this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2025

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protonmail blocks account creation through tor (lemmy.ml)

submitted 3 days ago by cookie019@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

98 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 24 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days 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 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] coffeetastesbadlikecoffee@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

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

[–] EngineerGaming@retrolemmy.com 3 points 2 days ago

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

[–] francois@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

While on dread recently I stumbled across this old post regarding issues with their onion adresses https://encryp.ch/blog/disturbing-facts-about-protonmail/

When a user makes a new account with Protonmail on TOR they are re-directed from Protonmail’s “.onion” to “.com” address. This breaks your secure encrypted connection to their onion address, enabling your identification. There are absolutely no technical reasons for this feature. In fact, the only other websites that operate like this are suspected NSA/CIA Honeypots.

[–] cookie019@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 1 day ago

Yes, I knew this info, there is a lot of strange things with company

[–] coffeetastesbadlikecoffee@sh.itjust.works 18 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

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:

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

[–] cookie019@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 day ago

Okay, if they will responder faster than in one month you could publish the respond here if you will like to do it. But I am surr they will say it is a "technical error". Every privacy leak now is described as technical error - apple, google, meta - all use this therm to justify their intentional action

[–] upstroke4448@lemmy.dbzer0.com 55 points 3 days 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 95 points 3 days ago (26 children)

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

[–] lemmyknow@lemmy.today 8 points 2 days 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 15 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Valid criticism is suspicious?

[–] ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org 13 points 2 days 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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[–] stupid_asshole69@hexbear.net 3 points 1 day 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 1 day 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.

[–] JumpyWombat@lemmy.ml 56 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Is it that maybe someone on your exit node is trying to enumerate valid accounts?

[–] cookie019@lemmy.dbzer0.com 33 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I have tried a new circuite before publish this post - without success. but considering that I use their onion adress they could nit see my tor exit node as far as I now, anyway.

[–] JumpyWombat@lemmy.ml 20 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Good point, but also who is enumerating the accounts may have been using many circuits.

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[–] mp3@lemmy.ca 19 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

He used the onion address, which doesn't go through an exit node like regular darknet-to-clearnet traffic.

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[–] artyom@piefed.social 29 points 3 days ago (7 children)

What makes you think this has anything to do with Tor?

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[–] not_IO@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 2 days ago (15 children)

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

[–] hanrahan@slrpnk.net 9 points 2 days ago

Tuta ? But only for mail AFAIK.

[–] markstos@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days 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.

[–] Ephemeral@feddit.org 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

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

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