The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released a report exposing how Big Tech companies are overstepping privacy boundaries in their quest for user data. The report reveals the massive amount of personal information these companies collect, store, and profit from. Often, this is done without clear user consent or transparency. As concerns over data privacy grow, the report highlights the urgent need for stronger regulation and more responsible data practices.
In this blog post, we’ll break down the key findings of the FTC’s report and discuss how this overreach affects your privacy, along with what actions you can take to protect your data.
Key Findings of the FTC’s Report on Big Tech’s Data Practices
Social media platforms like Meta (Facebook, Instagram) and X (Twitter) are huge parts of our online lives. They’re where we catch up with friends, get our news, and share ideas. But while these platforms bring us together in a lot of ways, they also come with big problems—especially when it comes to privacy and misinformation. For a company like Runbox, being part of these platforms just doesn’t make sense. Here’s why.
1. Privacy Comes First
Runbox has built its reputation on privacy. It’s not just a feature—it’s the whole point. We don’t collect or sell your data to third-party advertisers. In fact, privacy is baked into everything we do.
Meta and X (Twitter) on the other hand make a lot of their money by gathering tons of data about their users—everything from your location to your browsing history. They use that data to target ads and sell you things, often without your full understanding of how much info they’re collecting. For Runbox, which is all about user privacy, being associated with platforms that profit off personal data just doesn’t align with our values.
Malware poses a significant threat to our personal information and security. From ransomware to keyloggers, malicious software programs can infiltrate our devices and compromise our most sensitive data, including contact lists. In this post, we’ll explore how malware works, the risks it presents, and the potential consequences of a breach.
What is Malware?
Malware, short for malicious software, is any software designed to harm, exploit, or compromise the functionality of a computer or network. One of the primary goals of many malware types is to steal sensitive information. Here’s how it works:
Malware often enters a device through infected downloads, email attachments, or compromised websites. Users may inadvertently install it by clicking on malicious links or accepting untrustworthy downloads.
Once installed, the malware can access various parts of the system. Spyware, for instance, can monitor keystrokes and capture personal information, while other types may directly search for files containing sensitive data.
Many malware types can scan for contact lists stored on devices, and extract names, phone numbers, and email addresses. This information can then be used for spam, phishing attacks, or sold on the dark web.
We live in an era of constant digital surveillance, where governments and corporations collect vast amounts of personal data. Privacy has become one of the most pressing issues for people around the world. From targeted ads to government surveillance programs, personal information is constantly at risk. Protecting that privacy is not just a matter of convenience — it’s essential to safeguarding our freedoms, security, and autonomy. Runbox’s base in Norway plays a pivotal role in safeguarding your personal information.
Privacy is a Fundamental Right
At its core, privacy is about freedom. In the U.S, it is enshrined in the Constitution, particularly the Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. Although the right to privacy isn’t explicitly stated in the Constitution, it’s been interpreted by courts to protect citizens from government intrusion into personal matters.
The idea that individuals have the right to keep their lives private — free from government or corporate interference — is a cornerstone of American democracy. Without privacy, individuals lose the ability to express themselves freely, to think and act without fear of surveillance or judgment. Privacy is integral to a free society, where people can associate with others, speak their minds, and live without being monitored at all times.
Runbox is dedicated to maintaining user security and privacy. A key practice that supports this commitment is our policy of not recycling email addresses. We do not assign old addresses to someone else.
Runbox is committed to user security and privacy, and a fundamental part of this commitment is our policy of always using unique email addresses for our users. We understand that your email address is a critical component of your digital identity, which is why we never reassign old addresses to new users. This practice safeguards your personal information and ensures that your communications remain private and secure.
By avoiding the reuse of email addresses, we help eliminate the risks associated with recycled addresses. This includes potential unauthorized access to sensitive information or confusion from multiple users sharing the same address. This approach not only protects your identity but also fosters a more reliable and trustworthy communication environment.
Using unique email addresses offers several benefits:
Spam these days is no joke. Keeping our inboxes tidy can feel like a full-time job, and just when you think you’ve got it under control, an unexpected twist occurs: legitimate emails end up in your Junk folder. Yes, we’re talking about the moment when you realize important messages are hiding away in spam purgatory, thanks to email clients like Apple Mail, Outlook and Thunderbird.
Last week we wrote about a dual spam filter approach using email clients and how to set this up. We also talk about how spam has increased dramatically lately, and the reasons why. Here we look at how legitimate emails can end up in the Junk folder
The Frustration of Missing Emails
We’ve all been there. You’re expecting an important email, maybe a project update or a message from a friend, and it never arrives. You check your inbox—nothing. You start to wonder if they even sent it. Then, on a whim, you dive into your Junk folder, and there they are. Emails you thought were lost, marked as spam by your email client.
But it gets even more frustrating. Sometimes you have already filtered these emails specifically. You added them on your allowlist (what we used to call whitelist) in your Runbox Webmail, meaning you’ve already done the work to ensure they reach your inbox. So, why does your email client override your careful training and send them to Junk anyway?
Many of us continue to face a frustrating challenge: an overwhelming influx of spam emails. This is when spam is more than just a nuisance – it becomes a real problem. Why are some inboxes inundated with spam? We look at why it’s happening and what you can do about it.
The Connection Between Data Breaches and Spam
Data breaches are alarmingly common, and stolen email addresses can be easily sold on the dark web. People who receive a lot of spam have often had their email addresses exposed on the dark web. There is a direct connection between data exposure and the amount of spam in our inbox.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence
AI is significantly contributing to the rise of spam emails by enabling spammers to automate content generation, craft personalized messages, and conduct targeted campaigns at an unprecedented scale. With advanced natural language processing, spammers can create convincing emails that evade traditional spam filters, while machine learning allows them to analyze data and segment audiences effectively.
