ProtonMail, the mind behind the popular secure email service, has announced that all of the ProtonMail apps are now open-source. Furthermore, each of these apps has passed an independent security audit to retain users’ trust.
However, it doesn’t come as a surprise as the process began several years ago. ProtonMail’s web app was open-sourced back in 2015, just a year after the service was launched. It was followed by the iOS email app in 2019 and the Bridge app last week.
The latest one to join the party is the ProntonMail Android app. SEC Consult was asked to perform a security audit on the Android mail app and found no issues whatsoever, Proton said.
Earlier this year, all ProtonVPN apps were treated the same way i.e., first open-sourced and then put up for full security audits.
Proton said the goal behind opening up its apps is to bring more transparency to how its products work and handle user data, something which we always appreciate considering the rising privacy concerns across the globe.
Furthermore, it will allow third-party security experts to point out potential flaws in the apps and earn some cash via the bug bounty program.
Over the years, Proton has tried to sell itself as privacy and security-focused alternative over its competitors; the most notable of them is Google. Just like Google, it’s also building an entire suite of apps for email, online calendar, cloud storage, etc.
ProtonMail’s idea of open-sourcing all of its apps might give it leverage over other services.
