Proton has announced joining forces with SimpleLogin to provide more privacy online.
Proton, launched in 2014, is a privacy-focused technology provider well known for its encrypted email service ProtonMail. In its efforts to improve the privacy of its users, Proton has joined hands with SimpleLogin, a service that provides users with randomly-generated anonymous email addresses so users can easily create a unique email address for every service they sign up for. Doing this provides more security through obscurity and helps retain some privacy in the case of online data breaches.
“We have been following SimpleLogin closely for a long time as many ProtonMail users utilize it to prevent their ProtonMail addresses from being leaked to spammers,” Proton CEO Andy Yen wrote in a press release announcing the collaboration.
SimpleLogin is available as a mobile app, web app, and browser extension. Every time users register for a new online service, it will provide them with an anonymous email address, meaning they do not have to use your real email address. They can easily disable an anonymous email if the service they signed up for gets hacked, sells their address to advertisers, or when they begin getting spam messages.
According to Proton, SimpleLogin complements ProtonMail, with the email service “protecting your data privacy with encryption while SimpleLogin prevents malicious actors from exploiting your real email address.”
This announcement means that in the next few months, it will be easier for Proton users to use SimpleLogin. However, the two companies will work as separate services, with the SimpleLogin team working on new features with the “benefit of Proton’s infrastructure and security engineering abilities.”
Yen said that the two companies share values and philosophy, especially on matters of privacy. He also believes the proximity of the two companies, one being in Switzerland and the other one in France is an advantage.
“This proximity and alignment of values mean we can join forces while continuing to bring improved privacy to both our communities without changing what has made Proton or SimpleLogin much loved services. We look forward to fighting for your privacy rights and serving you for many years to come,” Yen said.
