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Helm's personal email server helps you avoid data breaches

More control over your data's whereabouts might help your security.

Are you uncomfortable with the thought that some of your sensitive data is sitting on a remote server that represents a big, juicy target for hackers? Helm thinks it has a solution: put that data inside your home. It's launching a namesake personal server that handles email, calendars and contacts without the setup headaches of conventional methods. You just have to pick a domain name (if you don't already have one) and walk through a setup process that should only take a few minutes -- after that, you have 120GB of expandable data space under your control.

The company is using standard protocols like IMAP, CalDAV and CardDAV, and it's promising to lock down data at every step. You need app-based two-factor authentication to manage the server, and email demands app-specific passwords. Helm does store an encrypted backup on its end in case the worst happens, but encryption keys are stored locally on your phone and a USB drive.

This won't guarantee that your data is hack-proof. If there's an exploit in Helm's code, all the authentication in the world won't matter. Instead, Helm is counting partly on security through obscurity. Hackers target cloud services and social networks knowing they might scoop up millions of accounts in one fell swoop. If they want to attack Helm users, they have to compromise individual households -- and that may be more effort than it's worth unless there's someone determined to swipe your info.

If there's a reason for pause, it's the price. A Helm server will cost you $499 when it ships in late November, and that only offers a year of free service. After that, you're spending $99 per year. Although that isn't completely far-fetched for a private server, it could come as a shock if you're used to getting remote email for free. This is primarily for security-conscious users who aren't willing to take any chances with their information and are willing to pay for ease of use.