Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Fastmail accounts blocked in Russia, here's what we know

fastmail.blog

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 181 posts

Re: Fastmail accounts blocked in Russia, here's what we know

#51

Post by declnz »

mensetmanusman wrote: post #4

I wonder if the fastmail protocol could be hidden in AWS-like data streams to take an approach like telegram. If they try to block it, they shut down their entire digital business infrastructure. I have been looking for an alternative to Gmail, does anyone have recommendations? Fastmail? Proton mail? What put me over the edge is my young friend had a heart attack, went to the hospital and (during recovery) logged int…

Long-time (edit: 15+ years) customer of Fastmail, have only praise for them.

For me it's a service that just gets out of the way and I get on with life, not worrying about who's mining emails etc.

Re: Fastmail accounts blocked in Russia, here's what we know

#52

Post by kube-system »

fauigerzigerk wrote: post #44
hansel_der wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I wonder if the fastmail protocol could be hidden in AWS-like data streams this reads funnily non-techy i mean web-mail exists or are you reffering to some imap/smtp-in-http? should be good as long as it is ssl-encrypted and runs over tcp-port 443, no?

Web mail can replace IMAP/POP, but you're still going to need an SMTP server to receive email. Or is there some sort of widely supported SMTP over HTTP protocol that I'm unaware of?

Webmail replaces both IMAP/POP and SMTP for the connection between the user and the mail service they are using. The connection between you and a webmail provider is just a simple HTTP/S web application. It’s the connection between your mail service and the recipient’s mail server that will use traditional mail protocols.

Re: Fastmail accounts blocked in Russia, here's what we know

#53

Post by rakoo »

jtbayly wrote: post #46
mytailorisrich wrote: post #39

Leaving aside the rights and wrongs of the Russian government, I think that their general goal is sensible and we'll see more and more of this from all countries. By their general goal I mean " the Russian media regulation body, the Roskomnadzor, demanded that Fastmail comply with Russian data laws. This is because Russia has a national goal of controlling the flow of information within their borders. " (from the blo…

Actually, GDPR went way beyond that, demanding that every website in the world comply with their laws, regardless of whether or not you had customers in the EU, unless you count somebody reading your personal blog as a “customer.”

Wrong. GDPR asks that every website comply with their laws for anything that relates to EU. An italian citizen has to agree about it even if they live in Nepal. But a nepalese website doesn't have to care about GDPR as long as they don't have a presence in the EU.

The fact that websites put a cookie wall for everyone is the strategy of said websites to make everyone think they are victims of GDPR, but that is not true. If you don't want to put a cookie wall, the easiest option for everyone is to not gather personal data.

Re: Fastmail accounts blocked in Russia, here's what we know

#54

Post by mfsch »

explorigin wrote: post #45
mensetmanusman wrote: post #4

I wonder if the fastmail protocol could be hidden in AWS-like data streams to take an approach like telegram. If they try to block it, they shut down their entire digital business infrastructure. I have been looking for an alternative to Gmail, does anyone have recommendations? Fastmail? Proton mail? What put me over the edge is my young friend had a heart attack, went to the hospital and (during recovery) logged int…

Try Infomaniak ( https://www.infomaniak.com/en/hosting/web-and-mail/mail-host... ). I've been using them for years. Solid platform, not 5-eyes, good webmail experience, cheaper than fastmail.

Just be aware that they require a phone number to sign up (can’t remember if it’s Swiss numbers only) and if their security systems trigger, they ask you to upload your government-issued ID.

Re: Fastmail accounts blocked in Russia, here's what we know

#55

Post by O_H_E »

yarcob wrote: post #11
ojame wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve had a paid account with Fastmail for probably going on 8 years I’d say. It’s been a fantastically reliable service and the odd (perhaps 3 or 4 times) I’ve needed to reach out to support it’s always prompt and a real conversation.

I'm also a happy Fastmail customer. They actually offer customer support (at least they did a couple of years ago when I needed it). I had an issue with Fastmail where I accidentally deleted a bunch of emails, and with help from their support I was able to restore them from their backup quickly. Contrast that to Gmail, where thousands of messages suddenly disappeared from the inbox, and the only support option was a…

> from _their_ backup quickly.

