Switzerland-based Proton today announced the availability of its encrypted Mail Desktop application for Windows and Mac computers, while a version for Linux is in testing.
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According to the company, the Proton Mail Desktop app has been optimized to connect to computers , which means it can sync themes with light or dark desktop mode, display notifications in a natural way, and offer instant switching between email and calendar.
“The new Proton Mail Desktop app inherits ten years of security we built for our website. This means Proton Mail Desktop for Windows and Mac maintains our commitment to security and privacy with several key features: zero-logging and end-to-end encryption, protection against trackers and phishing, and our high-security account program, Proton Sentinel.”
Proton says that the ability to use a separate app instead of a browser to access email and calendar offers additional security benefits, such as protecting emails or events from harmful browser extensions and the ability to automatically update without relying on a browser.
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The app also includes an Easy Transition that allows users to import messages from Outlook or Gmail, forward new messages from Gmail, and more.
Aside from these additions, the desktop app should be familiar to Proton users. “Anyone who has used our website will immediately feel at home,” the company states.
Proton paying account holders can download the Proton Mail Desktop app from Proton's website to their Mac computer, with the company offering a 14-day trial period to those using Proton's free plan.
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How does edge-to-edge encryption work?
Edge-to-edge encryption, built into Proton Mail Desktop for Mac, is a method of protecting data as it travels from sender to recipient. It does this by converting the data into a form that can only be decrypted with a special key. When the sender sends a message, it is encrypted with a key that is known only to them and the recipient. This key is unique to each message and is automatically generated when the message is sent. This ensures that the data remains secure during transit. When the data reaches the recipient, the key is used to decrypt it and revert it to its original form. This ensures that only the recipient can see the actual data.
Source: macrumors
