If Apple Mail is your chosen email client, you may have heard about the 

 feature. It promises to increase the security of your incoming mail and stop marketers and other third parties from tracking your activity.

you’ll learn how to protect mail activity with MPP

 and how the feature works to safeguard your data. You’ll also see the 

potential drawbacks of this security layer

What is Mail Privacy Protection, and why is it important?

You’re probably subscribed to at least a few email lists. As much as you may enjoy the content you’re receiving from them, you might be unaware of the amount of personal data the sender obtains through such lists. They allow the sender to track your online behavior, most notably:

prevent senders from seeing this information in two ways

Your IP address is a crucial piece of information that can 

reveal highly sensitive data like your location

. That’s why keeping it concealed is an excellent first step toward higher email security.

For additional security, Mail Privacy Protection downloads remote content on a proxy server so that it doesn’t reach you. To understand why this is so important, you must familiarize yourself with tracking pixels.

Also known as spy pixels, tracking pixels are embedded in most emails you receive from a newsletter or similar source. They come in the form of imperceptible 1x1px images and are used to track the recipient’s behavior.

The pixel is automatically downloaded when you open the email and used to feed information back to the sender. 

This is mostly done for marketing purposes

 as it helps companies understand your buying journey better. While there’s typically no malicious intent behind such practices, they’re still a significant invasion of your privacy.

—a common form of cybercrime targeting users with spoof emails aimed at stealing their login credentials or other sensitive information. By learning your email habits, the attacker can customize the phishing message and send you an email with a higher chance of success.

Mail Privacy Protection downloads the spy pixel on a 

 before the email reaches your inbox. You get a “clean” version that can’t be tracked, so you can have 

 and avoid exposing yourself to the risk of elaborate 

Mail Privacy Protection isn’t enabled by default, so you’ll need to turn it on manually. Follow these steps to do it on an 

If you disable Mail Privacy Protection, you’ll see an option to turn on its two features separately. You can choose to only hide your IP address or block remote content. 

On a Mac, you can take the following steps to enable MPP:

Note that when you activate MPP on one Apple device,

 it’s automatically enabled on all others

 connected to the same iCloud account. There have been some 

vulnerabilities regarding the Apple Watch

Is Apple Mail secure enough after the introduction of MPP?

. Note that this is mainly true if you use Apple as both your client and provider—you can connect other accounts to Apple Mail, in which case your security largely depends on the other provider’s measures.

Mail Privacy Protection certainly increases your security levels, but it’s not without flaws. The feature 

only safeguards incoming mail to an extent

, so there’s no advanced protection for sent emails.

Another significant vulnerability of Apple Mail is the encryption you get. By default, 

These encryption types are not enough to 

End-to-end encryption—the gold standard of email security

As the name implies, E2EE offers comprehensive 

 between endpoints. The main reason for this is that encryption keys are inaccessible to anyone but the recipient. They’re created on the user’s device and stay on it, which means plaintext email versions can’t be seen by:

With end-to-end encryption, you can rest assured your emails are 

 and that your private information won’t leak. Any exception to this rule would involve someone stealing the decryption key from the user’s device, which is far less likely than obtaining it from the provider’s server (where they’re stored without E2EE).

Apple Mail doesn’t offer end-to-end encryption by default.

, but configuring this standard can be complex and time-consuming unless you have a certain degree of technical knowledge.

, so it’s far from the most secure encryption protocol.

To enjoy peace of mind knowing that your correspondence isn’t visible to any unauthorized parties, you should 

Skiff Mail—cutting-edge privacy without complications

 gives every user complete security without the need for complex setups. It uses strong end-to-end encryption involving two separate keys—public and private.

The public key is used for encryption and shared between the sender and recipient. The private decryption key is safely stored on the user’s device, ensuring 

nobody—not even Skiff’s team—can access plaintext copies of emails

. Every email is encrypted on the user’s device before leaving it and reaches Skiff’s servers in ciphered form.

 doesn’t end at advanced E2EE—thanks to the Secure Remote Password algorithm, 

 without leaving any personal information

. Skiff is strict about its zero-knowledge policy, so your login credentials won’t be stored on the servers.

