7 Signs Your Email Provider Isn’t Secure (And What to Use Instead)

Sign #1: Your Emails Are Scanned for Advertising

One of the clearest indicators that your email provider isn’t secure is if it scans your messages to serve you targeted ads. Companies like Gmail have a long history of analyzing email content to build advertising profiles, even if they claim not to “read” your emails in the traditional sense. This scanning includes both incoming and outgoing messages and can be used to predict your behavior, purchases, and preferences. If your inbox is filled with eerily accurate ads or you’ve noticed promotions that align suspiciously with your email conversations, you’re likely being tracked. True privacy-focused providers like Proton Mail, Tutanota, and Skiff Mail do not scan your messages for any reason—and they don’t show you ads at all.

Sign #2: No End-to-End Encryption

Encryption is the cornerstone of email privacy, but many providers don’t actually use true end-to-end encryption (E2EE). Instead, they might encrypt data in transit (using TLS) but keep the data readable on their servers. That means the provider—and anyone with access to their systems—can read your messages. Only E2EE ensures that the message is encrypted on your device and only decrypted on the recipient’s device. If your provider can reset your password and recover your messages, they likely have access to your inbox. That’s a major vulnerability. Secure alternatives like Tutanota and Criptext use default E2EE, while Mailfence and Proton Mail offer strong PGP-based encryption for user-controlled security.

Sign #3: It Requires Personal Information to Sign Up

If your email provider asks for a phone number, physical address, or alternative email address just to create an account, that’s a privacy red flag. Collecting unnecessary personal data at signup creates an easy trail for identity profiling and reduces anonymity. The best private email providers let you create accounts with minimal or no identifying information. Tutanota, Skiff Mail, and Disroot allow anonymous sign-ups and don’t track your IP address during registration or use. Posteo even allows anonymous payment via mailed cash—something almost unheard of in today’s digital economy.

Sign #4: Your IP Address Is Logged

Many conventional email services log your IP address every time you log in, send an email, or open a message. That information can be used to track your location, build behavior profiles, or respond to data requests from third parties. A secure email provider will go out of its way to protect or anonymize your IP address. Proton Mail and Tutanota, for instance, do not log IPs and can be accessed over Tor for additional anonymity. If your current provider doesn’t mention IP anonymization in its privacy policy, chances are it’s logging everything.

Sign #5: Closed-Source Code and Proprietary Protocols

Security by obscurity is not real security. If your email provider does not publish its source code or encryption protocols for public review, you’re being asked to trust blindly. While big-name services may claim to be secure, without transparency, you can’t verify how your data is being handled or if backdoors exist. Open-source providers like Proton Mail, Tutanota, Criptext, and Skiff Mail allow independent audits of their code and protocols. This ensures accountability, strengthens security, and builds trust in the community. If your provider is completely closed-source, that’s a sign it’s not putting user safety first.

Sign #6: It’s Based in a Surveillance-Heavy Jurisdiction

Where your email provider is based determines which laws apply to your data. Providers located in countries that are part of intelligence-sharing alliances like Five Eyes (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand) may be subject to government surveillance orders, even without your knowledge. For maximum privacy, choose providers based in countries with strong legal protections. Switzerland (Proton Mail), Germany (Tutanota, Posteo), Belgium (Mailfence), and Iceland (formerly CTemplar) are known for privacy-respecting regulations and user-first data laws. If your provider is based in a country with aggressive surveillance policies, your emails could be vulnerable to lawful—but invasive—access.

Sign #7: It Shows You Ads or Offers “Ad Personalization”

Any email provider that bombards you with banner ads, sidebar promotions, or offers to “customize your ad experience” is not built with privacy in mind. These services rely on user data to generate revenue, which means your emails, behavior, and preferences are being mined for commercial purposes. Ad-free providers fund themselves ethically—through paid plans, community donations, or value-added upgrades. Even their free tiers are completely free of ads. Skiff Mail, Tutanota, and Proton Mail all offer robust, clean user experiences without a single ad pixel. If you’re seeing ads in your inbox, it’s time to consider a more ethical and secure alternative.

What to Use Instead: The Most Private Email Alternatives

If you’ve spotted even one of the red flags above in your current email service, switching to a secure, ad-free provider is a smart move. Here are some trusted options for 2025:

Proton Mail – Based in Switzerland, Proton Mail is a flagship privacy provider with end-to-end encryption, no ads, and strong legal protections. It’s open-source, has anonymous signup, and offers generous free storage.

Tutanota – Built in Germany, Tutanota goes beyond content encryption by also encrypting subject lines, contacts, and calendars. It’s fully open-source, ad-free, and has one of the most polished privacy-first designs available.

Skiff Mail – Skiff offers end-to-end encrypted email, documents, and pages in a decentralized, zero-knowledge architecture. It’s perfect for users who want a complete ad-free productivity suite built for privacy.

Criptext – With no server-side data storage and full Signal Protocol encryption, Criptext is ideal for users who want full control over their data. It’s open-source, based in Panama, and entirely ad-free.

Mailfence – This Belgium-based service offers integrated PGP support, digital signatures, and a full suite of tools for secure communication. It’s free of trackers and ads, and includes secure calendars and file sharing.

Disroot – A community-driven, open-source email service based in the Netherlands, Disroot provides secure, ad-free email along with other privacy-focused digital tools. It respects anonymity and embraces transparency.

Posteo – Though not completely free, Posteo costs just €1/month and offers a no-ads, no-tracking environment with strong encryption and sustainability practices. It allows anonymous signup and payment, and operates under Germany’s strict privacy laws.

Don’t Wait for a Breach to Make the Switch

If your email provider exhibits even a few of the warning signs outlined above, it’s time to seriously rethink your digital safety. Using an insecure, ad-supported, or surveillance-prone provider puts your entire online identity at risk. And in today’s climate of data leaks, political instability, and commercial overreach, your inbox should be a safe place—not a data farm. The good news is that switching is easier than ever. With privacy-first providers offering clean interfaces, free plans, and transparent practices, you don’t have to sacrifice usability for security. Whether you’re a privacy advocate or just tired of being targeted by ads, the right email provider can help you reclaim control over your digital life. Make the switch today. Your future self—and your inbox—will thank you.