Lavabit

Lavabit
Type of site
Webmail
OwnerLavabit LLC
Created byLadar Levison
URLlavabit.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationRequired
Launched2004
Current statusOnline
Content license
Open-source (mail server)

Lavabit is an open-source encrypted webmail service, founded in 2004. The service suspended its operations on August 8, 2013, after the U.S. Federal Government ordered it to turn over its Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) private keys, in order to allow the government to spy on Edward Snowden's email.[1][2][3][4]

Lavabit's owner and operator, Ladar Levison, announced on January 20, 2017, that Lavabit would start operating again, using the new Dark Internet Mail Environment (DIME), which is an end-to-end email encryption platform designed to be more surveillance-resistant. However, as of June 2017, while the DIME transition was being completed, service was only being offered to past customers and those who took advantage of the early signup offer.[5][6][7][8] As of October 2017, new customers were again being offered the opportunity to purchase service.[9]

  1. ^ "Lavabit". Lavabit. Archived from the original on August 9, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  2. ^ "A Government Error Just Revealed Snowden Was the Target in the Lavabit Case". WIRED. March 17, 2016.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Guardian8913 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Edward Snowden’s E-Mail Provider Defied FBI Demands to Turn Over Crypto Keys, Documents Show. Wired
  5. ^ "Lavabit Reloaded". lavabit.com. January 20, 2017. Archived from the original on March 31, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  6. ^ "Explain Lavabit". lavabit.com. January 28, 2017. Archived from the original on June 23, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  7. ^ "Want Lavabit". lavabit.com. 2017. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  8. ^ "Lavabit Haves". lavabit.com. January 28, 2017. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  9. ^ "Lavabit: Select your plan". lavabit.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2019.