These security measures stand behind a beautifully designed user interface, so 

you don’t need any technical knowledge to leverage them

. Skiff made sure every feature and action was laid out in a user-friendly way to maximize productivity.

, so the codebase is transparent and available for review

 for additional information. To become a part of Skiff’s growing community of privacy-conscious users and experts, join the 

Besides mail, Skiff offers three end-to-end encrypted products to let you create a 

Skiff platforms are available on iOS and MacOS

, so you can enjoy privacy at home and on the go. If you plan on using Skiff on other devices, you can download the 

 app or use the web apps on any major browser.

All of the above features come with Skiff’s 

 that doesn’t expire. You get outstanding security and privacy alongside numerous features typically reserved for 

Getting started is simple—all you have to do is:

Start using Skiff Mail and other end-to-end encrypted products

The average user should find the free plan robust enough for their everyday needs. If you need additional features like 

Switching from Apple Mail? Skiff has you covered

You don’t need to start fresh and lose your previous conversations to protect your correspondence with Skiff Mail. The platform’s one-click migration will 

 so you can safeguard it immediately. No unencrypted copies will be saved, so your messages will remain confidential.

Note that no email provider can offer complete protection if your device is compromised by malware. While Apple’s devices are quite safe by default, 

don’t underestimate the importance of proper cybersecurity hygiene

Enabling two-factor authentication wherever possible (Skiff supports it through the Authenticator app, ensuring you don’t need to leave your 

Staying away from public Wi-Fi whenever possible

How to protect mail activity and safeguard your account

Cloud storage for businesses is a more flexible and scalable alternative to hard drives and on-site data centers. It’s hard to imagine a workflow without it, as this technology has become ubiquitous in the business world.

With so many providers on the market, choosing the right one can be challenging. This guide will help by explaining what to look for in a service so that you can avoid committing to subpar options. We will also 

review some popular choices to show you which provider can fit your needs and budget

 while keeping your sensitive data safe from unauthorized access and 

What to look for in cloud storage for business use

 providers can disrupt your operations and cause bottlenecks, so you must find the right solution from the get-go. When comparing different options, use the following criteria to zero in on the best provider:

 and ensure complete privacy, you should keep searching. It doesn’t matter if they check every other box, as no feature can make up for the risk of your data leaking. According to 

, the average cost of a data breach peaked in 2022, reaching $9.44 million in the U.S. ($4.35 million globally).

Cloud security measures (firewalls, intrusion detection systems, etc.)

Most providers do a solid job of protecting their solutions from outside threats—

the problem lies in the way they manage and treat your data

. With standard encryption that most services use to safeguard your files, the provider can access plaintext copies of your data. Unless the cloud service offers 

, they’re not the right solution for your business.

, where files are encrypted on your device and reach the cloud ciphered. This way, the provider can’t access your data, and the risk of it falling into the wrong hands is minimal.

 they will only see the scrambled text they can’t do anything with

. The user creates and stores the decryption key, so the files are safe as long as you secure the 

Server location determines data responsibilities

Cloud servers can be spread across the globe, and their location makes a massive difference to your overall experience. Depending on where your data is stored, you’ll have different data laws to abide by.

some countries require cloud services to give up sensitive data

 if the authorities deem it necessary, while others prioritize user privacy.

The last reason why server location matters is the risk of natural disasters. 

Storing servers in countries prone to earthquakes or floods can be dangerous

, though this risk is mitigated by redundancy. This is a core concept of cloud storage that involves storing your data on multiple servers, so users don’t suffer downtime if the server fails or requires maintenance.

Your cloud storage doesn’t only affect backups and archives. It also determines the file transfer speed and ease of collaboration. Waste caused by low-performing cloud services accumulates over time and can lead to significant costs.

When assessing performance, you should focus on several factors, most notably:

Note that a service’s popularity doesn’t necessarily correspond with high performance.

