Operation Sentinel: how Proton boosts security for risky accounts with a bit of AI (for you too)

Proton AG continues to develop its ecosystem of secure services and unveils Proton Sentinel, a program combining AI and human expertise, designed to strengthen the protection of the privacy and personal data of its subscribers.

In 2023, nothing can stop Proton AG. At the head of an ecosystem that she wishes ” confidential by default », the Swiss company multiplies services (Proton Pass, Proton VPN extensions for Chrome and Firefox) and functionalities (migration tools from Gmail, Proton Calendar sharing, NetShield Ad-blocker control panel). The latest addition is Sentinel, an advanced security program designed to help protect the Proton accounts that need it most.

A program designed for high-risk accounts…

A few weeks after deploying its own Observatory to fight against online censorship, Proton AG is passing the second with Proton Sentinel. Based on the observation that data encryption alone is not sufficient to properly protect the accounts of its subscribers who are most committed to freedom, the company decided to develop a complementary program, making it possible to add a layer of security. additional to the level of protection already offered by its services.

Sentinel is aimed primarily at Internet users most likely to be hacked, including journalists, activists, or political opposition forces for whom the Proton ecosystem acts as a guarantor of respect for their anonymity and their integrity. both digital and physical.

In detail, the program plans to combine artificial intelligence with human expertise to allow users most at risk to escape attacks and hijacking of their Proton account. Sentinel promises to automatically detect and dispute suspicious login attempts, log all logins and account changes in security logs, and forward suspicious login attempts to analysts in real time to review alerts submitted by Sentinel’s automated systems. Objective: to set up a double verification system that is as fast and as reliable as possible.

… accessible to those who feel they need it

Since its creation in 2014, Proton AG has continued to develop tools and services for Internet users who are strongly committed to freedom of expression and information, while allowing a wider audience to benefit from the same privacy tools. . A philosophy in which Proton Sentinel logically fits, also accessible to Unlimited, Family and Business accounts who feel they need it.

Within this broader framework, the activation of the Sentinel program will notably enable subscribers to implement more effective self-monitoring practices using more security alerts, expert advice and more detailed connection logs (information regarding the device used and the type of protection put in place to prevent access to the account in the event of a suspicious login).

For convenience, Proton Unlimited, Family and Business subscribers will be able to enable Proton Sentinel security in their online user account settings.