Proton Mail
What it's for
An encrypted inbox that replaces Gmail or Outlook, and the pivot account for the whole Proton ecosystem.
Why it matters
Based in Switzerland, outside “Five Eyes” jurisdiction. OpenPGP-compatible: automatic encryption between Proton accounts and to other PGP services.
For whom & when
Everyone. It’s the best starting point to leave Google (see section 05 for the rest of the suite).
Install & use
Create an account at proton.me (the free tier is enough to start).
Import your old messages and contacts with Easy Switch (built in).
- Set up forwarding from Gmail and tell your contacts your new address.
Install the mobile app, turn on two-factor auth, and use Proton Bridge if you want Thunderbird.