Mailfence
Mailfence is secure encrypted email service that offers OpenPGP based end-to-end encryption and digital signatures.
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It was launched in November 2013 by Belgium-based company ContactOffice Group that has been operating an online collaboration suite since 1999.
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 Screenshot of Mailfence website, showing the user's inbox. | |
Type of site | Webmail |
|---|---|
| Available in | English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese and Russian |
| Owner | ContactOffice Group |
| URL | mailfence |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Required |
| Launched | 12 November 2013 |
| Current status | Online |
Content license | Proprietary |
History
Development
In the midst of 2013, the Mailfence project was started by the founders of ContactOffice.
In March 2016, a beta version of end-to-end encryption and digital signatures for emails was released.
Mobile interface
In January 2021, Mailfence released progressive web application for mobile devices.
Block in Russia
On 5 March 2020, Mailfence reported that their SMTP servers are blocked by Russian-based email services. This was in response to their refusal to submit a Notice of Commencement of Collaboration with Roskomnadzor's (the Federal Supervision Agency for Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Communication) of the Russian government. Mailfence did not respond to this request, citing obligation to provide information about users, violating its Terms and the federal Belgian laws.
Features
Mailfence provides secure email features, with other functions such as Calendar, Contacts, Documents and Collaboration.
Mailfence Email
The service supports POP/IMAP and Exchange ActiveSync as well as vanity domains with SPF, DKIM, DMARC and catch-all address support. Users can send both plain and rich text emails, organize messages in folders and/or categorize them with tags, take notes by setting comment on each message and create default message signatures for every sender address. Different identities can also be managed using aliases and filters for incoming emails.
The email application is based on the ContactOffice collaboration suite that supports POP/IMAP and Exchange ActiveSync as well as vanity domains with SPF, DKIM, DMARC and catch-all address support. It was enriched with security and privacy features in 2016 at the launch of the Mailfence service with features: managing access or generating specific password for web and non-web services, two-factor authentication, spam protection alongside of plus addressing, sender address blacklist and whitelist,
Mailfence Contacts
The contacts support (CSV, vCard, LDIF) import, (vCard, PDF) export and can be accessed using CardDAV. Users may organize them with tags and can also create contact lists.
Mailfence Calendar
The calendar supports vCal/iCal import, export and can be accessed by using CalDAV. Users can share their calendars with group members and can also create polls.
Mailfence Documents
The documents can be accessed using WebDAV or edited online. Users can drag and drop files in folders, categorize them with tags take notes by setting comment on each file.
Mailfence Groups
Groups allow users to share mailboxes, documents, contacts, calendars and perform instant chatting with group members in a secure way. A group administrator manages the access rights of group members and can also set another group member as co-admin or the main admin of the group.
Mailfence Polls
Mailfence Polls is a meeting scheduler that claims to be secure and private.
Mailfence Chat
Jabber/XMPP protocol is the base of Mailfence chat functionality. First named Jabber, then XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol), this open-source protocol has been created for instant messaging.
Web-based clients
The web-interface comes with an embedded IMAP, POP3, CalDAV, and WebDAV client. Users can add external accounts and manage them centrally in the web-interface.
User management
Account owners can create and manage user accounts using the admin console.
Server location
Since their servers are located in Belgium, they are legally outside of US jurisdiction. Mailfence is therefore not subjected to US gag orders and NSLs, notwithstanding extradition treaties with the US. Under Belgian law, all national and international surveillance requests must go through a Belgian court.
Security and privacy
Mailfence claims to be secure and private on their website, offering most conventional security and privacy features, but they also claim to support some less-common privacy and security enhancing features:
Transport security
Like most major e-mail services, the service claims to use TLS with ephemeral key exchange to encrypt all internet traffic between users and Mailfence servers. HSTS, MTA-STS and DANE standards are also supported.
End-to-end encryption
The service uses an open-source implementation of OpenPGP (RFC 4880) for emails. OpenPGP keypair is generated in client-browser, encrypted (via AES256) with the user's passphrase, and then stored on Mailfence server. Since December 2018, the service also supports end-to-end encryption for emails using a shared password.
OpenPGP signatures
The service gives the choice between "signing", or "signing and encrypting" an email message with or without attachments.
Integrated Keystore
Since its launch in 2017, the service provides an integrated keystore to manage OpenPGP keys,. OpenPGP keypairs can be generated, imported or exported. Public keys of other users can be imported through file or in-line text. Mailfence also supports Web Key Directory besides key discovery via Public key servers.
Full OpenPGP interoperability
Users can communicate with any OpenPGP compatible service provider.
Warrant Canary and Transparency Report
The service maintains an up-to-date transparency report and warrant canary.
Reception
In an article Kim Komando of Fox News wrote about Mailfence, "It's a great option for small business owners and ordinary users alike." Lifehacker wrote, "Mailfence is a solid choice with office apps, it's more email- and calendar-focused compared to the comprehensive app suite of Kolab Now." The ProPrivacy's Ray Walsh mentions in his article “Mailfence is a solid and easy-to-use email provider that is ideal for beginners." Restore privacy's Sven Taylor wrote, “Mailfence has all the features and options that you are likely to need, whether you are looking to manage the mail for an entire organization, or just want great service for personal use” Lifewire writes in a review of five encrypted email providers: “Mailfence is a security-centric email service that features end-to-end encryption to ensure nobody but you and your intended recipient can read your messages." In an open guide about secure emails, maintained by Open Technology Fund appreciates Mailfence by saying: "The project came into existence after snowden revelations and holds a strong online privacy-oriented philosophy."
See also
References
External links
This article uses material from the Wikipedia English article Mailfence, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 license ("CC BY-SA 3.0"); additional terms may apply (view authors). Content is available under CC BY-SA 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
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