- Through a recent blog post, Proton announced that all its Drive apps will be made open source so that users can check the codes and assure themselves of the tools’ privacy.
- The company is committed to maintaining transparency with its users and believes that users have a right to know how their apps function and how secure they are.
A favorite for privacy-conscious folks, Proton, is making all of its Drive apps, including the Proton Drive desktop apps, open source.
The company posted on its blog (and also on LinkedIn) that its commitment to maintaining transparency with users and protecting their privacy has always been reflected in the way it develops its products.
Proton believes that users should be able to verify the apps they use themselves, which is why it has decided to make its apps open-source. By doing so, the company is empowering communities to inspect and verify the protections that it put in place for keeping its users’ data safe.
Why Is Open Source Important?
Proton believes that by making its apps open source, it’s spreading the message that privacy shouldn’t be a matter of blind trust. In fact, customers should have access to the source code so that they can verify first-hand how an app functions and whether it can be trusted.
Also, when security communities and independent researchers have access to the source code of an app, vulnerabilities can be quickly discovered, ensuring further protection of user data. Those interested in exploring the apps’ code can do so on GitHub and join Proton’s Bug Bounty Program.
It’s worth noting that Proton VPN, one of the company’s many headline products and one of the best VPN services on the market right now, has already been open-source for a while now. So, the company’s mission to maintain transparency with its users is a long-standing one.
Proton Docs & Proton Wallet
Proton has always been known for being a staunch supporter of user privacy. As mentioned above, its VPN is one of the most secure services in the industry, thanks to class-leading Swiss privacy laws and foolproof security features.
Moreover, in recent years, the company has launched quite a few products to tighten user privacy across the board. For instance:
- It launched Proton Docs in July 2024. It’s an open-source end-to-end encrypted online document editor. It’s completely private, and not even Proton employees can see your entries.
- In the same month, Proton launched a self-custody bitcoin wallet, Proton Wallet. It gives you charge of your private keys, meaning you won’t have to depend on Proton to maintain access to your Bitcoin. Like all Proton products, Proton Wallet is open source, too.
Proton does not track your activity, and your data is stored on servers in Switzerland, which lies outside the jurisdiction of the US and the EU. Switzerland is also not a part of the 14 Eyes Alliance, meaning even governments around the world can’t access your data.
The good news keeps coming, as Proton has also promised to never collect user data for AI training.
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