Paul O’Brien’s independent writing on email providers, privacy-first tools, and digital productivity — with practical reviews, deep dives, and thoughtful commentary.
Email addresses tend to outlive the services behind them. This piece explores why using your own domain for email reduces lock-in, ages better than free inboxes, and gives you long-term control over an identity most people never think to own.
Free email feels effortless, but the real cost often shows up later. This piece explores the hidden trade-offs between free and paid email — from incentives and lock-in to control, privacy, and long-term trust.
Email breaches are inevitable. What matters isn’t whether your provider gets hacked — it’s how much damage is done when it happens.
Why many marketing emails force a binary choice — and how unsubscribe-only design mismatches what subscribers actually want.
DuckDuckGo Email Protection adds a privacy layer to your inbox by forwarding email while blocking trackers and reducing spam — without replacing your existing email provider.
Gmail is testing a long-requested feature that would let users change their email address without starting over — raising bigger questions about email identity and control.
A practical review of StartMail in 2026, covering aliases, privacy features, pricing, and how it compares to Proton Mail.
2026 is becoming the year of the privacy reset. Governments and everyday users are rethinking who they trust with their data — and choosing tools that put control back in their hands.
Updated Jan 2026 - A practical guide to Proton Sentinel — Proton’s enhanced account protection that helps detect and respond to higher-risk threats.
Spam Watch 2025 explains why holiday inboxes are flooded with tracked promos — and the privacy tools and habits that help cut the noise.
Proton Sheets brings end-to-end encrypted spreadsheets to Proton Drive, with collaboration features designed for privacy-first productivity.
Proton Mail’s Newsletters view organises email subscriptions in one place, makes reading easier, and simplifies unsubscribing — all privately.