Even though I don’t do anything illegal online (occasionally making grammar mistakes isn’t a crime!), I greatly value my privacy. I’ve been using secure email services for years, with ProtonMail being my go-to for the longest time. Recently, I discovered Mailum and quickly made the switch. This article walks you through the reasons that I decided to leave my trusted ProtonMail and embrace Mailum.
Content
- 1. Unparalleled Encryption
- 2. Zero-Knowledge Architecture
- 3. PGP Support
- 4. Tor Support for Anonymous Access
- 5. No Ads, Trackers, or IP Logs
- 6. Anonymous Payment Methods
- 7. Open-Source Code
- 8. Attractive Pricing
1. Unparalleled Encryption
While most secure email services (including my old favorite, ProtonMail) encrypt the body of your emails, Mailum goes the extra mile. It encrypts not just the body, but also the subject line, sender and recipient details, and even the timestamp.
What I really love is that this fortress-level security doesn’t make using Mailum any more complicated. It’s all happening behind the scenes. I just write my emails as usual, hit send, and my message is locked down tighter than my grandma’s secret cookie recipe.
2. Zero-Knowledge Architecture
When I was much younger, I had my first email account with a local provider. When I forgot my password, I called customer support for help. After a brief identity verification over the phone (and by brief, I mean they asked for my birthday and my dog’s name), they reset my password just like that. Problem solved! Or was it?
It didn’t take long for a chilling realization to dawn on me: if it was that easy for me to regain access, couldn’t an impostor do the same? Of course they could. I’m happy to know that Mailum, just like all other reputable secure mail providers, is built on a zero-knowledge architecture, so the service provider couldn’t access or decrypt my emails, even if they wanted to.
If you forget your password and don’t have your Secret Token file (created during registration), you will only be able to retrieve your email address – your old messages and contacts will be deleted.
3. PGP Support
I have a friend who works in cybersecurity and uses Gmail with PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) encryption for his personal emails. PGP is encryption software that provides cryptographic privacy and authentication for data communication. It’s used for signing, encrypting, and decrypting texts, emails, files, directories, and whole disk partitions.
Thanks to Mailum’s native PGP support, adding Carl’s PGP key was a breeze. There was no need for clunky plugins or third-party software. I just pasted his public key into Mailum and was ready to exchange super-secret messages with my paranoid pal.
4. Tor Support for Anonymous Access
I typically access Mailum through its web app (mobile and desktop apps are in the works, and you can sign up for their newsletter to be notified when they’re available), so it’s easy for my internet service provider (ISP) to know that I’m using a secure email service, which I don’t mind.
But if I were to travel to a country with strict online surveillance or limited digital freedoms, then I would take advantage of Mailum’s Tor support to effectively hide the fact that I’m using a secure email service, avoiding potential suspicion or unwanted attention. Without it, it would be safer to avoid accessing my inbox altogether.
5. No Ads, Trackers, or IP Logs
Unlike many email providers that seem to think inboxes are prime real estate for ads, Mailum keeps things clean and distraction-free with its no-ads policy – even for free accounts. There is no more accidentally clicking on an ad disguised as an email (I’ve been there, unfortunately) unless you use an ad-blocker.
6. Anonymous Payment Methods
What really impressed me was Mailum’s commitment to privacy beyond just ditching ads. They’ve gone the extra mile by eschewing external analytics tools, like Google and Facebook, which are notorious for their data harvesting practices. The service also doesn’t log IP addresses and relies on offshore servers, making it more difficult for three-letter government agencies to track users’ online activities.
When I first upgraded to a paid plan, I was pleasantly surprised by Mailum’s payment options. While they do offer traditional payment methods, what caught my eye was their support for cryptocurrencies.
Supporting cryptocurrencies isn’t all that surprising – most other secure email providers, including ProtonMail, support crypto payments, too. What blew me away was the sheer variety of cryptocurrencies that Mailum accepts – over 50 of them. Mailum relies on the CoinPayments processing service, which has been around since 2013 and has established a very good reputation.
7. Open-Source Code
I’m always excited to see services that embrace open-source principles. Mailum’s decision to make the code publicly available on GitHub is a big plus in my book. Sure, I can’t personally review the code, but knowing that security experts and eagle-eyed developers can scrutinize every line gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling of trust.
8. Attractive Pricing
Before Mailum, I was paying $9.99 for the Proton Unlimited plan, which has many extra goodies (like Proton VPN and cloud storage) that I wasn’t taking advantage of.
For my modest emailing needs, Mailum’s Basic plan, which costs $1.40 per month (with a one-year commitment) is actually a much better deal for me, as I get to save a lot of money while still enjoying top-notch email security.
If I were running a small business or had a larger family to manage, I would consider upgrading to their Medium plan at $4.20 per month. It bumps up the storage to 10 GB and gives me 10 email addresses with unlimited sending. There’s also the pro pricing plan, which offers 100 GB of storage space and 100 email addresses for $8.40.
Overall, Mailum offers a compelling combination of robust security features, user privacy, and wallet-friendly pricing that’s hard to beat. Of course, what works best for me may not be the perfect fit for everyone. If you’re looking to learn more about protecting your digital communication, check out our email encryption guide.
All images and screenshots by David Morelo.
David Morelo –
Staff Writer
David Morelo is a professional content writer in the technology niche, covering everything from consumer products to emerging technologies and their cross-industry application. His interest in technology started at an early age and has only grown stronger over the years.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox
Sign up for all newsletters.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and European users agree to the data transfer policy. We will not share your data and you can unsubscribe at any time. Subscribe