Draft:StartMail

StartMail was launched in 2013 as a sister product to Startpage, a privacy-oriented search engine co-founded by Robert Beens. The company's headquarters is located in the Netherlands, which provides a favorable jurisdiction for data privacy under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

In 2023, StartMail introduced enhancements to its encryption protocols and launched features such as alias management to protect users' primary email addresses.{{Cite news |title=StartMail rolls out advanced encryption features |url=https://www.techradar.com/best/best-secure-email-providers |publisher=TechRadar |date=October 21, 2024}} The same year, StartMail celebrated its 10th anniversary by releasing tailored business plans for small teams, further expanding its market reach and focusing on privacy-centric solutions for professionals.{{Cite news |title=A Decade of Digital Privacy: Celebrating StartMail's 10th Anniversary |url=https://hsdcampus.nl/nieuws/a-decade-of-digital-privacy-celebrating-startmails-10th-anniversary |date=2023}} These efforts were highlighted by the introduction of enhanced business email services, as noted in reports by independent outlets.{{Cite news |title=StartMail Expands to Small Business Market |url=https://thearabianpost.com/startmail-enters-business-email-fray-with-feature-rich-plans/ |publisher=The Arabian Post |date=October 10, 2023}}

StartMail differentiates itself from other email providers by offering:

- End-to-end encryption: Emails are encrypted from sender to recipient, ensuring that only authorized parties can access the content.{{Cite web|title=StartMail Review|url=https://proprivacy.com/email/review/startmail|website=ProPrivacy|date=April 4, 2022|access-date=February 19, 2025}}

- GDPR Compliance: StartMail operates under strict European privacy laws, avoiding user tracking and data sales.{{Cite web|title=The Best Email Service Provider For Data Privacy In 2025|url=https://fluentsupport.com/best-email-provider-for-privacy/|website=Fluent Support|date=March 22, 2024|access-date=February 19, 2025}}

- Custom Email Alias: Users can create disposable aliases for enhanced anonymity.{{Cite web |title=Email Spotlight Series - StartMail |url=https://www.shuttlecloud.com/post/email-spotlight-series-4-startmail |website=ShuttleCloud |date=April 4, 2023}}

- Business Accounts: StartMail offers business plans tailored to small teams, integrating privacy and security features.{{Cite news |title=StartMail launches new business plans for small teams |url=https://cybernews.com/press-releases/startmail-launches-new-business-plan-tailored-for-small-teams/ |publisher=CyberNews |date=2023}}

- Third-Party Client Compatibility: StartMail integrates with popular email clients via IMAP and SMTP protocols.{{Cite web |title=StartMail Review |url=https://au.pcmag.com/software/64997/startmail |website=PCMag Australia |author=Neil J. Rubenking |date=December 21, 2019 |access-date=February 19, 2025}}

StartMail has received praise for its strong focus on privacy and ease of use. Reviews have highlighted its robust encryption features and compliance with European privacy standards. However, some critics have pointed out its slightly higher pricing compared to other email providers.{{Cite news |title=StartMail vs FastMail Email Service Comparison |url=https://forwardemail.net/en/blog/startmail-vs-fastmail-email-service-comparison |publisher=ForwardEmail |date=January 1, 2025}} Others have noted that its value lies in catering to users who prioritize privacy and security.{{Cite news |title=StartMail Review: An emerging leader in email privacy |url=https://cyberinsider.com/email/reviews/startmail/ |publisher=RestorePrivacy |date=November 27, 2024}}

Various media outlets have recommended StartMail as a viable alternative to mainstream email services, emphasizing its strong data protection policies.{{Cite news |title=Zo kom je van Google af |url=https://www.ad.nl/tech/zo-kom-je-van-google-af~af6803294/ |publisher=AD |date=October 7, 2022}}{{Cite news |title=De vijf beste alternatieven voor Gmail: overzicht en privacy |url=https://androidworld.nl/apps/de-vijf-beste-alternatieven-voor-gmail-overzicht-en-privacy/ |publisher=AndroidWorld |date=March 29, 2024}}

A detailed review from PCMag praised StartMail for its security measures, stating that it offers strong encryption options but at a higher price point than some competitors.{{Cite news |title=StartMail Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/startmail |publisher=PCMag |date=May 19, 2023}}

In January 2020, StartMail was blocked in Russia following allegations that it had been used for sending false bomb threats to courts, schools, hospitals, and shopping centers. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed that since November 2019, thousands of fraudulent threats had been sent via encrypted email services, including StartMail. However, no actual threats were found to be credible. The blocking was implemented at the request of the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office and the telecommunications regulator Roskomnadzor.{{Cite web|title=Russia blocks Dutch email service StartMail|url=https://www.bright.nl/nieuws/1125093/rusland-blokkeert-nederlandse-maildienst-startmail.html|website=Bright.nl|date=January 23, 2020|access-date=February 18, 2025}}{{Cite web|title=Russia blocks encrypted email services after series of bomb threats|url=https://www.nu.nl/tech/6027033/rusland-blokkeert-versleutelde-e-maildiensten-na-reeks-bommeldingen.html|website=NU.nl|date=January 29, 2020|access-date=February 18, 2025}}{{Cite web|title=ProtonMail and StartMail blocked as Russia hunts for bomb threat spammers|url=https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/blog/hotforsecurity/protonmail-and-startmail-blocked-as-russia-hunts-for-bomb-threat-spammers|website=Bitdefender Blog|date=January 30, 2020|access-date=February 18, 2025}}

StartMail, known for its privacy-focused email encryption, stated that it does not monitor or access user emails and thus could not provide data to Russian authorities. The company emphasized that it operates under Dutch law and cannot comply with foreign government requests without a proper legal process through Dutch courts.{{Cite web|title=Russia blocks Dutch email provider StartMail|url=https://www.rd.nl/artikel/831353-rusland-blokkeert-nederlandse-maildienst-startmail|website=RD.nl|date=January 23, 2020|access-date=February 18, 2025}} The company further claimed that it was added to a Russian registry of information processors without its knowledge, which would have required it to share user data with Russian authorities—a demand it refused to comply with.{{Cite web|title=Russia threatens to block ProtonMail, previously blocked StartMail|url=https://www.pit-recht.nl/uncategorized/rusland-dreigt-met-blokkade-van-versleutelde-e-maildienst-protonmail/|website=Pit-Recht.nl|date=January 2020|access-date=February 18, 2025}}

Following the blocking of StartMail, Russian authorities also moved to restrict access to other encrypted email providers, citing similar reasons. The Russian government claimed that blocking these email services was necessary to prevent further misuse for criminal activities. However, critics suggested that the move was part of a broader crackdown on encrypted communication and digital privacy in Russia.{{Cite web|title=Russia blocks ProtonMail and StartMail, citing bomb threat abuse|url=https://www.computing.co.uk/news/3085222/protonmail-and-startmail-blocked-by-russia|website=Computing.co.uk|date=January 29, 2020|access-date=February 18, 2025}}{{Cite web|title=Russia blocks encrypted email services|url=https://www.security.nl/posting/641531/Rusland+blokkeert+e-maildiensten+ProtonMail+en+StartMail|website=Security.nl|date=January 23, 2020|access-date=February 18, 2025}}

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:Category:Email systems

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