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This is exactly why I'm using two-factor authentication for gmail (heck, I even ported the two factor auth code generator to my watch so I don't have to panic w

by llgrrl_ 15y ago

This is exactly why I'm using two-factor authentication for gmail (heck, I even ported the two factor auth code generator to my watch so I don't have to panic when my android phone runs out of battery - http://tnhh.net/pancake/chronos-otp.xml http://tnhh.net/pancake/chronos-otp.xml :-) However, I don't use Gmail for 'everything,' it's just too dangerous and I feel doing that way Google knows more about me than they should. I think everyone should be hosting the main email address under something that they can sure control (your work/edu account, or a paid email service). My main account is hosted on fastmail (I paid something like 12 bucks for three years) and is cloaked under a dozen of other email addresses. Plus, for fastmail you get a free smtp account, and a standard IMAP account (gmail's IMAP is weird). And they will respond if you're in troubles.

ianterrell 15y ago
Gmail's IMAP is awesome. I remember the first time I connected my iPhone to it and wondering how to archive a message. "Well, it stays in 'All Mail,' so I'll just move it there." Presto! It worked. Naturally, you have to like the Gmail conventions to like the Gmail implementations.
- rgrove 15y ago
  From the point of view of someone writing an IMAP client, Gmail's IMAP implementation is not awesome. It's not horrible either, but it does have quite a few quirks, some of which can be a real pain to deal with.
ams6110 15y ago
I also use Fastmail. I'm grandfathered into a plan they no longer offer: a one-time payment which got me a modest (16M) quota (I download and purge my email from their service so that's not an issue for me) and access to their SMTP service.
pavel_lishin 15y ago
So, at this point, doesn't Fastmail know more about you than they should?
- ams6110 15y ago
  Well Fastmail is in the business of providing an email service. Google is in the business of targeting advertising to you based on what they know about you. Fastmail was recently acquired by Opera. I don't know if that changes anything.
- llgrrl_ 15y ago
  Fastmail has the email business and they got my money for that -- so their intention is clear. You have an awesome Google 7GB email box for paying Google nothing. It's not clear what they want to and will get from you. I'm not saying that wonderful things are never free, Free software is an example. However, keep in mind that Google is a business and they'll have to make money. They are not idealistic Richard Stallman who can squat from one house to another.
vegardx 15y ago
Just because you pay for a service does not automatically ensure that it's safe and secure. At best you're able to get ahold of 'real people' when shit gets down, but that is also possible with Googles paid solution, Google Apps. I personally trust Google more than I trust some random E-mail hosting company. I KNOW that Google enforce very strict user control, I have no idea how Fastmail or any other enforce.
- llgrrl_ 15y ago
  Yeah, trusting Google more than some random E-mail hosting company is probably right. However the catch is that in the last resort I always have my credit card number for the proof of ownership. Fastmail is not really some random company (one of the companies that I feel they know what they're doing) and is very decent in providing user access control. They have Wubikey integration and a dozen more methods to make sure your account is safe. Also, they implemented who sign on what IP years before Google. Btw -- I have 7 days of sign-on history.
orangecat 15y ago
A paid email service may be better than Gmail, but using your work email as your primary address is a very bad idea. Almost every employer's policy is that they can access your email whenever they want, and (at least in the US) you can be terminated at any time for any or no reason.
Auguste 15y ago
I've recently switched to Fastmail too (the website, for those interested, is www.fastmail.fm). You'll pay for it, but it has a lot of nice features you won't get for free. It also has two-factor authentication like Google (via SMS), but you need to pay for each SMS it sends.

by llgrrl_ 15y ago

ianterrell 15y ago

Gmail's IMAP is awesome. I remember the first time I connected my iPhone to it and wondering how to archive a message. "Well, it stays in 'All Mail,' so I'll just move it there." Presto! It worked. Naturally, you have to like the Gmail conventions to like the Gmail implementations.

rgrove 15y ago
From the point of view of someone writing an IMAP client, Gmail's IMAP implementation is not awesome. It's not horrible either, but it does have quite a few quirks, some of which can be a real pain to deal with.

ams6110 15y ago

I also use Fastmail. I'm grandfathered into a plan they no longer offer: a one-time payment which got me a modest (16M) quota (I download and purge my email from their service so that's not an issue for me) and access to their SMTP service.

pavel_lishin 15y ago

So, at this point, doesn't Fastmail know more about you than they should?

ams6110 15y ago
Well Fastmail is in the business of providing an email service. Google is in the business of targeting advertising to you based on what they know about you. Fastmail was recently acquired by Opera. I don't know if that changes anything.
llgrrl_ 15y ago
Fastmail has the email business and they got my money for that -- so their intention is clear. You have an awesome Google 7GB email box for paying Google nothing. It's not clear what they want to and will get from you. I'm not saying that wonderful things are never free, Free software is an example. However, keep in mind that Google is a business and they'll have to make money. They are not idealistic Richard Stallman who can squat from one house to another.

vegardx 15y ago

Just because you pay for a service does not automatically ensure that it's safe and secure. At best you're able to get ahold of 'real people' when shit gets down, but that is also possible with Googles paid solution, Google Apps. I personally trust Google more than I trust some random E-mail hosting company. I KNOW that Google enforce very strict user control, I have no idea how Fastmail or any other enforce.

llgrrl_ 15y ago
Yeah, trusting Google more than some random E-mail hosting company is probably right. However the catch is that in the last resort I always have my credit card number for the proof of ownership. Fastmail is not really some random company (one of the companies that I feel they know what they're doing) and is very decent in providing user access control. They have Wubikey integration and a dozen more methods to make sure your account is safe. Also, they implemented who sign on what IP years before Google. Btw -- I have 7 days of sign-on history.

orangecat 15y ago

A paid email service may be better than Gmail, but using your work email as your primary address is a very bad idea. Almost every employer's policy is that they can access your email whenever they want, and (at least in the US) you can be terminated at any time for any or no reason.

Auguste 15y ago

I've recently switched to Fastmail too (the website, for those interested, is www.fastmail.fm). You'll pay for it, but it has a lot of nice features you won't get for free. It also has two-factor authentication like Google (via SMS), but you need to pay for each SMS it sends.