Wikipedia

mailbox.org

mailbox.org is an encrypted email service provider based in Germany.[2] The encryption system uses PGP like most other encrypted email providers. It also features address books, calendars, video conferencing, online office and tasks management. It competes against Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace as a German based provider. Its target customers include private, business, school and public authorities.[3]

Mailbox.org
Available inEnglish, German
HeadquartersBerlin,
Germany
OwnerHeinlein Support GmbH[1]
URLmailbox.org
CommercialYes
RegistrationRequired
Launched2014; 11 years ago (2014)
Current statusOnline

History

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In the wake of Snowden leaks, mailbox was started as a self-funded email provider in 2014 with aim to increase data protection and privacy.[4][5][6] Mailbox had been around in different forms since 1990. Mailbox's root lay in political provider JPBerlin since 1989.[7]

Since 2016, Mailbox.org has offered a Tor exit node for anonymizing connection data.[8] If Mailbox.org's services are accessed via the Tor anonymization network and the Tor exit server, Mailbox.org no longer logs IP addresses that would be suitable for data retention.[9][10]

In January 2021, Berlin education department announced in press release to provide accounts for data-secure service emails for all of its approximately 33,000 Berlin public school teachers by the end of the year through a collaboration with mailbox.org.[11] But in December 2022, Berlin schools were again planned to convert from mailbox email to Microsoft exchange emails as reported by Der Tagesspiegel.[12]

Features

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Pricing

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Mailbox.org's basic offers 3 plans: light, standard and premium. Light is €1/month/user for 2 GB of email storage and 3 alias address. Standard is €3/month/user for 10 GB email storage, 2 GB drive storage and 25 mailbox alias and 50 custom domain email alias. The premium option is €9/month/user and gives 25 GB email storage, 5 GB cloud storage and 250 alias address to a custom domain as well as 25 mailbox alias address as well as priority email and telephone support.[6]

Security

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Mailbox uses PGP encryption. Mailbox.org has received IT Security label from German federal office for Information Security.[13] Mailbox has a dedicated Tor Exit Node with an onion service address.[14]

Mailbox.org developed various new approaches to protect user data: for example, the provider was the first to introduce the option of subsequently encrypting all incoming e-mails with the user's public PGP key, thus providing special protection against access by third parties should the mailbox password be lost or compromised.[15]

When using the webmail offer, it is possible to encrypt and also decrypt one's e-mails using PGP without special client software (e-mail program with any plug-ins that may be required), without necessarily using a browser extension such as Mailvelope. Keys and the encryption process take place outside the user's sphere of influence on mailbox.org's servers, which, however, contradicts the principle of end-to-end encryption. However, according to Peer Heinlein, CEO of mailbox.org, the private keys are stored on the servers at all times with a password known only to the user, so they cannot be viewed by administrators.[16] In addition, this avoids the need to store private PGP keys on end devices that are perceived as insecure.

Video conferencing

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The video conference service offered is based on open source OpenTalk software.[17][18]

Others

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Mailbox also has XMPP server for its users.[19] It also offers address books, calendars and online office. The office suit includes online word processor and spreadsheet.[17]

Transparency

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Mailbox publishes an annual report of the number of information requests it received from various governments.[20]

Reception

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A 2018 review by Ctrl Blog highlighted mailbox.org as a feature-rich and privacy-focused email provider. The reviewer praised its support for PGP encryption, productivity tools and commitment to user privacy. However, the review also criticized the complexity of the PGP setup for non-technical users and noted that some user interface elements could be confusing or unintuitive.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Linux höchstpersönlich. | Heinlein Support GmbH". www.heinlein-support.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  2. ^ Brinkmann, Martin (Feb 24, 2014). "Mailbox.org: German email provider offering full inbox encryption". Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  3. ^ Huber, Mathias (2014-02-21). "Mailbox.org: Heinlein startet modernisiertes Mail-Angebot". Linux-Magazin (in German). Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  4. ^ Sobiraj, Lars (2021-03-19). "mailbox.org entstand wegen Edward Snowden: Peer Heinlein im Gespräch". Tarnkappe.info (in German). Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  5. ^ "About mailbox.org - Our team, our history, our mission | mailbox.org". mailbox.org. Archived from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  6. ^ a b updated, Desire Athow last (2020-11-11). "Mailbox.org secure email review". TechRadar. Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  7. ^ dmon. "Das sichere E-Mail-Postfach für 1 €/Monat". JPBerlin - Politischer Provider (in German). Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  8. ^ "Tor Good Exit Nodes". www.privacy-handbuch.de. Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  9. ^ professional, com!. "Mailbox.org betreibt eigenen Tor Exit Node". com! - Das Computer-Magazin (in German). Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  10. ^ online, heise (2016-02-04). "Mailbox.org betreibt Tor-Exit-Node". Security (in German). Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  11. ^ "Datensichere Dienstmails für Lehrkräfte kommen: Die Testphase läuft bereits". www.berlin.de (in German). 2021-01-19. Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  12. ^ "Anbieterwechsel empört Abgeordnete: Berlins Lehrkräfte bekommen neue Mail-Adressen". Der Tagesspiegel Online (in German). ISSN 1865-2263. Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  13. ^ "Secure e-mail for private and business customers | mailbox.org". mailbox.org. Archived from the original on 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  14. ^ "Security features & encryption | mailbox.org". mailbox.org. Archived from the original on 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  15. ^ "Stiftfilm: Das verschlüsselte Postfach | mailbox.org – Ihr sicherer E-Mail-Anbieter". 2015-11-17. Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  16. ^ "Holger Bleich: Webmail mit PGP bei Mailbox.org". Archived from the original on 2022-04-22. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  17. ^ a b "Our product: Secure e-mail and more | mailbox.org". mailbox.org. Archived from the original on 2023-08-21. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  18. ^ "OpenTalk · GitLab". GitLab. Archived from the original on 2023-08-19. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  19. ^ "Golem.de: IT-News für Profis". www.golem.de. Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  20. ^ "About mailbox.org - Our team, our history, our mission | mailbox.org". mailbox.org. Archived from the original on 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  21. ^ Aleksandersen, Daniel (2021-12-12). "Review of mailbox.org e-mail service". Ctrl Blog. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
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