Your inbox is more than just a collection of messages. It holds sensitive information that needs to be protected — from banking details and work documents to private conversations and cherished photos. The strength of your email password is only part of the equation.
In this guide, you’ll learn how email security practices combine with Proton’s advanced tools to keep your inbox safe from unauthorized access and cyber threats.
How to protect your email password and inbox
Follow these simple tips to strengthen your email security:
Create a strong password
According to a 2021 survey(new window), 30% of users have experienced data breaches due to weak passwords. It highlights the importance of avoiding easy-to-guess passwords like “Password123@” or those based on personal details like your name or birthday.
A strong password should have at least 12 characters with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. It’s harder to crack using brute-force attacks.
Don’t reuse passwords
The same survey shows that 45.7% of users reuse passwords across multiple websites or applications. Plus, Microsoft found(new window) in 2019 that 44 billion accounts were using the same passwords. The problem is that hackers can exploit stolen credentials from one breach to access your other accounts in credential stuffing attacks.
It’s why you should always use unique passwords for each account. If remembering a bunch of random passwords is challenging, you can use a mnemonic device or random passphrases to create memorable passwords.
Use a password manager
A 2024 report(new window) shows that 36% of users now use a password manager, up from 21% in 2022. Additionally, users with password managers were also much less likely to experience identity or credential theft last year compared to those without (17% vs. 32%).
Proton Pass securely stores your passwords and personal details with end-to-end encryption and includes a password generator, so you don’t have to create or remember complicated passwords.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Even the strongest passwords aren’t foolproof, but 2FA adds another layer of protection. According to a 2023 report(new window), over 98% of organizations worldwide now support 2FA. This level of security shouldn’t be limited to business; it should also be extended to personal accounts.
This extra step asks for another form of verification to log into your email account besides your password, such as a code from an authenticator app or biometrics. If someone gets hold of your password, they still can’t log in without this second factor.
Proton Pass provides 2FA through an integrated authenticator, so you can enable this feature for all your accounts that support it. Plus, you can enable auto-lock for your Proton Mail and Proton Pass apps and use PIN codes or fingerprints to unlock them.
Enable AppKey protection
While end-to-end encryption securing your email data in transit, your device is in charge of safeguarding it at rest. On iPhones and iPads, the Apple Keychain protects data like tokens, passwords, and certificates. But it’s not always enough for iOS security.
With the Proton Mail iOS app, you can enable AppKey alongside Face ID, Touch ID, or a PIN code lock to add an extra layer of encryption. With AppKey enabled, your Proton Mail data is encrypted using a unique key that only becomes accessible after successful PIN or biometric authentication. Even if someone gains physical access to your device, they won’t be able to bypass AppKey protection.
Use passkeys
The passwordless authentication market was valued(new window) at $16.66 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $50.91 billion by 2030. Passkeys are a newer, safer alternative to traditional passwords since they withstand phishing and brute-force attacks. They let you log in using biometrics like fingerprints or facial recognition, instead of typing a password. Proton Pass supports passkeys, making it easy to shift to this more secure technology.
Monitor for unusual activity
Even with all security measures in place, it’s important to keep an eye on your account and check for signs of unauthorized access, such as unexpected logins, changed settings, or strange emails in your sent box. If anything looks suspicious, change your password immediately and enable 2FA.
Proton’s Dark Web Monitoring alerts you if your email or passwords are found in data breaches, so you can take quick action to protect your accounts.
Keep your recovery options updated
Ensure your recovery email, phone number, or backup codes are current and secure. If your recovery options are compromised, you should update them immediately to prevent account takeover.
Watch out for phishing attempts
Between September and December 2023, phishing emails increased(new window) by 69%, rising from 5.59 million to 9.45 million. Phishing scams often impersonate trusted organizations, like your bank or email provider, to trick you into sharing sensitive information such as your email password. They usually give themselves away through poor grammar, mismatched email addresses, urgent demands, or links. To stay safe, never click unknown links or download attachments from untrusted sources.
Proton Mail provides a feature called PhishGuard which automatically detects and flags phishing attempts.
Use email aliases for sign-ups
When signing up for online services, use email aliases instead of your primary address to minimize your online exposure. These aliases forward messages to your inbox while keeping your real address private. If one of them is compromised, you can simply block it and create a new alias. You can use hide-my-email aliases with your Proton account.
Protect your emails with Proton
Securing your email password and inbox takes not just good habits but also the right tools. Proton provides a fully encrypted ecosystem for all your online data, including Proton Pass for passwords and Proton Mail(new window) for emails.
Proton Mail uses PGP for end-to-end encryption. Your private key is generated locally in your browser and securely stored on Proton Mail’s servers, encrypted with your password. This ensures that only you can use your private key to decrypt emails. To protect your private key, always use a strong password, and consider generating new keys if you suspect your current ones have been compromised.
You can enable 2FA, use passkeys, and create hide-my-email aliases. Plus, Dark Web Monitoring notifies you if your email credentials have been exposed, and Proton Sentinel actively safeguards your account against takeover attempts.
Migrating your emails, calendars, and contacts to Proton is simple with the Easy Switch feature.
