15 votes

FastMail loses customers, faces calls to move over anti-encryption laws

12 comments

  1. [12]
    pew
    Link
    That's too bad, I've been with them for years now and never had any issues. Their service is super fast and reliable, I like the web interface, too. My subscription is not up before December but...

    That's too bad, I've been with them for years now and never had any issues. Their service is super fast and reliable, I like the web interface, too. My subscription is not up before December but I'm also considering to switch to self-hosted e-mail or a more privacy focused provider (not because of this particular law but rather to take more control of my data in 2019) - e-mail is just one of these things where you want a reliable host and don't think about it.

    4 votes
    1. unknown user
      Link Parent
      Self hosting mail (and then getting your mail into people's inboxes instead of spam boxes) is quite hard, it seems to me. Personally, I'm happily using my domain providers inbox, fetching my mail...

      Self hosting mail (and then getting your mail into people's inboxes instead of spam boxes) is quite hard, it seems to me.

      Personally, I'm happily using my domain providers inbox, fetching my mail via POP3 and then downloading it all w/o leaving a remote copy. One day I'll use dovecot to serve my local mail over IMAP so that I can use the archive from my phone, but it has never been a need pressing enough that I go out of my way to implement it (and I have done soo much of yak shaving with my config over the past few years...).

      2 votes
    2. [10]
      acdw
      Link Parent
      After reading the linked article, I'm also considering switching. I'm not sure to what either, since Fastmail is such a reliable and good host. My subscription is also up in December. Maybe before...

      After reading the linked article, I'm also considering switching. I'm not sure to what either, since Fastmail is such a reliable and good host. My subscription is also up in December. Maybe before then, Fastmail will either move countries or something else will happen so that I can stay. Otherwise I'm thinking about maybe Disroot or that other Swiss one (not ProtonMail, can't remember the name right now). It'd be nice if there was an option for just calendar and contact syncing, as well. Maybe I should look into NextCloud.

      1. [2]
        Deimos
        Link Parent
        Why would the article make you consider switching? The whole point was that it's unfortunate that they're losing customers solely due to perception of Australian tech companies, because the law...

        Why would the article make you consider switching? The whole point was that it's unfortunate that they're losing customers solely due to perception of Australian tech companies, because the law doesn't even affect them at all. Here's their official blog post explaining why it doesn't impact them: https://fastmail.blog/2018/12/21/advocating-for-privacy-aabill-australia/

        7 votes
        1. acdw
          Link Parent
          You know, you're right. I guess it was reminding me of the fact that they don't have perfect security (like I send any emails that are so important to be private), which is one of the trade-offs I...

          You know, you're right. I guess it was reminding me of the fact that they don't have perfect security (like I send any emails that are so important to be private), which is one of the trade-offs I made when going with them in the first place. I keep thinking, "Oh shoot, I need the most secure thing ever," when even someone like Protonmail doesn't have perfect security, because as has been said, they could implement something in the javascript or on their end that circumvents it, and really the only way to have it perfect is to use like PGPMail. But no one uses that, so.

          This is a lot of yapping to say that, basically, you're right to question me. And to answer your question: I really honestly don't know.

          1 vote
      2. [2]
        CedarMadness
        Link Parent
        Are you thinking of Tutanota? I looked into them but I'm pretty satisfied with Proton for now.

        that other Swiss one (not ProtonMail, can't remember the name right now).

        Are you thinking of Tutanota? I looked into them but I'm pretty satisfied with Proton for now.

        2 votes
        1. acdw
          Link Parent
          I've looked at Tutanota too, but I'm talking about Migadu.

          I've looked at Tutanota too, but I'm talking about Migadu.

      3. [2]
        user2
        Link Parent
        I am an FM user and it's great, albeit not the most private provider out there. But, in terms of features, moving to disroot will be a considerably big step-down. My impression of disroot is that...

        I am an FM user and it's great, albeit not the most private provider out there. But, in terms of features, moving to disroot will be a considerably big step-down. My impression of disroot is that it is an hobby project, I wouldn't have my mail with them.

        1 vote
        1. acdw
          Link Parent
          Yeah, that's the other issue... Disroot says it's run by volunteers, which is cool in like a DIY punk way, but not so cool in a "I need to access my email and know that it works all the time" way.

          Yeah, that's the other issue... Disroot says it's run by volunteers, which is cool in like a DIY punk way, but not so cool in a "I need to access my email and know that it works all the time" way.

      4. [3]
        pew
        Link Parent
        that other swiss one, you mean migadu? They seem to have a nice offering, not sure if they can really provide unlimited everything if they get popular.

        that other swiss one, you mean migadu? They seem to have a nice offering, not sure if they can really provide unlimited everything if they get popular.

        1 vote
        1. [2]
          acdw
          Link Parent
          Yes, that's them! Their pricing structure does seem interesting; I'll be keeping an eye on them though. My one thing (and I sent them an email) is that I don't understand how I can try them out...

          Yes, that's them! Their pricing structure does seem interesting; I'll be keeping an eye on them though.

          My one thing (and I sent them an email) is that I don't understand how I can try them out using my current custom domain if it's set up for another host, DNS-wise. I guess I could setup a sub-domain? Hmm.

          1 vote
          1. pew
            Link Parent
            Yes, that's how I usually test other e-mail and DNS provider. Just use a subdomain.

            Yes, that's how I usually test other e-mail and DNS provider. Just use a subdomain.

            2 votes