Move away from Gmail

Mp4

Mp4

Mp4

Soldato
Joined
21 Apr 2006
Posts
8,460
Location
Eastbourne
Having used gmail forever I've decided to move mail host.

Does anyone use a Gmail alternative? Or recommend one?
 
I've used ymail, outlook.com, uk2 email...non-measure up to Gmail.

Lack of folders is a pain but using labels works ok, plus Google Drive etc.

Why are you thinking of moving away?
 
Well after having to change my yahoo password yet again (Flickr) ive now deleted that account.

But having used Gmail for many years and google's privacy policies changing a lot & all the search id checks & whatnot. Feel I need a more secure email service.

Even Evernote this week have said a member of staff can view your notes again another security/privicy thing.
 
I'm transitioning to fastmail from gmail. 'Transitioning' because changing my address everywhere is a gradual process.

I chose fastmail because they've got a good reputation for privacy and security, not least because they're based in Australia and the laws there are pretty strong, see https://www.fastmail.com/about/privacy.html

I've also heard excellent things about protonmail, based in Switzerland for the same reason.

Edit: fastmail seems to have got a bit more expensive recently - I paid $20.99 in March for 1 year of 'Full' service, which is like the new 'Basic' service which is $30/year.
 
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Yes BT do offer email i think. I dont even use the 50GB cloud service from them.

I've used almost 4GB in gmail storage for email.

Ah cheers Joeyjojo: I was looking at Proton Mail just now :D they look VERY good.
 
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Since many recipients of personal email may use gmail, your content is not that secure anyway ?
You can use gmail service as a IMAP mail server - no ? to then use thunderbird say as a more pleasant environment to compose email (with offline folders, easier attachments)
Thunderbird add-ons to enable encryption of content could then be used too.

Can you switch to use microsoft account as your email service - do they give any more security ?

(I am looking for a better solution myself - so just some ideas)
 
Might be an idea about the imap idea, I've never used this feature of gmail. and then the encryption with thunderbird seems like a possible idea.

I do use Spark for my email app on mobile.

As the likes of other alternatives will cost £50 a year give or take.
 
jpaul said:
Since many recipients of personal email may use gmail, your content is not that secure anyway ?
Click to expand...

I've found this a concern too, as most of my contacts are still using gmail. I would say though that at least with the majority of my personal info not on gmail I'm avoiding being profiled by google, which I think is a major benefit.

jpaul said:
You can use gmail service as a IMAP mail server - no ? to then use thunderbird say as a more pleasant environment to compose email (with offline folders, easier attachments)
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea - tell thunderbird to delete the email from the server after downloading and you've basically got a free email address. Have to sort out your own remote access though. I like fastmail as it has a quality android app that provides this.
 
Normally when you decide to move away from a service you do it because you've found a better one. It seems a bit bizarre to want to move but without really an idea of where to move to. What are your reasons for wanting to move - without that nobody can be sure they are recommending a service that doesn't have the same problems that Gmail has.
 
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Doing a 30day trial with JoeyJoJo's recommendation :D loving the app so far

demonix said:
Except they use yahoo which has been hit be several security breaches which would likely affect more then just yahoo only accounts.
Click to expand...

Indeed, the first thing i did this morning is delete my Flickr account
 
demonix said:
Except they use yahoo which has been hit be several security breaches which would likely affect more then just yahoo only accounts.
Click to expand...

Do they? I thought they transitioned away from them a while ago.

Also worth remembering - do you want to tie something as important as an email address to your ISP, a company you may well move away from in the future.

I use outlook, it's fine for me. I have plenty of folders for different subjects on there so I assume when people say folders they mean something different.
 
AHarvey said:
What makes you think you aren't a product with a paid service?
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The privacy policies, for a start. Google's is really long, it explains all the data they collect and the very broad terms under which they can use it, e.g.
We use the information we collect from all of our services to provide, maintain, protect and improve them, to develop new ones, and to protect Google and our users. We also use this information to offer you tailored content – like giving you more relevant search results and ads.

...

Our automated systems analyze your content (including emails) to provide you personally relevant product features, such as customized search results, tailored advertising, and spam and malware detection.
Click to expand...
Anything goes, basically.

Compare that to fastmail's one. It's very short, and says they scan emails for spam detection and index them for searches, otherwise:
No information from any of these activities is used for any other purpose, or to compile any kind of profile on our users.
Click to expand...
 
IF you believe they don't... which i don't. All companies want to grow, increase profits etc, to do that they need to know who they are attracting and why.

Google collects so much due to the fact they provide so many services, not to mention, with the amount of users they have you are nothing but a whisper in the thunderstorm.

There's also nothing stopping the human element, bored sys admins etc browsing your email without you knowing.
 
AHarvey said:
IF you believe they don't... which i don't. All companies want to grow, increase profits etc, to do that they need to know who they are attracting and why.
Click to expand...

You're accusing Fastmail of illegal activity? Breaking their privacy policy? On what grounds?

AHarvey said:
Google collects so much due to the fact they provide so many services, not to mention, with the amount of users they have you are nothing but a whisper in the thunderstorm.
Click to expand...

Doesn't make profiling acceptable. If anything it's alarming that so many people give up their data so willingly.

I thought of an analogy earlier - would you get a free mobile SIM if the company recorded, saved, and listened to all your phone calls in order to profile you? Same idea really.

AHarvey said:
There's also nothing stopping the human element, bored sys admins etc browsing your email without you knowing.
Click to expand...

True, the best you can do is pick a company with a good reputation. Fastmail have been going since 99. I trust them.
 
You'd be pretty naive to not think profiling won't happen outside of Google. I know that's not what you're saying, but going based on the fact you'd move mail services to get away from any profiling is my point.

Based on your 5k OCUK posts, i'm sure someone could get a grasp of the type of products you buy, the tv shows you watch, the food you eat, the car you drive and your general views on politics.
 
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