# Are Proton's Password Protected Emails Private & Secure if the Recipient Opens them with Chrome? **URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/are-protons-password-protected-emails-private-secure-if-the-recipient-opens-them-with-chrome/40199 **Category:** Questions **Created:** 2026-08-26T16:36:24Z **Posts:** 9 ## Post 1 by @useduser — 2026-08-26T16:36:24Z I have some sensitive information that I want to send to a Gmail user. I use Proton Mail. I am considering sending it using a password protected email. > **[Password-protected emails | Proton](https://proton.me/support/password-protected-emails)** > > Proton Mail lets you easily send secure, end-to-end encrypted emails to non-Proton Mail email addresses using a password. However, I’m concerned that when they click the link to open the email, they will likely open it in a browser with bad privacy like Chrome. Here’s where my knowledge falls short: Does Chrome report content loaded in its browser (my email in this case) back to Google or other 3rd parties? Could that compromise my privacy in this email? Another concern that I have is that they might open it on a computer running Windows 11, and that Windows Recall might scrape up the contents of my email as they’re viewing it in their web browser. Is this a legitimate concern? Also, I use an email alias to communicate to them. After reading this article, I’m concerned that my real email address might be exposed if I send them a password protected email: > [@Password protecting a Proton alias email revealed my actual Proton email address](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/password-protecting-a-proton-alias-email-revealed-my-actual-proton-email-address/37843): > > I needed to send sensitive documents to a business. Their system blocks encrypted files so that wasn’t an option and we were struggling to come up with a way they would accept it. I guess I’m the first person they interacted with that cares about encrypting sensitive files. They agreed to accept the [password protecting email that Proton offers](https://proton.me/support/password-protected-emails) . I have a free Proton account currently and for this business, I use a Proton Pass alias. Since I’m paranoid and wanted to make sure it worked properly,… Thanks in advance. --- ## Post 2 by @PaleCrow55 — 2026-08-26T16:54:11Z > [@useduser](#): > > Also, I use an email alias to communicate to them. After reading this article, I’m concerned that my real email address might be exposed if I send them a password protected email: Yes, it would. --- ## Post 3 by @useduser — 2026-08-26T17:52:11Z Good to know, thank you! I’m still curious about my other concerns regarding Chrome and Windows Recall. --- ## Post 5 by @Footnote5444 — 2026-08-26T18:13:09Z I’m a Linux user myself, but you are never going to get a majority of the population to move to that OS. The reality of the situation above is to always be mindful that while your personal threat model can be locked down as much as possible, you can never fully control the practices of others/those around you are doing. --- ## Post 6 by @ph00lt0 — 2026-08-26T18:14:00Z I would be more worried about the addons the recipient has installed in their browser. --- ## Post 7 by @useduser — 2026-08-26T20:39:20Z I agree, and I am using Linux myself. The person that I was thinking of sending the password protected email to is most likely not using Linux. I could ask them what they’re using, but I’m very unlikely to be able to get them to switch. --- ## Post 8 by @useduser — 2026-08-26T20:40:13Z That’s a really good point! I suppose that I can ask them. --- ## Post 9 by @not-wittingly — 2026-08-27T08:36:32Z This is just something totally out of Proton’s control. They offer end to end encryption, but they can’t control what is on either end. They may have recall enabled, they have malware, so on and so fourth. At the end of the day, highly sensitive information is shared every single day on highly privacy invasive software unfourtunately.