FastMail blocking access via McAfee VPN

fastuser2015 · 4 May 2023, 01:17 AM

Anyone else noticed this? Works fine without VPN.

McAfee VPN appears to use a Digital Ocean server which is probably why.

n5bb · 4 May 2023, 05:57 AM

Do you mean that you can’t use the webmail interface with that VPN? When you say that Fastmail is “blocking access”, do you mean that you get an error message which states this? Can you view this webpage?
https://www.fastmail.com/about/

I also suggest trying a trace route as described near the end of this Fastmail help page:
https://www.fastmail.help/hc/en-us/a...nection-issues
There might be a problem with routing where Fastmail can’t be reached rather than Fastmail blocking the connection.

Bill

fastuser2015 · 4 May 2023, 06:57 PM

Thanks Bill.

I'm actually asking on behalf of a friend so it's a bit involved getting this info as he's not technical.

However, what we've found is that with the VPN enabled, https://www.fastmail.com/about/ will load in the browser.

However, https://app.fastmail.com/ will not load in the browser, and nor will the mobile app work.

Once the VPN is disabled it all springs back to life.

Feels deliberate, I'm not sure why, perhaps Fastmail have seen some malicious traffic from the VPN.

fastuser2015 · 4 May 2023, 09:36 PM

Bit more info!

It's not the VPN, it's Apple Content Restrictions have gone wrong in the latest iOS version. Have managed to reproduce my friend's problem on two more devices.

The problem setting is called "Web Content" and it is found in Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions.

If you have "Web Content" set to anything other than Unrestricted - even if you explicitly allow app.fastmail.com - it will not load.

It is not a normal block on it loading, becuase you don't get the prompt from Safari to allow the blocked site. It just loads a blank page with no error message. The app behaves in exactly the same way, it just loads a blank page.

I will create a new thread for this as the title of this is misleading, thanks for your help!

4 May 2023, 01:17 AM	#1
fastuser2015 Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 31	FastMail blocking access via McAfee VPN Anyone else noticed this? Works fine without VPN. McAfee VPN appears to use a Digital Ocean server which is probably why.

4 May 2023, 05:57 AM	#2
n5bb Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: May 2004 Location: Irving, Texas Posts: 8,929	Do you mean that you can’t use the webmail interface with that VPN? When you say that Fastmail is “blocking access”, do you mean that you get an error message which states this? Can you view this webpage? https://www.fastmail.com/about/ I also suggest trying a trace route as described near the end of this Fastmail help page: https://www.fastmail.help/hc/en-us/a...nection-issues There might be a problem with routing where Fastmail can’t be reached rather than Fastmail blocking the connection. Bill

4 May 2023, 06:57 PM	#3
fastuser2015 Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 31	Thanks Bill. I'm actually asking on behalf of a friend so it's a bit involved getting this info as he's not technical. However, what we've found is that with the VPN enabled, https://www.fastmail.com/about/ will load in the browser. However, https://app.fastmail.com/ will not load in the browser, and nor will the mobile app work. Once the VPN is disabled it all springs back to life. Feels deliberate, I'm not sure why, perhaps Fastmail have seen some malicious traffic from the VPN.

4 May 2023, 09:36 PM	#4
fastuser2015 Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 31	Bit more info! It's not the VPN, it's Apple Content Restrictions have gone wrong in the latest iOS version. Have managed to reproduce my friend's problem on two more devices. The problem setting is called "Web Content" and it is found in Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions. If you have "Web Content" set to anything other than Unrestricted - even if you explicitly allow app.fastmail.com - it will not load. It is not a normal block on it loading, becuase you don't get the prompt from Safari to allow the blocked site. It just loads a blank page with no error message. The app behaves in exactly the same way, it just loads a blank page. I will create a new thread for this as the title of this is misleading, thanks for your help!