* privacy and security: you don't have any with email. It moves in plaintext across the Internet. It'd be silly to pretend that your own mail server doesn't help some, but you might be better off feeling insecure. You'll keep sensitive data out of your email, and if you have to move very sensitive data across email, encrypt it. If you move unencrypted data across the Internet, assume it's become public information. Personally, I feel that Google is good with privacy and security. I'm happy with it. http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answe... I use two-factor authentication on my google account, and it alerts me if it's been accessed from unusual IPs/locations. Frankly, Google does a better job of protecting my privacy and security than I would. I wouldn't audit my log files. I believe there's a fair chance my privacy and security would go down by switching off of gmail.
So, I went to namecheap, registered a domain, and it forwards email to my existing email address. If Google locks me out of my account permanently, there's a layer of indirection with my gmail account. I'll point namecheap's mail forwarder at my new email account.
* privacy and security: you don't have any with email. It moves in plaintext across the Internet. It'd be silly to pretend that your own mail server doesn't help some, but you might be better off feeling insecure. You'll keep sensitive data out of your email, and if you have to move very sensitive data across email, encrypt it. If you move unencrypted data across the Internet, assume it's become public information. Personally, I feel that Google is good with privacy and security. I'm happy with it. http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answe... I use two-factor authentication on my google account, and it alerts me if it's been accessed from unusual IPs/locations. Frankly, Google does a better job of protecting my privacy and security than I would. I wouldn't audit my log files. I believe there's a fair chance my privacy and security would go down by switching off of gmail.
So, I went to namecheap, registered a domain, and it forwards email to my existing email address. If Google locks me out of my account permanently, there's a layer of indirection with my gmail account. I'll point namecheap's mail forwarder at my new email account.