Fastmail changed subdomain login routine

easemail · 3 Jul 2024, 11:56 AM

Fastmail changed subdomain login routine within the last couple of weeks. Has anybody else noticed?

The fastmail owned subdomain url I use now returns to the main fastmail page, so I have to mouse and click to the log in and then type out my whole email address, not just the handle.

To be fair, if you logout, the browser cookie remembers you for next time and the subdomain url goes straight to the login page and you just have to type your handle, then tab to the password box like days of yore. This affects me because I'm an edge case: I have to login to a new computer at work every hour on the hour, so no cookies.

I've built up the muscle memory of the old login for around 15 years, so it's a bit annoying. I'm confused why fastmail feels they cannot auto-redirect subdomains to the login page anymore.

Will ultimately get used to it, but just wanted to commiserate with others here on the board who might be having the same issue.

hadaso · 3 Jul 2024, 04:49 PM

I noticed some changes in how the login page looks.
I haven't noticed changes in how it behaves.
But then I think several months ago I noticed changes in login page behavior, where before that most browsers "remembered" my login email address, so I didn't have to type it, or only had to type the first letter, and then it changed so I have to type the whole thing each time (except when I'm thrown out for inactivity: then I get one chance to login with only typing the password, and the email address field prefilled, and then when I fail to type the correct password, which is what happens most of the time because I'm on a different keyboard, then I have to retype the (long) email address.
Anyway, what I'd really like to have is the ability to dedicate specific aliases (known as "email addresses" in current Fastmail jargon) for login only, and then I can choose a short alias in my domain for login and change it every now and then. Also to have a login option that doesn't allow changing settings or accessing billing, so if those login credentials are compromised they cannot be used to take over the account.

JeremyNicoll · 3 Jul 2024, 09:05 PM

My other (non-FM) mail provider allows one to supply the userid value as a parameter on their webmail login URL, so (as I have several accounts with them) I have several browser bookmarks for them each specifying a particular login.

Maybe we should ask FM to implement something similar?

easemail · 4 Jul 2024, 04:19 AM

I think fastmail redid their login page in general a few months ago, which probably led to your irregularities hadaso. I agree that a login only email alias would be good. I guess the only way to do that currently would be to make all your other addresses masked emails except for one login only email alias.

That's a fascinating feature Jeremy... did not know that existed. Since I can't bookmark things on my work computers this would not help me much, but I can see a bit of a use case for it for some people.

hadaso · 4 Jul 2024, 05:34 AM

In the very distant past (something like two decades) there used to be a parameter one could use in the login URL to have the username field populated with the username. Perhaps it still works and perhaps not. I tried to search for this on the forum but wasn't able to locate anything that works.

Terry · 4 Jul 2024, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by easemail

Fastmail changed subdomain login routine within the last couple of weeks. Has anybody else noticed?

I've built up the muscle memory of the old login for around 15 years, so it's a bit annoying. I'm confused why fastmail feels they cannot auto-redirect subdomains to the login page anymore.

Will ultimately get used to it, but just wanted to commiserate with others here on the board who might be having the same issue.

Yes, I suppose it may be a security thing or they have got bored again and just wanted to change something.

DumbGuy · 30 Jul 2024, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hadaso

In the very distant past (something like two decades) there used to be a parameter one could use in the login URL to have the username field populated with the username. Perhaps it still works and perhaps not. I tried to search for this on the forum but wasn't able to locate anything that works.

Agreed. I do remember this feature that FM offered from very long ago, and I was disappointed when they removed it (presumably for security reasons). There were many other such tech-savvy features, such as printed 1-time 2FA codes, that I miss.

As for typing my FM login name, I'm fast typing it manually on a desktop keyboard, and on my phone, my Google Keyboard GBoard predictive options shows it to me after a couple characters, then I can tap to insert.

3 Jul 2024, 11:56 AM	#1
easemail Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 79	Fastmail changed subdomain login routine Fastmail changed subdomain login routine within the last couple of weeks. Has anybody else noticed? The fastmail owned subdomain url I use now returns to the main fastmail page, so I have to mouse and click to the log in and then type out my whole email address, not just the handle. To be fair, if you logout, the browser cookie remembers you for next time and the subdomain url goes straight to the login page and you just have to type your handle, then tab to the password box like days of yore. This affects me because I'm an edge case: I have to login to a new computer at work every hour on the hour, so no cookies. I've built up the muscle memory of the old login for around 15 years, so it's a bit annoying. I'm confused why fastmail feels they cannot auto-redirect subdomains to the login page anymore. Will ultimately get used to it, but just wanted to commiserate with others here on the board who might be having the same issue.

3 Jul 2024, 04:49 PM	#2
hadaso The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Holon, Israel. Posts: 4,946	I noticed some changes in how the login page looks. I haven't noticed changes in how it behaves. But then I think several months ago I noticed changes in login page behavior, where before that most browsers "remembered" my login email address, so I didn't have to type it, or only had to type the first letter, and then it changed so I have to type the whole thing each time (except when I'm thrown out for inactivity: then I get one chance to login with only typing the password, and the email address field prefilled, and then when I fail to type the correct password, which is what happens most of the time because I'm on a different keyboard, then I have to retype the (long) email address. Anyway, what I'd really like to have is the ability to dedicate specific aliases (known as "email addresses" in current Fastmail jargon) for login only, and then I can choose a short alias in my domain for login and change it every now and then. Also to have a login option that doesn't allow changing settings or accessing billing, so if those login credentials are compromised they cannot be used to take over the account.

3 Jul 2024, 09:05 PM	#3
JeremyNicoll Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Scotland Posts: 505	My other (non-FM) mail provider allows one to supply the userid value as a parameter on their webmail login URL, so (as I have several accounts with them) I have several browser bookmarks for them each specifying a particular login. Maybe we should ask FM to implement something similar?

4 Jul 2024, 04:19 AM	#4
easemail Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 79	I think fastmail redid their login page in general a few months ago, which probably led to your irregularities hadaso. I agree that a login only email alias would be good. I guess the only way to do that currently would be to make all your other addresses masked emails except for one login only email alias. That's a fascinating feature Jeremy... did not know that existed. Since I can't bookmark things on my work computers this would not help me much, but I can see a bit of a use case for it for some people.

4 Jul 2024, 05:34 AM	#5
hadaso The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Holon, Israel. Posts: 4,946	In the very distant past (something like two decades) there used to be a parameter one could use in the login URL to have the username field populated with the username. Perhaps it still works and perhaps not. I tried to search for this on the forum but wasn't able to locate anything that works.