. Swiss Privacy Laws<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
8. Encryption<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tips for Making the Switch to ProtonMail<\/h2>\n\n\n\n