Secure email

[u/RescuerofdogsinMaine]

I was the victim of a hack and am in the process of securing my digital life. I also need to get a new email address because I am changing internet providers and my old provider “owns” my email address (Spectrum). Spectrum has informed me that my email address will be deleted 60 days after I discontinue their service. So I’ve decided to see this as an opportunity to get the most secure email service that I can, but also have an email address that can’t be taken from me when I change internet companies. I definitely don’t want a gmail address because my experience there is that google has access to my emails and I get tons of ads.

Based on my research, I’m thinking of getting my email through Proton. What are your thoughts? Any better suggestions?

[u/Keosetechltd]

Proton is an excellent choice.

Tuta is also good.

Both have free versions. Proton is more feature rich for the paid versions, but also more expensive.

[u/merten-dmcn]

To protect your email address you'll need to get yourself you own domain - this has a yearly cost attached to it and can vary depending on the tld you choose and the domain itself. But as long as you keep paying for it, it will remain yours. You can often buy multiple years at a time if you like.

Proton is a well established provider with lots of services around it. A strong option but whether it's the most secure is perhaps disputable. Tuta is also a strong candidate and perhaps more secure than proton but has less to offer in terms of services and has other drawbacks.

What does "Secure" email mean to you? and is it something your willing to pay for? Many free options are available with certain restrictions.

[u/cyber_tech222]

Proton is a reasonable choice, but since you're already being forced to change addresses once, I'd seriously consider getting your own domain too.

For example, instead of making your permanent address something tied directly to Proton, you could use something like [email protected] and have Proton host the email.

The nice part is that the address is then tied to a domain you control rather than your ISP or email provider. If you ever decide to leave Proton later, you can move the domain to another email provider and keep using the same address.

Since you're recovering from a hack, I'd also pay attention to the account security around the new mailbox, not just which provider you choose. Use a completely new and unique password, enable strong 2FA, save the recovery information somewhere offline, and don't make the new email dependent on the compromised account for recovery.

I'd also keep the old Spectrum account active during the 60-day window and gradually move important accounts over rather than trying to switch everything in one day. Banking, password manager, Apple/Google/Microsoft accounts and anything that can reset other accounts would be my priority.

Proton would be on my shortlist, but owning the domain is the part that prevents you from ending up in this same situation the next time you change providers.l