inbox.com

erimess · 10 Sep 2003, 08:40 AM

Yes, I'm sure you're all thrilled to see that domain name again.

First, I did a search on this to see what I could discover. And I discovered a) I have no idea what any of you were talking about with the messagengine thing cause I have no idea what that is or what it means, so this is meaningless technical info to me, (i.e. can someone explain something in plain English?) and b) seems that most of the questions/comments were about people who do have an inbox.com account.

Because none of this tells me anything, nor solves my problem, I'm starting a new thread.

I recently used an alias to sign up at a site that I didn't quite trust, despite what their privacy policy says.

Then lo and behold, I get a spam at the alias user name but the domain wasn't the one I used -- it was that inbox.com. If it had gone to the domain I'd used in the alias, I could just simply delete the alias and all's fine with the world. Seems now I'm stuck with it, and furthermore, now that the name's out there, it'll just get re-sold 3 billion times over.

So I'm trying to figure out: a) why did I get something addressed to inbox.com? I do not have an account with them and I can't figure out how the whole thing got connected, and b) is there any way to stop this? I saw that Jerry mentioned something about "after the split." I don't really understand that split, but after this happens will that stop anything coming in under inbox.com?

I've always been careful about where/how I use my FM address and I get *very* little spam. I'm not happy about something coming in that I got even though I shouldn't have, especially since I can't just now simply delete that alias. Yes, I could actually take advantage of spam filtering for the first time ever, but I shouldn't have to because of something like this. I shouldn't be getting that mail to start with.

Sorry if this sounds like I'm repeating something that has been answered, but again, I didn't understand any of those conversations.

And just out of curiosity, does anyone have an idea why a spammer would use that user name with inbox.com when that's not the domain I signed up with? I'm just shaking my head over that one.

**Sherry** · 10 Sep 2003, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by erimess
So I'm trying to figure out: a) why did I get something addressed to inbox.com?

Right now you will get any mail addressed to your "username" with any of the 90+ FastMail domains and any of the Co Branded domains that FM owns. (hundreds of domain names) After the domain split happens on Sept. 15, the only mail you will get is for the domain you have with your username and any you pick for aliases.
Hope this simple explanation helps.

Sherry

mcowger · 10 Sep 2003, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by erimess
And just out of curiosity, does anyone have an idea why a spammer would use that user name with inbox.com when that's not the domain I signed up with? I'm just shaking my head over that one.

My guess is they just started sending mails to every username they could think of @inbox.com

bitequator · 10 Sep 2003, 11:28 AM

(OT) Incidentally I just did some WHOIS lookups on some of FM's domains (never tried before). They seem to vary a bit from one to the next (registrant: Optimal Decisions, FastMail, Messaging Engine, Jeremy, Kyle, etc... contact: webmaster @fastmail.fm, j+ @howard.fm, etc...)

Would uniform WHOIS info make sense?

P.S. Some domains like eml.cc seem to expire next month, but I guess they already know

Jeremy Howard · 10 Sep 2003, 12:27 PM

We try to keep the same whois when registering now, although I haven't gone back and fixed all the old ones...

**DBH** · 10 Sep 2003, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bitequator
...Some domains like eml.cc seem to expire next month, but I guess they already know

What, exactly, does that mean? eml.cc won't be available? Or FM just needs to renew it?

bitequator · 10 Sep 2003, 08:10 PM

Hehe, no need to worry, I'm sure J probably already got a renewal notice from the registrar for eml.cc

I should choose my words more carefully not to incite panic (when I'm not doing it on purpose as an ill-conceived joke)

**DBH** · 10 Sep 2003, 09:16 PM

Thanks...I had a feeling it would be ok, but I guess my brain is still sleepy this morning!

erimess · 10 Sep 2003, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sherry
Right now you will get any mail addressed to your "username" with any of the 90+ FastMail domains and any of the Co Branded domains that FM owns. (hundreds of domain names) After the domain split happens on Sept. 15, the only mail you will get is for the domain you have with your username and any you pick for aliases.
Hope this simple explanation helps.

Yes, that was a nice simple explanation. Out of the first volley of discussions I didn't even get that Fm owned that domain.

And the nice part is that I understood the part about how I won't get this crap after five more days. I've never gotten anything at another domain name, other than an alias I was using. I don't quite understand why that should be happening in the first place. But at least I know this thing coming into inbox.com will go away soon. :-)

Thanks

erimess · 10 Sep 2003, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcowger
My guess is they just started sending mails to every username they could think of @inbox.com

Actually, I don't think that's it. After a year and a half (has it been that long?) I've never once gotten anything to any domain other than my main one and one other alias I've set up. It was only after I signed up at a site that I didn't trust with a new alias that I ever got anything at inbox.com, and with that alias username. I still think it was picked up off that site -- too weird of a coincidence.