 A good example is Microsoft’s OneDrive—despite its widespread use, the service has had various 

 impacting the users’ overall business efficiency.

Expand the platform’s usability with integrations

A cloud solution isn’t the only software you have, so you must see how it integrates into your existing workflow. The goal is to create a cohesive ecosystem that will increase your productivity and efficiency.

This is especially important if your provider only offers cloud storage without additional built-in platforms. The good news is that 

most storage solutions aren’t this limited

document creation and editing, calendars, and other tools

Best cloud storage for businesses—pros and cons of industry-leading solutions

Several cloud providers have amassed a wide user base thanks to their numerous features:

While each solution looks similar at first glance, a closer look will uncover some major differences that may significantly impact your experience.

Thanks to a combination of affordability and feature variety, Google Drive has become the go-to solution for many businesses. The main problem is the company’s lack of security, which is off-putting to privacy-conscious users.

Google only offers free Drive storage for 

. Businesses can choose from four paid Google Workspace tiers that include Drive among the provider’s other productivity platforms:

Google Drive is a comprehensive cloud storage solution that comes packed with various useful tools (Docs, Sheets, Calendar, and Meet, to name a few). For a fair price, you get access to almost everything you need to store, manage, and share files without complications.

, as expected from the tech giant. On top of each member’s dedicated space, you can create shared drives to collaborate and manage file changes.

you can connect many third-party services with Drive

—the platform supports hundreds of integrations, so adapting it to your existing workflow shouldn’t be a concern.

All of the above would make Google Drive a perfect cloud service for businesses if it wasn’t for the 

major privacy and security concerns putting users’ data at risk

. Google only offers server-side encryption across all its platforms, which means 

encryption keys are created and stored by the service.

Not only can Google decrypt and see your files, but 

malicious parties can do the same if they breach the platform’s servers

. An attacker can steal the decryption keys and have unrestricted access to your data.

, so they’re far from the most private option. If you need a platform that gives you full ownership and control of your data, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Dropbox is an integral part of many remote teams, as it’s packed with organization and collaboration features. It’s on the expensive side, though, which might be problematic for users on a budget.

Besides a limited free plan available for personal use, Dropbox offers four paid tiers:

 (single user, 3 TB)—$19.99/month ($16.58/month if billed annually)

 (3+ users, 5 TB)—$18/user per month ($15/month if billed annually)

 (3+ users, custom storage)—$30/user per month ($24/month if billed annually)

 (custom storage)—custom pricing available upon inquiry

Dropbox takes a different approach to collaboration than Google Drive, so it doesn’t have as many additional productivity platforms. You can use Dropbox Paper to create docs and invite team members to contribute, which makes access control simple and effective. Besides Paper, you can share and edit cloud files from Google’s and Microsoft’s suites.

If you opt for the DocSend add-on, you can 

get real-time analytics and advanced document supervision

 to know exactly what happens with each doc you share. Combine this with Dropbox’s 

180-day file versioning and account restoration

, and you get outstanding document control that most competitors can’t match. The only drawback is that 

DocSend is charged separately, starting at $10/user per month.

Security-wise, Dropbox is a solid option. It has a highly distributed infrastructure and keeps your files safe in transit and at rest. 

Considering Dropbox’s high price, this is a major drawback. Several providers do a better job of ensuring user privacy at lower costs.

 is a privacy-first, end-to-end encrypted cloud storage that gives users full ownership of their data. Your files are encrypted before reaching Skiff’s servers and can’t be accessed by anyone other than the users you decide to share them with.

 offers a robust free plan alongside three affordable 

—$4/month ($3/month if billed annually)

—$10/month ($8/month if billed annually)

—$15/user per month ($12/user per month if billed annually)

Skiff Drive uses advanced cryptography to safeguard your data, enabling users to create and store decryption keys. Once your files are encrypted, nobody—including Skiff’s team—can see the unencrypted versions.

