Proton Launches End-to-End Encrypted Alternative to Google Docs

[MacRumors]

Swiss privacy company Proton today launched Proton Docs, which it is pitching to customers as a "secure alternative to Google Drive and Docs."

Proton Docs offers user end-to-end encrypted (E2E) document creation, editing, and collaboration, all of which is integrated with Proton's cloud storage product, Drive.

The implementation of E2E means not even Proton can access your docs content or metadata (such as file names), and user data is kept on Swiss servers, where it is protected by strict Swiss privacy laws.

Following Proton's recent acquisition of the encrypted notes app Standard Notes, Docs integrates many of its popular features, such as full support for markdown and rich text, code blocks and checklists. From Proton's press release, here are the highlights:

• Rich Text Editing: Create and edit documents with advanced formatting options, allowing for professional and polished outputs.
• File Compatibility: Easily open and edit documents in multiple formats, including Microsoft .docx, ensuring seamless integration and continuous privacy protection.
• Comments and Collaboration: Add comments, reply to comments, and resolve them efficiently, fostering a collaborative environment.
• Embed Images: Enhance your documents by embedding images, providing visual context without compromising on speed.
• Collaborative Cursors and Presence: See who else is viewing the document in real-time with collaborative cursors, making teamwork more intuitive.
• Invite Collaborators: Easily invite anyone to collaborate on your documents. Participants without a Proton account will be prompted to create a free one, ensuring a secure environment for all.

Drawing on its privacy-is-everything stance, the company says that every document, keystroke, and even cursor movement is end-to-end encrypted in real time. "Unlike Google Docs, Proton's commitment to never harvesting user data for any purpose, means information remains strictly private," promises the company.

Proton Docs is currently a web application, but Proton says it will eventually be offered as a dedicated app across platforms. Alongside Docs, Proton Drive includes a calendar, file storage, a password manager, and more.

Docs requires a free Proton Drive account. Proton says it is rolling out Docs starting today, and the feature will be available to all users over the next couple of days.

Article Link: Proton Launches End-to-End Encrypted Alternative to Google Docs

 

[madrag]

If it allows a free account, where do they get the revenue from?
Even so, I like Proton, at least their email + VPN.

 

[FLK]

If it allows a free account, where do they get the revenue from?
Even so, I like Proton, at least their email + VPN.

From all the other services they are selling.

 

[TheOldChevy]

Looks great.

Did they open-source their code or do they have it reviewed by a third party ?

 

[AppleUser93]

Proton is great, good to see it getting promoted. I’ve started hearing more people using it just in the field I work in. It’s time people stopped letting their email providers have their sticky fingers all over their inbox.

 

[contacos]

From all the other services they are selling.

This is just to get you hooked. Once you are satisfied, a user may potentially look at other (paid) services they offer. Call it upselling

 

[klasma]

If it allows a free account, where do they get the revenue from?

The free plan has only 5 GB and no version history.

 

[peneaux]

I like what they’re aiming at but their developers are super slow and their apps are very limited. I think it took them 4 years to add Dark Mode to their email app.

They’re also promising an alternative to push notifications (Tuta delivered years ago) for years now.

Their email app is electron. Might just make a small widget like Gmail notifier that sticks to your status bar to check for email. An easier and lightweight approach.

They could do a Dropbox alternative that could be implemented to so many apps.

 

[klasma]

Did they open-source their code or do they have it reviewed by a third party ?

They open-source all their apps once they're out of beta and conduct regular third-party security audits whose reports are published. They are also controlled by a nonprofit foundation (which hopefully works better than for OpenAI).

 

[gmanist1000]

Pretty nice, although I use Notes on my Apple devices since they are end-to-end encrypted with Advanced Data Protection enabled.

 

[ghanwani]

Stoked to see this!

 

[Akrapovic]

If it allows a free account, where do they get the revenue from?
Even so, I like Proton, at least their email + VPN.

Free for consumers, businesses pay. Simialr to Googke Workspace, Figma, Slack, Notion, etc

 

[ghanwani]

If it allows a free account, where do they get the revenue from?
Even so, I like Proton, at least their email + VPN.

They hope you upgrade to a paid user as you need more storage.

 

[txscott]

iCloud is end to end encrypted if you use Advanced Data Protection. You can store any kind of document there. If you're in the Appleverse that seems to be the way to go.

 

[d4cloo]

What’s so strong about Google Suite is the fact it is a combination of many things;

• set up organizations, groups, permissions, et cetera
• mail
• docs
• slides
• sheets
• files
• A scripting language that can be integrated with many of the apps.

If Proton would offer a whole bunch of services then it becomes ideal for companies to move to Proton.
Just documents and files isn’t enough.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

iCloud is end to end encrypted if you use Advanced Data Protection. You can store any kind of document there. If you're in the Appleverse that seems to be the way to go.

This is a lot more extensive. It's a (mostly) full office suite with collaboration, which Apple sucks something fierce at.

My wife runs her business on Google Docs and loves it as her employees can access it with whatever device they like. She is full-on PC and Android, though.

 

[Tago]

Despite they warranted not to, they logged users of their mail service, and only removed the warranty AFTER they submitted their logs to the courts.

I wouldn`t and don`t trust them with anything whatsoever sensitive be it personal or business to me/you/anyone.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Despite they warranted not to, they logged users of their mail service, and only removed the warranty AFTER they submitted their logs to the courts.

I wouldn`t and don`t trust them with anything whatsoever sensitive be it personal or business to me/you/anyone.

No company can ignore a government warrant/subpoena in a country they operate in, nor should they be able to. Apple and Google would do the same.

It was logs of when and from what IP the logged in from, not the content of the account.

 

[joecomo]

Looks great.

Did they open-source their code or do they have it reviewed by a third party ?

I think we know the answer ...

 

[Alffa]

No company can ignore a government warrant/subpoena in a country they operate in, nor should they be able to. Apple and Google would do the same.

It was logs of when and from what IP the logged in from, not the content of the account.

And to add to this.. It's end-to-end encrypted which means that they cant see content of accounts.
I think (if you're not a criminal) the main selling point is that if a data breach happens, hackers cant see your data and your data is not used to train AI models or whatever the big corporations do.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I think we know the answer ...

The answer is yes to both.

 

[lowendlinux]

I've been happy with all my Proton services

 

[Tago]

No company can ignore a government warrant/subpoena in a country they operate in, nor should they be able to. Apple and Google would do the same.

It was logs of when and from what IP the logged in from, not the content of the account.

They warranted not to log.

And they did.

By that they deceived their customers trust, thus they can`t be trusted. Simple as that.

By all means, use them for worthless junk.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

They warranted not to log.

And they did.

By that they deceived their customers trust, thus they can`t be trusted. Simple as that.

By all means, use them for worthless junk.

I'm fine with Gmail, and have been since I opened an account in late 2004, as I don't do anything important with my personal email, but I would trust Proton if security was a concern.

 

[ghanwani]

Despite they warranted not to, they logged users of their mail service, and only removed the warranty AFTER they submitted their logs to the courts.

I wouldn`t and don`t trust them with anything whatsoever sensitive be it personal or business to me/you/anyone.

Many media personalities still do, though. Maybe they know something.

Who else would you trust?