Proton Drive
{{Short description|End-to-end encrypted storage service}}
{{Infobox software
| title = Proton Drive
| logo = {{#Property:P154}}
| author = Andy Yen
| developer = Proton AG
| released = November 16, 2020 (paid beta)
June 2021 (free beta)
September 22, 2022
| repo = https://github.com/ProtonDriveApps
| programming language = C#
}}
Proton Drive is an end-to-end encrypted, cloud-based file storage and synchronization service developed by Proton AG.{{Cite web |last=Perrigo/Geneva |first=Billy |date=2022-05-12 |title=Proton’s CEO Wanted to Fight Dictatorships. Now He’s Fighting Big Tech Too |url=https://time.com/6176214/proton-ceo-andy-yen-profile/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=TIME |language=en}} Proton Drive enables storing files in the cloud, synchronizing files across devices, and sharing files securely. It is accessible through a web application, desktop applications for Windows and macOS, and mobile applications for Android and iOS.{{Cite web |last=Singletary |first=Michelle |date=May 15, 2024 |title=Look to the cloud to protect the life documents saved on your computer |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/05/15/cloud-storage-financial-records-documents/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=washingtonpost.com}}
The software is open source and security is independently audited.{{Cite web |title=Proton Drive Update: Secure Editing With Encrypted Suggesting Mode Unveiled |url=https://www.lifewire.com/proton-update-for-business-8740519 |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Lifewire |language=en}}
History
Proton Drive's development began in 2019, supported by a grant from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. A beta version of the Proton Drive service was launched to paid Proton subscribers on November 16, 2020, and opened to non-paid users in June 2021.{{Cite web |title=The most secure collaboration suite in the world {{!}} ProtonSuite Project {{!}} Fact Sheet {{!}} H2020 |url=https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/848554 |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=CORDIS {{!}} European Commission |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-26 |title=Proton lanciert Google-Drive-Alternative |url=https://www.swisscybersecurity.net/cybersecurity/2022-09-26/proton-lanciert-google-drive-alternative |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=www.swisscybersecurity.net |language=de}}
In October 2021, the Proton Drive web app underwent an independent security audit by Securitum. During August and September 2022, Proton Drive Android and iOS apps were also independently audited by Securitum.{{Cite web |title=Securitum Proton Drive Mobile Android {{!}} PDF {{!}} Security {{!}} Computer Security |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/641875487/Securitum-Proton-Drive-Mobile-Android |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Scribd |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Securitum Proton Drive Mobile IOS {{!}} PDF |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/641880079/Securitum-Proton-Drive-Mobile-IOS |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Scribd |language=en}}
The service exited beta and launched publicly via web app on September 22, 2022, followed by the release of iOS and Android apps on December 7, 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-26 |title=Après Protonmail, la firme genevoise Proton lance son alternative à Google Drive |url=https://www.ictjournal.ch/news/2022-09-26/apres-protonmail-la-firme-genevoise-proton-lance-son-alternative-a-google-drive |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=www.ictjournal.ch |language=fr}}{{Cite web |last=Weatherbed |first=Jess |date=2022-12-07 |title=Proton’s encrypted cloud storage service is now a mobile app |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/7/23497926/proton-drive-mobile-app-security-ios-android-encryption |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=The Verge |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Mathur |first=Chandraveer |date=2023-11-23 |title=This Google Drive competitor is now a full-fledged alternative |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/proton-drive-macos-client-launched-google-drive-alternative/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Android Police |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-12-07 |title=Proton Drive's Secure Cloud Storage Finally Lands on Android, iOS |url=https://uk.pcmag.com/cloud-file-storage-for-business/144242/proton-drives-secure-cloud-storage-finally-lands-on-android-ios |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=PCMag UK |language=en-gb}}
The source code for the Android and iOS apps was open-sourced on March 2, 2023, along with the publication of the security audits.{{Cite web |title=Proton Drive |url=https://github.com/ProtonDriveApps |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=GitHub |language=en}}{{Citation |title=ProtonDriveApps/ios-drive |date=2024-06-19 |url=https://github.com/ProtonDriveApps/ios-drive |access-date=2024-06-26 |publisher=Proton Drive}}{{Citation |title=ProtonDriveApps/android-drive |date=2024-06-21 |url=https://github.com/ProtonDriveApps/android-drive |access-date=2024-06-26 |publisher=Proton Drive}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-03 |title=Proton Drive Mobile Apps Are Now Open Source |url=https://news.itsfoss.com/proton-drive-mobile-open-source/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=It's FOSS News |language=en}}