**DBH** · 10 Sep 2003, 11:12 PM

Ya know, I've been reading this thread and just realized that inbox.com is a new FastMail domain. It's not on the list in the FM FAQ. I know there is a thread with the updated domains, so maybe I'll look for that. Cool!

...Well, I looked at the Wiki with the updated FM domains and inbox.com is not listed.

shenton · 10 Sep 2003, 11:22 PM

Inbox.com is not a Fastmail domain, sorry!

They are an independent provider who have purchased the Messagingengine facilities from Fastmail. If you click on http://www.inbox.com you'll see their site!

**DBH** · 10 Sep 2003, 11:30 PM

Oh, ok...thanks. They're all tied in together. I sent myself a test message to mydomain @ inbox.com, and it arrived in my FastMail inbox. That's why I was wondering!

bitequator · 11 Sep 2003, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DBH
just realized that inbox.com is a new FastMail domain.

Darnit you got me too excited reading that. I was thinking, that homedomain is MINE!

If it's true, after the domain split can you imagine what the domain/user distribution would be like?

10 Sep 2003, 08:40 AM	#1
erimess Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: U.S. Posts: 163	inbox.com Yes, I'm sure you're all thrilled to see that domain name again. First, I did a search on this to see what I could discover. And I discovered a) I have no idea what any of you were talking about with the messagengine thing cause I have no idea what that is or what it means, so this is meaningless technical info to me, (i.e. can someone explain something in plain English?) and b) seems that most of the questions/comments were about people who do have an inbox.com account. Because none of this tells me anything, nor solves my problem, I'm starting a new thread. I recently used an alias to sign up at a site that I didn't quite trust, despite what their privacy policy says. Then lo and behold, I get a spam at the alias user name but the domain wasn't the one I used -- it was that inbox.com. If it had gone to the domain I'd used in the alias, I could just simply delete the alias and all's fine with the world. Seems now I'm stuck with it, and furthermore, now that the name's out there, it'll just get re-sold 3 billion times over. So I'm trying to figure out: a) why did I get something addressed to inbox.com? I do not have an account with them and I can't figure out how the whole thing got connected, and b) is there any way to stop this? I saw that Jerry mentioned something about "after the split." I don't really understand that split, but after this happens will that stop anything coming in under inbox.com? I've always been careful about where/how I use my FM address and I get very little spam. I'm not happy about something coming in that I got even though I shouldn't have, especially since I can't just now simply delete that alias. Yes, I could actually take advantage of spam filtering for the first time ever, but I shouldn't have to because of something like this. I shouldn't be getting that mail to start with. Sorry if this sounds like I'm repeating something that has been answered, but again, I didn't understand any of those conversations. And just out of curiosity, does anyone have an idea why a spammer would use that user name with inbox.com when that's not the domain I signed up with? I'm just shaking my head over that one.

10 Sep 2003, 11:12 PM	#11
DBH Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: USA Posts: 1,533	Ya know, I've been reading this thread and just realized that inbox.com is a new FastMail domain. It's not on the list in the FM FAQ. I know there is a thread with the updated domains, so maybe I'll look for that. Cool! ...Well, I looked at the Wiki with the updated FM domains and inbox.com is not listed. Last edited by DBH : 10 Sep 2003 at 11:16 PM.

10 Sep 2003, 11:28 AM	#4
bitequator The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,978	(OT) Incidentally I just did some WHOIS lookups on some of FM's domains (never tried before). They seem to vary a bit from one to the next (registrant: Optimal Decisions, FastMail, Messaging Engine, Jeremy, Kyle, etc... contact: webmaster @fastmail.fm, j+ @howard.fm, etc...) Would uniform WHOIS info make sense? P.S. Some domains like eml.cc seem to expire next month, but I guess they already know

10 Sep 2003, 12:27 PM	#5
Jeremy Howard Ultimate Contributor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 11,501	We try to keep the same whois when registering now, although I haven't gone back and fixed all the old ones...

10 Sep 2003, 08:10 PM	#7
bitequator The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,978	Hehe, no need to worry, I'm sure J probably already got a renewal notice from the registrar for eml.cc I should choose my words more carefully not to incite panic (when I'm not doing it on purpose as an ill-conceived joke)

10 Sep 2003, 09:16 PM	#8
DBH Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: USA Posts: 1,533	Thanks...I had a feeling it would be ok, but I guess my brain is still sleepy this morning!

10 Sep 2003, 11:22 PM	#12
shenton Essential Contributor Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Wigan, Lancashire! Posts: 379	Inbox.com is not a Fastmail domain, sorry! They are an independent provider who have purchased the Messagingengine facilities from Fastmail. If you click on http://www.inbox.com you'll see their site!

10 Sep 2003, 11:30 PM	#13
DBH Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: USA Posts: 1,533	Oh, ok...thanks. They're all tied in together. I sent myself a test message to mydomain @ inbox.com, and it arrived in my FastMail inbox. That's why I was wondering!