Secure Email Cleaning in : Why Privacy Matters

Understand Email Privacy Risks and Safe Cleaning Options

By Pat

A clean email inbox is a dream come true, but what's the cost? Many email cleaning services promise to make this dream a reality, assuring you that they only need to see your email headers (subject lines and To/From/CC: fields)-and not actual email content/body- to do their job. But is this really the case?

The catch is that these services often require you to grant them full access to your email inbox, not just the headers and subjects. So, while you may end up with a cleaner inbox, you'll also be giving up your privacy.

Do you trust these services to keep their promises? Or would you rather rely on privacy-first solutions that, by design, can't access your emails, even if they tried?

The appeal of a clean inbox is undeniable, but at what cost?

What's the Deal with Email Cleaning Services.

Ever thought about why some email services are free or super cheap? The truth is, they aren't really free. You're not paying with money; you're paying with your data. These companies dig deep into your emails, creating a digital profile of you. So, while your inbox looks neat, you're actually setting the stage for annoying ads, potential identity theft, and phishing attacks.

The Catchy Claims They Make

You've seen the promises:

• "Top-notch security measures": Sounds impressive, but what does it really mean? Are they talking about a padlock or a high-end vault?
• "We value your privacy": Nice words, but actions speak louder. Many of these services have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar, accessing more data than they should. Some have even become news stories!

The Hidden Risks of These Claims

• Encryption claims: Remember these companies will be processing your emails using YOUR credentials (app-specific password, IMAP user/pw or OAuth tokens) and hence will have access to your data. And in most cases, they must store this data on their databases so they can provide you with unsubscription, read-later/rollups or email cleaning services. A lot of companies love to throw around the word "encryption", often referring to encrypting your email data in their database and your credentiuals. But here's the catch: they hold the encryption keys themselves, not you. It's like giving someone a locked diary but leaving the key under the mat. All it takes is one sneaky employee, and your private emails are out in the open.
• Temporary access: Some say they'll only peek into your emails temporarily. But even a quick look can be dangerous. What if there's a leak during that short window? Or what if they decide to keep some data "for improvements"?

OAuth and Permissions: Not as Safe as You Think

OAuth might sound fancy, but it's just a type of access. And just like giving someone a spare key to your house, it can be misused. Some services take this access and run wild with it, peeking into places they shouldn't.

For instance, in order for them to clean gmail, you must grant them gmail.modify permissions, which means they can have full permissions to read ALL your inbox contents, and also to write to it. You can read more about these permissions here.

The Real Price of Data Collection

Data is gold in the digital world. And these services are mining it:

• Over-collection: Some services are like digital hoarders, collecting more than they need. And this pile of data is a hacker's paradise. The more they have, the bigger the target on their back.
• Email access: This one's a biggie. By accessing your emails, they can see personal info, business secrets, and more. All it takes is one slip-up, and that sensitive info could be leaked or sold.

Privacy-First: The Real Deal

True privacy-first solutions don't just talk the talk; they walk the walk. Most of them are designed to collect no data at all. GoodByEmail is a good example: by design, it cannot connect to your email provider, so it does not require any intrusive permissions or OAuth tokens, and it can even process your email inbox offline.

For more on reclaiming your email privacy, check out GoodByEmail's manifesto.

Trusted Voices on Email Privacy

Want to learn more? Check out trusted sources like PrivacyTools and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) for the inside scoop on email privacy.

Questions to Ask Before Signing Up to an Email Cleaning Service

Before you jump on the email cleaning bandwagon, take a moment to ask:

Remember, a clean inbox is nice, but your privacy is priceless. Make sure you're not trading one for the other 🛡️

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