On 16 May 2023, Proton Drive launched a version control feature that allows users to restore older versions of their files,{{Cite web |last=Vonau |first=Manuel |date=2023-07-13 |title=Proton Drive is finally becoming a viable alternative to Google Drive |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/proton-drive-viable-alternative-google-drive/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Android Police |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Castro |first=Chiara |date=2023-07-12 |title=Google Drive, watch out—Proton Drive lands on Windows |url=https://www.techradar.com/computing/computing-security/google-drive-watch-outprivacy-first-proton-drive-lands-on-windows |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=TechRadar |language=en}} and launched a Windows app on July 12, 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-12 |title=Proton is releasing a native encrypted file-syncing app for Windows |url=https://www.engadget.com/proton-is-releasing-a-native-encrypted-file-syncing-app-for-windows-120002705.html |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Heinzman |first=Andrew |date=2023-07-12 |title=Proton Drive Finally Gets a Windows App |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/158659/proton-drive-finally-gets-a-windows-app/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=How-To Geek |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sawers |first=Paul |date=2023-07-12 |title=Proton brings its encrypted cloud storage service to desktop |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/07/12/proton-brings-its-encrypted-cloud-storage-service-to-desktop/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} A desktop app for macOS was released on November 23, 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-23 |title=Proton Drive Encrypted Cloud Storage App Now Available for Mac |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2023/11/23/proton-drive-cloud-storage-app-mac/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=MacRumors |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sawers |first=Paul |date=2023-11-23 |title=Proton Drive encrypted cloud storage service arrives on Mac |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/23/proton-drive-mac-encrypted/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} A photo backup feature for Android was added on December 7, 2023.{{Cite web |title=Proton Drive Wants to Make Your Photos More Secure |url=https://www.lifewire.com/proton-drive-photo-backup-8411882 |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Lifewire |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Castro |first=Chiara |date=2023-12-13 |title=You can now securely backup all your photos on mobile with Proton Drive |url=https://www.techradar.com/computing/cyber-security/you-can-now-securely-backup-all-your-photos-on-mobile-with-proton-drive |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2023-12-07 |title=Proton Drive is adding an encrypted photo backup feature on Android |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/7/23991301/proton-drive-photos-android-sync |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=The Verge |language=en}}
On February 20, 2024, Proton Drive increased the storage limits for its free plan from 1GB to 5GB.
On July 3rd, 2024, Proton released Docs in Proton Drive, an end-to-end encrypted, real-time collaborative, document editor feature.{{Cite web |last=Burgess |first=Matt |date=2024-07-03 |title=Proton Is Launching Encrypted Documents to Take On Google Docs |url=https://www.wired.com/story/proton-docs-end-to-end-encryption-google-docs/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Wired |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Pierce |first=Davis |date=2024-07-03 |title=Proton just launched a privacy-focused alternative to Google Docs |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/3/24190732/proton-docs-document-editor-privacy-google |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=The Verge |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Vijay |first=Anany |date=2024-07-03 |title=Introducing Docs in Proton Drive – Collaborative document editing that’s actually private |url=https://proton.me/blog/docs-proton-drive |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Proton |language=en}} In August, the company launched [https://proton.me/business/drive Proton Drive for Business] offering real-time cloud collaboration for teams.{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Benedict |date=2024-08-27 |title=Proton unveils Proton Drive for Business |url=https://www.techradar.com/pro/proton-unveils-proton-drive-for-business |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}
Reception
Proton Drive received mixed reviews upon launch. Reviewers noted the low storage limits and lack of features but also noted the high level of security. Cloudwards commented, "the size of a free account (up to 1GB) combined with basic sharing and no collaboration make Proton Drive feel light on features. What you trade in productivity, however, you more than make up for in security and privacy".{{Cite web |date=2024-02-01 |title=Proton Drive Review 2024 [Features, Pricing, Security & More] |url=https://www.cloudwards.net/review/proton-drive/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Cloudwards |language=en}}
PCMag remarked, "If security and privacy are your main concern in a cloud storage app, Proton Drive is the best choice. But that peace of mind comes at a price."{{Cite web |title=Proton Drive Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/proton-drive |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=PCMAG |language=en}}
Subsequent releases and feature updates improved its reception. Following the release of the macOS desktop app, Boy Genius Report wrote, "Proton Drive is the app that might make me finally switch over from Google."{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Chris |date=2023-11-24 |title=Proton Drive might help me ditch Google, and it now has a Mac app |url=https://bgr.com/tech/proton-drive-might-help-me-ditch-google-and-it-now-has-a-mac-app/ |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=BGR |language=en-US}} Android Police noted, "Proton Drive is finally becoming a viable alternative to Google Drive" after the Windows app launch. In February 2024, PCMag rated Proton Drive the best cloud storage provider for privacy and security.{{Cite web |title=The Best Cloud Storage and File-Sharing Services for 2024 |url=https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-cloud-storage-and-file-sharing-services |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=PCMAG |language=en}}
References
External links
- {{Official website|https://proton.me/drive}}