Wow, that is something

Re: Fastmail accounts blocked in Russia, here's what we know

#56

Post by [deleted] »

Shacklz wrote: post #17
mensetmanusman wrote: post #4

I wonder if the fastmail protocol could be hidden in AWS-like data streams to take an approach like telegram. If they try to block it, they shut down their entire digital business infrastructure. I have been looking for an alternative to Gmail, does anyone have recommendations? Fastmail? Proton mail? What put me over the edge is my young friend had a heart attack, went to the hospital and (during recovery) logged int…

I'm a very happy customer of protonmail. They're consistently extending their offering (VPN, Calendar, Drive is up next), their pricing seems fair, albeit not exactly cheap, but to be honest though, I almost consider this to be a feature - I'm perfectly okay with paying good cash for something as important as mail. Their UI was somewhat lackluster but they recently released a completely overhauled version (just a few…

[deleted]

Re: Fastmail accounts blocked in Russia, here's what we know

#57

Post by vbezhenar »

mensetmanusman wrote: post #4

I wonder if the fastmail protocol could be hidden in AWS-like data streams to take an approach like telegram. If they try to block it, they shut down their entire digital business infrastructure. I have been looking for an alternative to Gmail, does anyone have recommendations? Fastmail? Proton mail? What put me over the edge is my young friend had a heart attack, went to the hospital and (during recovery) logged int…

> I wonder if the fastmail protocol could be hidden in AWS-like data streams to take an approach like telegram. If they try to block it, they shut down their entire digital business infrastructure.

As long as server name sent in cleartext in SNI, blocking any website is trivial. Telegram uses a different approach with multitude of proxy servers and dynamic proxy changes via Apple/Google push messages. It's not applicable to an ordinary website.

If/when encrypted SNI is widely implemented, it might work.

Re: Fastmail accounts blocked in Russia, here's what we know

#58

Post by benhurmarcel »

Shacklz wrote: post #17
mensetmanusman wrote: post #4

I wonder if the fastmail protocol could be hidden in AWS-like data streams to take an approach like telegram. If they try to block it, they shut down their entire digital business infrastructure. I have been looking for an alternative to Gmail, does anyone have recommendations? Fastmail? Proton mail? What put me over the edge is my young friend had a heart attack, went to the hospital and (during recovery) logged int…

I'm a very happy customer of protonmail. They're consistently extending their offering (VPN, Calendar, Drive is up next), their pricing seems fair, albeit not exactly cheap, but to be honest though, I almost consider this to be a feature - I'm perfectly okay with paying good cash for something as important as mail. Their UI was somewhat lackluster but they recently released a completely overhauled version (just a few…

Fastmail offers a VPN? I can't find anything about that.

Re: Fastmail accounts blocked in Russia, here's what we know

#59

Post by cascom »

Shacklz wrote: post #17
mensetmanusman wrote: post #4

I wonder if the fastmail protocol could be hidden in AWS-like data streams to take an approach like telegram. If they try to block it, they shut down their entire digital business infrastructure. I have been looking for an alternative to Gmail, does anyone have recommendations? Fastmail? Proton mail? What put me over the edge is my young friend had a heart attack, went to the hospital and (during recovery) logged int…

I'm a very happy customer of protonmail. They're consistently extending their offering (VPN, Calendar, Drive is up next), their pricing seems fair, albeit not exactly cheap, but to be honest though, I almost consider this to be a feature - I'm perfectly okay with paying good cash for something as important as mail. Their UI was somewhat lackluster but they recently released a completely overhauled version (just a few…

I have and like ProtonMail - but until it supports calendar in its iOS app it’s an incomplete solution / non-starter.

Re: Fastmail accounts blocked in Russia, here's what we know

#60

Post by ZoomZoomZoom »

>We have made the decision to block signups for all IP addresses we identify as coming from within Russia. We have also removed our app from the Apple and Google app stores for customers in Russia.

WTF? Why would you ever do that? You said you have no legal presence in Russia, why f*ck over the users? Instead of ignoring hostile stupidity you're helping it, this is mind boggling. Sorry, I can't "feel good" about your services anymore.

Post reply on HN