The Reality of Online Sign-Ups
Every time you sign up for a service, your email address enters a database, and depending on the company’s privacy practices, that information can be at risk. It’s essential to approach online sign-ups with caution – consider using disposable email addresses for non-essential services and researching a company’s privacy policy. Being aware of the implications of online sign-ups is crucial for protecting your personal information.
Have I Been Pwned: A Crucial Resource
A valuable tools available is https://haveibeenpwned.com, a legitimate website where you can check if your email addresses have been compromised in known data breaches. By simply entering your email address, you can see if it has appeared in any breaches, along with details about the specific incidents.
In an age where digital communication is essential, the tools we use to connect can significantly impact our mission and reach. We are committed to fostering a sustainable future, and support those who work tirelessly to protect our planet. As part of this mission we offer free email services to environmental organizations.
Who We Are
Runbox is an environmentally conscious email service provider that prioritizes privacy, security, and sustainability. Based in Norway, Runbox operates on renewable energy and aims to minimize our carbon footprint. Our services are designed to be user-friendly while offering advanced features that cater to both individual users and organizations.
Supporting Environmental Organizations
This program is part of our broader commitment to fostering a sustainable future and supporting those who work tirelessly to protect our planet. It reflects our dedication to supporting causes that align with our values. Effective communication can lead to increased awareness, greater community engagement, and stronger advocacy efforts. This support helps create a network of informed and active citizens dedicated to environmental causes.
Runbox is dedicated to providing sustainable email services from the heart of Norway, where strict privacy regulations safeguard your data. We’re excited to introduce 3-year plans that offer a 20% discount. By choosing Runbox, you support sustainable practices that make a positive impact on the environment while enjoying fast, secure, and privacy protected email services from Norway.
Today, we are pleased to announce new 3-year price plans with a 20% discount.
We pride ourselves on delivering premium email services at an affordable price. In fact, we have not increased our prices since our company’s inception, and at the same time we have added substantial storage to all our plans. In a time when price hikes on essential services have become the norm, we believe in offering you predictability and stability for a service as vital as email.
This means you’ll get high quality premium email services at a great value. With plans starting as low as $1.40 per month for our Micro plan, you can choose from six different pricing tiers to find the perfect fit for your storage needs. No surprises – your email service costs are transparent and locked in for three years, ensuring peace of mind and excellent service at a great price.
Runbox is an independent, employee-owned company with a focus on security, privacy, and sustainability.
We are committed to connecting people across our planet consistent with strong environmental principles. We care deeply about our impact on our planet and work to minimize our ecological footprint. The entire Runbox email service infrastructure runs on 100% certified hydroelectric power, and we are transparent about our efforts to remain sustainable.
2. Privacy Protection 🔐
Runbox is based in Norway, and your emails and personal data are protected by strict Norwegian and European data protection regulations. This means that your data is completely private and secure. We do not sell your data, we don’t track your usage, and we don’t share any personal information.
3. Ethical Operations ⚖️
We are an independent company guided by strong ethical values that shape our business practices, service development, and customer relationships. As an employee-owned organization, we all have a stake in our operations and we are not beholden to investors or big tech.
4. Open Source Transparency 🌐
We support open-source software which ensures the continuous auditing of our own software by the tech community. In other words, it offers an additional layer of trust in how Runbox handles your data. Open-source systems also give you the peace of mind that there are no hidden backdoors or surveillance tactics baked into the platform.
5. Secure and Reliable ✨
We provide high-capacity, reliable service. Easily create multiple alternative addresses and different profiles for all your communication, and consolidate all your email in one place. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of protection to your account, and encryption helps keep your communication secure.
6. Excellent Customer Support 💬
The Runbox Team combines diverse experience serving customers around the world. Whether you’re setting up a new account or migrating from another service, our team is available to help you every step of the way. With an extensive help section, along with our Email School and how-to’s, we address any issue quickly and efficiently.
Runbox is perfect for anyone who values sustainability and privacy, and a user-friendly email platform.
It’s important to have some predictability when it comes to essential services such as email. What we offer is a balance between sustainability, privacy, and affordability. With strong privacy protection, open-source transparency, and a commitment to sustainability, Runbox is much more than just an email provider. It is a platform built for users who care about the future of digital communication and our planet. Lock in a discounted price today.
Our top recommended plans
See all our plans on our Price Plan Page and experience the Runbox difference.
If you are an existing Runbox customer, thank you! You can purchase the 3-year plan directly in your account here.
In today’s digital world, privacy and security are more important than ever. As we navigate online communications, it’s important to understand how encryption can safeguard our emails. Let’s explore what encryption is, how it works, and why you want to consider using it.
What is Encryption?
When you send an email without encryption, it’s like sending a private message on a postcard – anyone who handles it can read its contents. At its core, encryption works by converting the readable data of an email into a scrambled format. Basically, the contents of that email turns into gibberish so that nobody can read it. The point is to keep the email private while it’s in transit from you to the recipient.
Even though most email services use some form of encryption for data in transit, this is not the same as end-to-end encryption. With end-to-end encryption, only the sender and the recipient can read the message. This method effectively prevents anyone else, including email providers, from accessing the content of your messages.
While many of us might feel that we have little to hide and aren’t overly concerned about others reading our communications, it’s important to understand how our information could be accessed. Encryption helps to safeguard our personal information, which may contain sensitive details about our personal finances, family matters, or other private information.