The platform also uses zero-knowledge authentication, so 

your credentials aren’t stored on the servers

. You don’t even need to provide any personal information to get started, so your sensitive data is protected from the moment you 

, and the protection extends to link sharing—links are safeguarded with the same advanced encryption as all your files, so 

the risk of unauthorized access is virtually zero

Skiff supports two-factor authentication and optional InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) integration

. IPFS is the largest peer-to-peer storage space leveraging the power of decentralization to keep your files safe and sound.

Skiff Drive supports all file types and is 

. Whether you’re working from the office or on the go, you can rest assured your files are safe.

If you own any crypto assets or want to perform transactions anonymously, 

Cloud storage for businesses—comparing three popular providers

. Having your private files saved on a physical drive in your possession feels safer than entrusting them to a remote service.

While it’s true that a typical cloud service carries a certain degree of risk, you can take numerous steps to ensure your data doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. To help you safeguard your sensitive information, 

this guide will outline the most effective ways of securing data in the cloud

Many people assume that securing cloud data involves complex processes and significant investments. In reality, it boils down to a set of simple security measures:

Set strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication

Have a data backup and recovery system in place

Read the cloud provider’s privacy policy

Choose services with end-to-end encryption

Don’t underestimate the power of complex passwords

Setting a strong password is the first and crucial step toward cloud security. Even the most advanced protection tools won’t do much if you leave your account vulnerable to password attacks, such as:

Your passwords must contain a complex combination of 

upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters

. It’s also essential to vary them between your accounts, which many people don’t do. According to a 

 from 2021, 65% of people use the same password or slight variations across different accounts.

If an attacker steals a password that is the same or similar across all your accounts, they can access them all. 

Set a unique, strong password for each account to prevent this

you should set up two-factor authentication

 as an additional security layer. It generates a one-time passcode sent to a trusted device, and nobody can access the account without it, even if the login credentials are correct.

If you store extremely sensitive data on the cloud, you can go a step further and 

, which requires extra login steps beyond the one-time passcode. According to 

, multi-factor authentication stops 99.9% of password attacks, so you can rest assured your account is safe.

Not every cyberattack involves a direct attempt to guess your password. 

 like phishing are designed to extract login credentials from you through social engineering and manipulation.

, as it’s the easiest way for an attacker to impersonate a legitimate sender. They might ask you to log into your account by following the provided link, which leads to a spoof page designed to record your credentials.

Besides taking advantage of a brand’s reputation, phishing emails can be quite sophisticated. To avoid giving your credentials to an attacker, 

—The address typically won’t match the sender’s name and will be a random one

 almost exclusively mention your name in the greeting, so 

—Even the smallest errors might indicate it’s a phishing email

Your account will be suspended if you don’t take X action”

If you receive any random requests for login credentials, it’s best to ignore them

. When in doubt, reach out to the service in question and confirm the request before taking action.

Your cloud drive isn’t the only attack point a malicious party might target. Endpoint vulnerabilities are a major concern, so you must secure devices with access to cloud storage. This is especially true for shared devices due to lower access control.

Besides password-protecting your device and user accounts, you should 

. While capable platforms often come at a price, it’s usually a fair one and won’t significantly impact your budget.

For additional safety, limit your connections to secured networks exclusively. 

Public Wi-Fi should be used as a last resort

, and try not to access any sensitive data while connected to it. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) might offer some protection, but only if you choose a reliable provider.

 to prevent data loss. You should be able to access different versions of your backup and restore any of them.

Many providers will back up your data and any changes automatically, so check to see if such features are available. If not, 

 and consider using multiple cloud drives to diversify your storage and mitigate the risks.

Read the fine print before committing to a provider

When thinking about cloud security, most users focus on external threats. They fail to acknowledge the dangers coming from the service provider, mainly in the form of privacy invasion.

—especially Big Tech solutions—collect and monetize user data

. They track your behavior and often use the findings to target you with personalized ads.

While this, in most cases, doesn’t directly harm you, 

Joseph Zhang