Fasthosts issues third password reset

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 13 Dec 2007 at 13:10

Fasthosts customers are about to be hit with a third compulsory password reset, as the company completes its security audit following the major hack of its systems in October.

The UK-firm says the latest reset will affect customers who use its "peripheral services" such as SiteBuilder and TrafficDriver, its search engine optimisation tool.

Customers were informed of the reset yesterday, and told that those who had not replaced their passwords since the hack would have them automatically replaced.

Fasthosts intends to issue new passwords over email, hopefully averting the confusion that occurred after the control panel and FTP reset, which left customers with inaccessible websites as they waited for their passwords to arrive by post. The delay reportedly resulted in a number of websites being shutdown and small businesses placed under threat.

Fasthosts claims this will be the last major disruption to its service, and that only a minority of its customers will be affected, though, once again, it would not give specific numbers.

"Fasthosts would like to apologise once again for the inconvenience to its customers affected by the recent password changes," it writes in a statement.

"Unfortunately, the measures were necessary to fully ensure our customers' websites and data continue to be secure. Fasthosts is fully confident that, in completing all remaining password changes, this will prevent any future disruption or concern. We thank our customers for their understanding and cooperation."