Well there is my next project: how to set up my own mailing server.
Better not pay for hosting or anything related to that server or IP address with a credit card, because that links to your identity.
That is the only thing that was provided here. Proton even provides anonymous ways to pay, they just didn't use one of those methods, they used their credit card. Even if Proton didn't store any personal info directly for that payment, they would have a transaction confirmation for the payment, and the credit card payment processor definitely will have your info by necessity to process the payment.
Well to be fair, FBI would tap whatever VPS you use to host your email server and get your info from them. Email is not secure.
It looks like they only provided the minimum legally required by their jurisdiction. If you want to be immune to this kind of identity discovery you'd need to find a secure email provider that takes either cash or monero, and has a reputation at least as good as Proton's.
Thing is, proton offers anonymous payment options. This group just messed up
Wait what?
The person paid with a credit card. Your credit card identifies you, obviously. Even if Proton doesn't store any of that info, the payment processor will.
Proton lets you pay via anonymous methods, but this person didn't use one of those methods.
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