Yen says Proton has been internally using the system for the last month and is now ready to roll it out to consumers. I feel it is relatively polished, Yen says. To compete with other online document editors, he says, the team also built in collaboration functionality from the beginning. This includes real-time editing by multiple people, commenting, and showing when someone else is viewing the document.

In April, Proton acquired encrypted note-taking app Standard Notes, which is a separate product from Docs. It's actually not take Standard Notes and stick it into Proton, Yen says, adding that the encryption architecture of the two were different, and Proton Docs is more or less a ground-up, clean build in Protons ecosystem on our software stack. (WIRED was unable to test the Docs before it was launched).

The big difference Proton is adding when compared to Google Docs is the encryptionsomething that is challenging to do at scale and also harder when a document has multiple people editing it at the same time. Yen says it's not just the contents of documents that are being encrypted, so are other elements like keystrokes, mouse movements, and file names and paths.

The company, which last month announced it is moving toward a nonprofit status, uses open source encryption, and Yen says building the Docs system required encryption key exchange and synchronization to happen across multiple users. Part of this was possible, Yen says, because last year the company added version history for documents stored in its Drive system, which the Docs are built on top of.

There are relatively fewif anymajor end-to-end encrypted document editors online. Other existing services, which WIRED has not tried, include CryptPad and various note-taking or notepad-style apps. There are also apps that encrypt files locally on your machine, such as Cryptee and Anytype.

Recently, Proton has been moving quickly to launch new encrypted productsadding cloud storage, a VPN, a password manager, and calendar alongside its original ProtonMail email service. The company has also faced scrutiny over some information it has provided to law enforcement, such as recovery emails that have been added to accounts. It changed some of its policies in 2021 after being ordered to collect some user metadata. While the company is based outside of the US and EU, it still responds to thousands of Swiss law enforcement requests.

Ultimately, Yen says, the company is trying to offer as many private alternatives to Big Tech services, particularly Google, as it can. Everything Googles got, weve got to build as well. That's the road map. But the challenge, of course, is the order in which you do it, Yen says. In some sense, taking privacy to a more mainstream audience also requires going further afield, trying different things, and being a bit more adventurous in the things that we build and things that we launch.

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Proton Is Launching Encrypted Documents to Take On Google Docs - WIRED

Keeping your files on the cloud allows you to sync content across devices, access your files anywhere, and have a backup of your data. Several big tech giants have cloud storage solutions, including Microsoft's OneDrive, Apple's iCloud, and Google Drive. But what if you don't want your files managed by one of those tech giants? What if you prefer paying a flat lifetime fee rather than a subscription? What if you want end-to-end encryption on your files? One solution that covers all those questions is pCloud, which has several deals at the moment, including a lifetime plan with 2TB of storage for $279.

Right now, you can save up to 70% off pCloud lifetime plans. The most affordable option is $199 for 1TB of storage, which is at a 70% discount. Spending a bit more will double your storage to 2TB for $279. If you need 10TB of storage, you can get a lifetime plan for $890 (58% off).

Desktop applications for pCloud are available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can also access the service on Android or iOS. The mobile pCloud apps support automatic uploading, much like other popular cloud storage applications.

Our colleagues at TechRadar reviewed pCloud earlier this year. The cloud storage service earned a 4 out of 5, receiving praise for its integration with social media, lifetime plan options, and media-focused features:

"pCloud is a straightforward application offering typical cloud storage services. The current pricing plans are very affordable, especially for lifetime subscriptions. However, the product is not as polished as some competitors, and 2TB of storage may not be enough by today's standards. Adding client-side encryption for $4.99 a month is reasonable, but it's disappointing that it and the 'Extended File History' feature are not included in all lifetime plans for free. Due to its great value and extensive features, we confidently recommend pCloud for personal use, but businesses may require more flexibility."

TechRadar also highlighted how pCloud's web interface handles media files. The service has built-in audio and video players, which aren't rare among cloud storage apps, but TechRadar enjoyed pCloud's implementation of the feature.

"While a web browser that can play media is hardly sensational, we noticed that during our tests that when we opened a file from an audiobook, the interface automatically created a playlist. There's also a dedicated audio section in the pCloud web interface where you can manage your albums and playlists."

Several encryption options are available through pCloud. The current bundles include pCloud Encryption at no additional cost. The company has a page breaking down the technical aspects of its encryption tech, but the end result is that you can have select files protected by end-to-end encryption. That means even pCloud does not have a key or a way to access those encrypted files. If you'd like, you can also have files left unencrypted, which enables certain functionality, such as generating thumbnails and playing media files in the cloud.

