The Privacy Community is MAD...here's why (+ my recommendations)

Summary

The privacy-focused email service Skiff was recently acquired by Notion, forcing its users to migrate their accounts within 6 months. This highlights the risk of relying on a single service for email, a central part of online identity. The recommended solution is to use a custom domain that you own for your primary email instead of a company-provided email address. This makes it easy to switch services if needed, while still allowing you to use company inboxes. Recognize that privacy is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix.

Takeaways

• 😡 Many people are upset that Skiff, a privacy-focused email service, was acquired by Notion and is now shutting down
• 😞 Skiff users have just 6 months to migrate their email before losing access
• 🤔 The speaker doesn't know the full story behind why Skiff sold to Notion
• 🚨 There's always a risk that privacy/security services will go away somehow
• ❌ Relying solely on a service's native email address ties your identity to them
• 📧 The speaker recommends getting a custom email domain you control instead
• 🔁 Migrating custom email is easier if a service shuts down
• ✅ The speaker recommends ProtonMail as an alternative to Skiff
• 🛠 Treat privacy/security as an ongoing process, not a one-time fix
• 📝 Custom email lets you control your online identity if a service closes

Q & A

What privacy-focused email service was recently acquired by Notion?

Skiff, an open source email platform launched in 2020, was recently acquired by Notion.

Why are many privacy advocates upset about Notion's acquisition of Skiff?

Many are upset because Skiff customers now have just 6 months to migrate their email off of Skiff before their accounts are shut down, which is very disruptive.

What mistake have many email users made related to this situation?

Many users made the mistake of using their native Skiff email address as an identity to sign up for online accounts. This makes migration much harder with Skiff shutting down.

What alternative email provider does the author recommend for current Skiff users?

The author recommends ProtonMail as an alternative. They have been around over 10 years with a solid product and team.

Why does the author recommend using a custom email domain?

A custom domain gives you ownership of your email identity. If a provider goes away, you can migrate your custom domain to another provider easily.

What assurance did ProtonMail's CEO give about the possiblity of them selling?

ProtonMail's CEO Andy Yen has repeatedly stated they have no plans to ever sell the company due to how they are set up.

What are the author's 3 recommendations related to email security?

1. Current Skiff users should switch to ProtonMail. 2. Get a custom email domain that you own. 3. Recognize improving privacy/security is an ongoing process.

Why might the Skiff CEO have chosen to sell to Notion?

We don't have full details, but likely factors were financial struggles, an attractive offer from Notion, or business viability challenges.

Should existing accounts be changed to use a custom domain?

No, for existing accounts you can keep using your current emails. But going forward use the custom domain for new accounts.

What can viewers do if they want more content about privacy strategies?

The author invites viewers to subscribe to the All Things Secured channel to receive more security and privacy strategy content going forward.