privacyharbor.com is providing free email

[jeffpan]

Just found that privacyharbor.com is providing the free email accounts to everyone. I went to their homepage and got a free account there.

[janusz]

The free account allows sending only 60 messages per month.

[zimmermanfan]

In trying to find out what's special about this provider, in terms of privacy and security, and I find the statement:

"We don’t use complicated encryption keys"

What do they use then?

[B4its2L8]

Originally Posted by jeffpan

Just found that privacyharbor.com is providing the free email accounts to everyone. I went to their homepage and got a free account there.

I think they've been providing free accounts since they started a few years ago. But any reps. of theirs have always done more "drive-by" posting here at EMD. But their customer support does seem to do a good job of getting back to users, at least in my limited experience.

[Tsunami]

Privacyharbor I believe sends a message to the receiver that he got mail and then you pick up the email from the server directly rather than the email passing through several other servers on its way to the receiver. Maybe I'm mixing up with another privacy orientated provider though.

Free accounts have always existed but I'd be wary. They had a representative here who failed to answer some questions asked by the members of this forum.

[janusz]

Originally Posted by Tsunami

Privacyharbor I believe sends a message to the receiver that he got mail and then you pick up the email from the server directly rather than the email passing through several other servers on its way to the receiver.

That's my understanding too (FWIW).
But I don't see how this improves privacy. Instead of sending text, privacyharbor sends a link to the text . If you think your messages are intercepted en route, both methods are equally vulnerable to eavesdropping.

[B4its2L8]

Originally Posted by Tsunami

Privacyharbor I believe sends a message to the receiver that he got mail and then you pick up the email from the server directly rather than the email passing through several other servers on its way to the receiver. Maybe I'm mixing up with another privacy orientated provider though.

Free accounts have always existed but I'd be wary. They had a representative here who failed to answer some questions asked by the members of this forum.

I believe one may send an unlimited number of "private" emails, i.e. emails that use the link method referred to. In order to promote/encourage that method they restrict the sending of "common" emails (sent the 'normal' way we're used to) to 60/month at the free level. Those with a premium account may send more.

[ReuvenNY]

Incoming and outgoing messages take unusually long time... 10 to 15 minutes each way!

[kinetic]

Originally Posted by janusz

That's my understanding too (FWIW).
But I don't see how this improves privacy. Instead of sending text, privacyharbor sends a link to the text . If you think your messages are intercepted en route, both methods are equally vulnerable to eavesdropping.

I guess he receiver would read the message from privacyharbor.com over https, which makes it more secure.

[Tsunami]

Yes, and also emails with a word such as "credit card" or "bank account" in them will be an easier prey for attentive eyes than a message "you can pick up an email by clicking this link"

No email system is rock solid of course unless you're using intranet rather than internet.

[ST123]

The main downfall of privacy harbor for me is there is no search function.

[janusz]

Originally Posted by ReuvenNY

Incoming and outgoing messages take unusually long time...

Same here
OTOH I like their equivalent of captcha

[janusz]

Originally Posted by ST123

there is no search function.

... and there is no view all headers option either, which is crucial for us geeks

[Berenburger]

Originally Posted by janusz

... and there is no view all headers option either, which is crucial for us geeks

And:
- original text is lost when replying an email.
- no previous/next buttons in message view.
- no plain text editor.
- no visible alert on new files in History.
- no imap/pop3.

[jeffpan]

Originally Posted by ReuvenNY

Incoming and outgoing messages take unusually long time... 10 to 15 minutes each way!

The same results from my test.

And, you can send common email like any other provider, but you could send only 60 messages for each month, that's too limited.

So, I don't think anybody will use it as a serious email service. Will you?