Fasthosts locks out customers

Fasthosts is reported to have locked out a large number of its customers, after resetting their login details for websites hosted with the company.

The company is now in the process of sending the updated login information - by post.

According to a statement sent to Fasthosts customers:

As a result, in order to totally protect all of our customers, we have today implemented an automatic password change for every control panel & FTP password that was not previously reset.

To ensure complete security when communicating your new passwords to you, we will take the stringent measure of sending the new control panel password via Royal Mail.

Please note that the email password reminder system will not work from the time you receive this mail, to the time you log in with your new control panel password.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WHATSOEVER SHOULD YOU TRY TO REUSE ANY OF YOUR OLD PASSWORDS

The move has caused an angry reaction from Fasthosts customers unable to access their websites.

While it is understandable that any hosting company would seek to protect its security interests, the matter of an internet services company sending out passwords by snail mail rather than email has certainly proved surprising.