Hosts Stealing Customer Data

H

Harry

New member
I was wondering about an issue like this one, since I was somewhat confronted with it. Is it illegal to steal or use your customer's files/mysql database etc.. If so, what can be done if you feel or know the host took your data and either sold it or used it.

I'm curious since I run a low to medium game forum and latley my host has been terrible. The server has such high server loads about 3.00, 2.12, 1.09 avg's. Anyhow, I had an offer from someone, who looked at the place and would host it for free, since at the moment I'm being sponsored too. I got thinking about it and later talked to one of his friends or staff members I suppose, he was also an admin there. Basically he told me that the main admin is eager to host be, so he can steal/use my forum database and mass email my users etc..

So that makes me wonder now, do hosts have TOS or privacy statements when you sign up, reguarding use of customers data? I've never encountered this issue myself ever as a customer or host. I'm just a bit curious about it now, since hosts do have access to everything. :disagree:
 
Well, stealing is stealing and I don't think any clause in a TOS would hold up in the legal arena. 99.9% of hosts out there don't redistribute your information or use it in any other form other than for their own records. Many have privacy statements like we do.

Theoretically speaking, hosts shouldn't distribute information, but that doesn't mean that there are not sleazeballs out there who do through one way or another.
 
First I've heard of that.

That just plain old has to be wrong. Your renting space from your host. What you put on it is yours. It's not their data to take.
 
My question to the host is why?? What is so important that you have to steal data from your clients. I agree with Crazy, Stealing is Stealing. Depending on what was on the data it could also be deemed as fraud or phishing as well.
 
CrazyTech is absolutely right. Make sure you go with reputed hosts, not someone who own a server and promise to help you!
 
Thing is, there's never 100% certainty that your data won't be stolen as long as there's a way for an employee to access it. It may not be company policy to sneak and steal data, but what is there to stop a malevolent technician from doing it? :)

So, if it is true protection that you want, access to the sensible property should be carefully restricted. Shared or managed hosting is not the safest approach possible.
 
At the same time, Walmart isn't any safer either. There's an inherent risk to almost any business one conducts at some level or another. One has to rely on the fact that they picked the best and safest provider/merchant and put their trust in that.
 
CrazyTech said:
At the same time, Walmart isn't any safer either. There's an inherent risk to almost any business one conducts at some level or another. One has to rely on the fact that they picked the best and safest provider/merchant and put their trust in that.
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Crazy makes a good point. The days of a mans word is as good as gold are long gone. Truth is unless you know the person really well you run a risk of having a hostile employee at one time or another. But having the security measures in place will keep the harm to a minimum if done right.
 
Thanks for the input everyone. I obviously wouldn't go with his hosting services at all. I don't think he even has a web hosting website. I believe it's basically a server with a WHM account.

Anymatter, if it were to happen! Could you technically take the host to court? After this issue, it's gotten me very curious about things now. I do trust some hosts out there, but it's still the feeling knowing your data could be leaked.

I supposed if you could afford your own server and network that would be different. That way you have access to your information at all times, since you'd have direct hands on access to the server.
 
As Dan said anything could go to court. I'm certain this would and I do believe you'd have a case with the exception that damages wouldn't really warrant much money in the case of a smaller website.
 
I think maybe you didn't get a real hosting company, but maybe someone with a reseller account posing themselves as a hosting company. While what they do is legal, they can easily download your files and take all of your things.

Personally, I tend to only use large companies(hostgator,lunarpages), as I know they are legit and nothing will be stolen from my server. All the small sellers I know would take my stuff, and that's why I don't use them.

I have been offered free hosting MANY times.

If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
 
Harry said:
I was wondering about an issue like this one, since I was somewhat confronted with it. Is it illegal to steal or use your customer's files/mysql database etc.. If so, what can be done if you feel or know the host took your data and either sold it or used it.

I'm curious since I run a low to medium game forum and latley my host has been terrible. The server has such high server loads about 3.00, 2.12, 1.09 avg's. Anyhow, I had an offer from someone, who looked at the place and would host it for free, since at the moment I'm being sponsored too. I got thinking about it and later talked to one of his friends or staff members I suppose, he was also an admin there. Basically he told me that the main admin is eager to host be, so he can steal/use my forum database and mass email my users etc..

So that makes me wonder now, do hosts have TOS or privacy statements when you sign up, reguarding use of customers data? I've never encountered this issue myself ever as a customer or host. I'm just a bit curious about it now, since hosts do have access to everything. :disagree:
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Steal is stealing, and thats just that. If you have a suspicion then you should switch hosts immediately, and post about your experience warning other users.

Thats another thing, since it was a free host, they might feel you "owed" them a favor, so they snooped through your files. I like to stress the fact, that if people need privacy, security, and reliability then it comes with a price.
 
Just a note for people.. my files weren't/aren't stolen :p. This was an offer from a guy for free hosting. I don't plan on moving anywhere, since my host isn't too bad right now.
 
it all depends on kind of professional setup a company has.... most companies would never touch customer data.....but its possible....its not just about a company policy, even one bad employee can do that.
 
ArtyCrow said:
it all depends on kind of professional setup a company has.... most companies would never touch customer data.....but its possible....its not just about a company policy, even one bad employee can do that.
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and that one employee can wreck the companies reputation too sadly.. :(
 
The only time, we remove a file is if it breaks our terms of Service but normally we just close the account till they remove the offending file.

John
 
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