Proton

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Empowering you to choose a better internet where privacy is the default. Protect yourself online with Proton Mail, Proton VPN, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive. Proton Pass and SimpleLogin.

Proton Mail is the world's largest secure email provider. Swiss, end-to-end encrypted, private, and free.

Proton VPN is the world’s only open-source, publicly audited, unlimited and free VPN. Swiss-based, no-ads, and no-logs.

Proton Calendar is the world's first end-to-end encrypted calendar that allows you to keep your life private.

Proton Drive is a free end-to-end encrypted cloud storage that allows you to securely backup and share your files. It's open source, publicly audited, and Swiss-based.

Proton Pass Proton Pass is a free and open-source password manager which brings a higher level of security with rigorous end-to-end encryption of all data (including usernames, URLs, notes, and more) and email alias support.

SimpleLogin lets you send and receive emails anonymously via easily-generated unique email aliases.

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Google Play's version of VPN allows private 'Guest' use, so why does FOSS version on F-Droid demand email address?! (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I downloaded ProtonVPN (5.5.68.0) a few months ago via the Google Play Store and have been happily using it ‘anonymously’ as a Guest with no problem. I recently purchased a new Android device and this time I chose to download the same VPN (5.5.68.0) via F-Droid to maintain some privacy. However, there appears to be no option in the FOSS version of the app to use Proton VPN as a guest - I am told I have to sign-up with an actual email address.

For a company claiming they are "Empowering you to choose a better internet where privacy is the default. Protect yourself online with... Proton VPN" (look to the right of this page), this decision astounds me. Assuming the error is not on my part, why is the purported FOSS version on F-Droid forcing users to give identifiable information (even if it’s only an email address and password), but the Google Android version does not?

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Because the guest option uses a Google Services API so the are getting your Google Account info to make the connection the Foss versions rightfully strip play services integration like most if not all foss apps.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I see. So they stole my device's Android email address? Very disappointing. Thank you for the help.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I mean you should expect this from any play store version of a app.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

You are right. Guess I expected more from a privacy advocate. Oh well. Will have to sign up with a Tuta email address (in an attempt to silo my VPN activity from my other Proton ID and usage).

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago

I looked into this because I thought that you must be missing something, but yes, you are correct.

Both the F-Droid package as well as the one on the Proton's GitHub page do not allow for guest logins. This is curious. Perhaps the guest account option requires some sort of non-free library? I'd be interested in the answer to your question.