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

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

#61

Post by cascom »

benhurmarcel wrote: post #58
Shacklz wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

ProtonMail does

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

#62

Post by vbezhenar »

abcd_f wrote: post #12

Where did all the brouhaha with Russia banning Telegram end? From what I understand it seems to be operational and rather popular there. Did the state give up or did Telegram end up “cooperating” with them?

Telegram started to collaborate with Russia and they let it live.

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

#63

Post by fauigerzigerk »

kube-system wrote: post #52
fauigerzigerk wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I am aware of that, but you're missing my point. Webmail needs SMTP (while it doesn't necessarily need IMAP/POP). So there is bound to be an SMTP server somewhere that cannot be hidden in HTTP traffic, which is what I think hansel_der was implying.

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

#64

Post by ZoomZoomZoom »

Sebb767 wrote: post #36
ilammy wrote: post #5

Wait a minute. Why would Fastmail preemptively block Russian IPs if they don't have any legally vulnerable presence in Russia? Just to deny Roskomnadzor the joy? There is Russian proverb that aptly describes such behavior: "назло маме отморожу уши" (cut off your nose to spite your face). > What you can do if you're affected > - Talk to Roskomsvoboda: a digital rights advocacy organization. I like when private compani…

> I like when private companies tell their customers what politics they should engage in. Well, if they can't provide a service or are having problems doing so for legal reason, it's only sensible to ask their customers to lobby for a better legal framework if they wish to receive that service. It's a problem (IMO) if what they ask for is unrelated to their business, but quite a few people would disagree with that, a…

> ask their customers to lobby for a better legal framework

Do you understand the absurd level of naïvete of this position?

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

#65

Post by jtbayly »

rakoo wrote: post #53
jtbayly wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 tr…

> ...A nepalese website doesn't have to care about GDPR as long as they don't have a presence in the EU.

Sure. You don't have to care. But this is blatantly wrong according to GDPR.

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

#66

Post by OJFord »

mulander wrote: post #37

The article touches on new signups being blocked, what happens to the current paying users in the region? Are they also blocked? How is fastmail helping them move/supporting them in this situation? I am a fastmail customer in a different region (Poland). I am however looking closely at this as who knows, maybe I will be on the receiving end in the future?

Sounds like that could just get them in more trouble?

Such customers are probably on their own - but the article does spell out what they've done, so hints at the solution: VPN to outside Russia in order to sort out moving. (Or stay with Fastmail and accept that you need the VPN to use email, I suppose.) The CEO does often comment on Fastmail submissions here (brongondwana) but I suppose maybe not in this (lawyers involved) case.

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

#67

Post by mytailorisrich »

rakoo wrote: post #53
jtbayly wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 tr…

> But a nepalese website doesn't have to care about GDPR as long as they don't have a presence in the EU.

Not really 'presence' but customers in the EU, or simply targeting people in the EU.

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

#68

Post by sidlls »

ZoomZoomZoom wrote: post #60

>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…

To me it's more disappointing that they actually considered meeting the demands of the regulatory body. I'd have simply blocked Russia after the loss in court.

Also, why should Fastmail expose itself any further, in any way as a target of Russia's corrupt dictatorship? It does suck for those Russians impacted. They should turn their ire toward the real problem though: their government.

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

#69

Post by reaperducer »

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…

According to the blog post, ProtonMail and others are in this boat, too.

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

#70

Post by Ly5846N929Rm6bb »

ByteWelder wrote: post #33
Shacklz wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

As a former ProtonMail customer (for several months) and current Fastmail one (~ 4 years): If you have more than 2 domain names, you'll pay 30 EUR/month for your ProtonMail account. I think that's ridiculous. The 5 alias limit for the "Plus" tier is also too limited in my opinion.

I don't know how well all the features match up but you can use as many domains as you want on Migadu for $19/year.
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