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30 Nov 2007
Web hosting firm Fasthosts is to change the passwords of some of its customers following a hack attack.
The company is taking the action after its servers suffered an intrusion, and account details were compromised.
Users will receive new passwords by post to ensure that account details are protected.
"Fasthosts was made aware today that a very small number of customers who did not change their passwords had experienced a compromise to their FTP space," the company said in a statement.
"Fasthosts considers that its practices and procedures are up to date, and represent good practice in continually protecting the security of its customer data, and the company remains fully confident in its ability to do so."
Companies are taking an increasingly hard line about dangers to personal customer information.
Although no law on data breaches exists in this country, businesses are increasingly taking action on their own to avoid litigation.
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Worst customer service EVER!
I'm a residential ynon savvy user. I was given a domain name as a gift. We contacted fasthosts 3 years ago or so, to change the ownership to me from by brother in law. Since then, no problems, I got the invoices, fasthosts take the payment happily enough, I had all the passwords. Suddenly last week, my passwords no longer work. I can't get into the Control Panel. When I eventually get through to a human being, after many attempts and 2 1/2 hours of holding on the phone. The unfriendly unhelpful and uninformed operative explained my account had been merged with my brother in law's accounts, to "tidy things up". He assured me I had been informed, but I have not. So fasthosts have effectively taken control of my account away and given it to someone else, though I am the person who pays the bill. And when I complained (without using any profanity or threatening language), I was told that this conversation was no longer constructive, and the fasthost employee hung up. By handing over my account control to a third party without my consent, fasthosts could have seriously compromised my security and that of my website. Fortunately I get on well with my sister and her brother in law. I will be moving my account as soon as my brother in law gives me the details I need. I recommend noone uses fasthosts - my experience is they are a liability to ones business, and incompetant.
Posted by: Nick 16 Dec 2007
Fasthosts HELP
I have so many domains to move I do not want to think about it. I wish they would answer the phone. I have been reading fasthostshell.blogspot.com/ which may help some fasthosts customers.
Posted by: Russell 03 Dec 2007
Why weren't we told
I am webmaster of a Church website hosted by fasthosts and each week I update the site with information about the Sunday Services and other things of importance to disabled and others who are unable to attend the services. This week I was unable to do this and could find no reason why my FTP login was failing. I couldn't even log into the 24/7 call centre nor any of the other services. Attempting to telephone Fasthosts put me in a queue of 50 others who, presumably, were also trying to get similar information. Why weren't we told by email or even a message on their "state of the art UK call centre"?
Posted by: Paul Webster 02 Dec 2007
No access mess.
After an email from Fasthosts I was assured a new password would be sent in the post . None arrived now I can't get a reply from them because their customer login wants my new password which I don't have.I have just received a notification that my standing order has been collected. How long do you think a customer should be left without access to the website they pay for?
Posted by: Mary Davies 02 Dec 2007
Fasthosts bring down many sites
Fasthosts who's servers are poor, on a good day, have shown a further disregard for their customers by wipping out their sites. As a customer, trapped by having 100 sites with them, we would never recommend them to anyone.
Posted by: Peter 02 Dec 2007
What a shambles...
After being unable to log on to fasthosts in order to upload new content to my site. I received an email which told me that I should have changed my password on October 18th. Unfortunately both emails went straight to my bulk filter. I am now unable to modify my site until my new password arrives in the post, presumably along with a couple of CDs of child benefit details. Their helpline is inaccesible, and their customer support is not responding to emails. I have seen estimates that up to 73% of their customers are in the same position, I wouldn't be buying any shares in this company... and I probaably would think twice about trusting them to host my next site. What a fiasco.
Posted by: Richard 01 Dec 2007
Fasthost rip off
No company could make this many mistakes, my theory is that Fasthosts are causing the problems to get people calling up on their 0845 numbers.
Posted by: Rob Maxfield 30 Nov 2007