this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2025
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protonmail blocks account creation through tor (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 day ago by cookie019@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
92 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

so now proton completely blocking account creation through their onion adress? I have standard protection, javascript enabled. Time to swith for those who use this service as they are ditching tor and switzerland?

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[–] coffeetastesbadlikecoffee@sh.itjust.works 23 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (2 children)

I previously commented I would write the support, now I actually read the docs first and found out why:

If you want to create an account over tor you can, just not via the clearnet URL, probably due to rate limiting by IP adress. However if you use their Onion Link as specified in this article by their support (https://proton.me/support/tor-setup) it works just fine (as far as I just tested). So great! Because using .onion services is far more secure than accessing clearnet over Tor anyway.

Here the url, verify it with the link in the support article tho: https://protonmailrmez3lotccipshtkleegetolb73fuirgj7r4o4vfu7ozyd.onion/

[–] cookie019@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

The onion link was used, please see my screenshot first...

[–] coffeetastesbadlikecoffee@sh.itjust.works 2 points 13 hours ago

Huh, that's wierd. Because it worked for me... they must be rate limiting Tor.

[–] EngineerGaming@retrolemmy.com 2 points 15 hours ago

I checked that (together with the clearnet link) a few times recently, got a nondescript error like "sorry something went wrong" every time.

[–] stupid_asshole69@hexbear.net 3 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Change your route, people using tor with the same exit as you are doing too many username checks.

[–] cookie019@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 hours ago

As a said inmyp previous comment onion site was used so they dont have access to info and ip of my exit node, and,anywaty, I have tried to change circuit and access again but without success.

[–] coffeetastesbadlikecoffee@sh.itjust.works 15 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

Just tested it, same here. Clearnet works but tor not. I will contact support since part of the reason I like to pay for unlimited is to subsidize free, anonymous accounts.

Edit: here is my other comment:

I previously commented I would write the support, now I actually read the docs first and found out why:

If you want to create an account over tor you can, just not via the clearnet URL, probably due to rate limiting by IP adress. However if you use their Onion Link as specified in this article by their support (https://proton.me/support/tor-setup) it works just fine (as far as I just tested). So great! Because using .onion services is far more secure than accessing clearnet over Tor anyway.

Here the url, verify it with the link in the support article tho: https://protonmailrmez3lotccipshtkleegetolb73fuirgj7r4o4vfu7ozyd.onion/

[–] not_IO@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 1 day ago (4 children)

Does anybody know valid alternatives to proton mail, I think they have been enshitified

[–] markstos@lemmy.world 5 points 18 hours ago

There is a relatively small number of shared Tor exit node IP addresses.

So it’s more likely using Tor will trigger “too many attempts for IP” throttling for any service with bot protection.

It’s nothing against Tor, but is an expected side-affect of attempting to be anonymous by sharing the same IP address with many people.

[–] hanrahan@slrpnk.net 9 points 23 hours ago

Tuta ? But only for mail AFAIK.

[–] Ephemeral@feddit.org 4 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

Mailbox.org (option if you want custom domain) or Posteo.de

[–] cookie019@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I use posteo.de provider, it costs 1 eur for month, 3 adress, they have inbound encryption of emails as proton, also they dont accept crypto but you can pay by cash and card and "All of our payment methods are anonymised using a payment system developed by Posteo. We do not link payment information with email accounts." You can learn more about their privacy features on their site https://posteo.de/en/site/features#featuresprivacy

[–] meta4@retrolemmy.com 4 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

Why are you trying to sign up for Proton if you already use another provider?

[–] not_IO@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 3 hours ago

i'm sorry can't you have multiple email accounts anymore? privacy and all that, remember?

[–] cookie019@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

how this question is relate to my post about proton blocks registration through their onion site? sorry but I only interested in respond questions directly associated with this or other email providers. my decision to try proton as additional service should not be the problem...

[–] meta4@retrolemmy.com 3 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

Seems a fair question to ask someone who makes a post to direct people away from a service under the presumption that they were trying to use it, only to find in the comments that they already use a different service that they not only enjoy, but are happy to freely advertise for.

Also, your justification for their lack of crypto payments is that they use a payment system they designed themselves, which I find funny since most of the complaints I see about Proton (granted, not yours) is the unverifiability of their operations, leaning on "Just trust me, bro." which is the same thing as this site's payment processing system. 🤭

[–] not_IO@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 3 hours ago

it's not a fair question people can use multiple email providers, especially a privacy conscious person would know that. proton logs your ip and gives it to the police when they ask, without warrent

[–] cookie019@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Did you have so much free time to criticise me unstead of doing something important? Such a good decision.

[–] meta4@retrolemmy.com 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Instead of being so defensive about it you could just answer the question.. Did you have so much free time you decided to try signing up for a service you had no intention of using just so you could complain about it?

[–] cookie019@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 hours ago

  1. You don't know if I signed up for posteo after or before tryibg with proton.

  2. You are blocked now for offrnsive behaviour and insinuations about me.

Have a good day bro, LOL

[–] upstroke4448@lemmy.dbzer0.com 51 points 1 day ago (9 children)

Have you actually asked proton support about this issue, if so what have they said?

It seems like you got frustrated and instead of trying to get help you decided to complain on lemmy.

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[–] Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org 91 points 1 day ago (25 children)

A lot of push against Proton on here lately. Makes me suspicious.

[–] not_IO@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 3 hours ago

it should be possible to criticize a mail provider without being flooded by it's evangelists. Especially proton, their image of privacy does not reflect reality at all

[–] lemmyknow@lemmy.today 6 points 1 day ago

Not saying it's some sort of conspiracy theory, but it do be kinda sus. People are just quick to hate Proton over anything. It's like bias confirmation. They seem to be justifying their hatred, or looking for reasons to do so. I mean, "leaving Switzerland"? Really?! I thought that was because Switzerland was considering a privacy-unfriendly law. That's bad, now?

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 14 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Valid criticism is suspicious?

[–] ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org 13 points 1 day ago

OP said they are blocking tor users. I say the error message might just be legit and someone is spamming username existence checks through Tor.

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