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Encrypted and secure cloud storage can be yours FOR LIFE for 70% off, and you don't need to use Microsoft, Apple, or ... - Windows Central

As technology evolves, our needs as users often change. One constant, though, is the need for adequate cloud storage to safely and privately store our digital belongings. pCloud offers exactly that for millions of users with different needs, and during its 4th of July sale, every user gets free encryption as a bonus with up to 70% off.

At its core, pCloud has built a reputation for secure storage with over 20 million users worldwide. The company is based in Switzerland but offers unique plans to users across a network of its two main data centers in the US and Luxembourg.

Every service out there wants to offer you a cloud storage plan, but it always comes with a subscription fee. What makes pCloud different is that it offers plans that come with a one-time fee. Theres no need to keep paying every single month for the ability to store your videos, photos, music, or files. Its as simple as one price.

Right now, users can get pClouds renowned encryption included with their plan, absolutely free. The same encryption that the company challenged over 2,500 hackers from top universities to try to break into, with no luck at all.

Throughout three pans, pCloud offers users the choice of 1TB, 2TB, or 10TB of cloud storage. Even at the smallest tier, thats a lot of space to store whatever you need to keep secure in the cloud.

In addition, pCloud offers compatibility with macOS, Windows, Linux and a desktop application pCloud Drive. The latter makes it easier to store and manage your data in the cloud. On top of that, users will have access via a mobile app available on Android and iOS. If needed, a function can be setup to automatically back up a phone.

Users also get:

All of that is kept safe with pClouds encryption system. Normally, added encryption would cost $229 for a lifetime, but pCloud is offering that add-on for free during this limited time offer.

That encryption offering gets you client-side encryption, which ensures your files remain hidden from unauthorized access. pCloud adheres to a strict zero-knowledge confidentiality policy, which means authorization is in your hands, not the other way around.

pClouds 4th of July sale ends on the 10th, so grab these lifetime cloud storage options with free encryption while you can and start saving on subscription backups.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

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pCloud offers extensive cloud storage with free encryption for a limited time - 9to5Google

Say goodbye to the days when you had to choose between privacy and online productivityan encrypted documents tool has finally landed on Proton Drive.

Helping you cut ties with data-hungry big tech apps has been at the base of Proton's mission since the beginning to create a better internet where privacy is the default. Alongside its secure cloud storage, the Swiss-based privacy firm offers a homonym secure email integrated with an encrypted calendar feature and one of the best VPN services on the market.

Proton Docs comes as a way to ensure that document creation and collaboration are both secure and user-friendly. As with all its products, Docs is completely free to use. It's worth noting that you can use the tool only on the web at the time of writing.

"In a world where big tech constantly breaches privacy and mishandles data, Docs offers a seamless and reliable solution for document editing and collaboration," said Anant Vijay Singh, Product Lead for Proton Drive. "Our users can confidently create and share documents, resting easy knowing their information is protected."

Docs promises to be powered by the same level of encryption as Proton Drive. Put simply, all the documents you create or collaborate with are protected by end-to-end encryption. This means that only the sender and receiver can access the content. The company told me that even changes and keystrokes are encrypted, as well as file names and paths.

Thanks to the recent acquisition of the encrypted note-taking app Standard Notes, the team has been able to integrate Docs with all the popular features you need for professional usage, ranging from support for markdown and rich text to code blocks and checklists. Plus, Docs also supports different document formats, including Microsoft .docx, to ensure seamless integration.

"Building collaborative documents that retain E2EE was very difficult, and not something that we've seen anyone else doing on the market," a Proton spokesperson told me.

The biggest challenges seem to have been key exchange and synchronized key information, the ability to invite people to collaborate, revoke those permissions, and share documents privately.

What helped the team, the company said, is that Proton Drive was built already with the prospect of adding on these capabilities at a later date. A few weeks before the Docs launch, in fact, Proton Drive was upgraded with new sharing features in preparation for the integration of the new collaborative tool.

While the new addition is surely welcomed by privacy-conscious users looking for a reliable Google Docs alternative, Proton promises this is just the first step in making document editing and collaboration more private.

Docs is expected to be upgraded with many new features designed to enhance user experience and productivity soon, so watch out for updates.

In the meantime, both free and paid Proton users can start using the Docs tool on the web. Remember, though, you'll need to upgrade to a premium subscription if 5GB of storage isn't enough for your needs.

For more info, visit Proton's official blog post here.

Today's best Proton VPN deals

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Google Docs, look outthere's a new private alternative in town - TechRadar