Over the past few weeks I've had several customers inform me that they were contacted by another hosting company. This company tried very hard to try and pursuade my clients to switch hosting.

At first I replied that this was free enterprise in action. But now, it appears to be more like telemarketing.

I figured that hosting companies were just basically cold calling new domain registrants but I recently saw activity on our user forums which proved otherwise. Lately, I've monitored activity on our forums of users accessing the 'membership' list of the forum to obtain contact information. Last nite I banned an IP which was registered to a well known host...and yes, that host does view WHT.

I don't mind losing a customer or two if they are unhappy with the service I provide but I do mind when they are being harrassed without cause.

I know that many feel that user forums really don't serve a purpose and could be viewed in a negative light especially if there isn't a lot of user activity but I feel that our forums serve a purpose. Less than 10% of our clients are registered on our forums and most don't include much contact information. I'd really hate to disable our forums just to protect our clients.

What about disabling regular members from sending emails and PMs to other forum members?

What I believe is happening is that any client who lists their website's URL in their profile is being contacted when the host performs a WhoIs lookup on the domain name. The only thing I could do is suggest that clients don't include their website URL.

If the forum is a SQL database, you should be able to clear out all of the website URLs with one query. Then suggest they don't include their URL. Too bad you have to do this though :(

Lately, I've monitored activity on our forums of users accessing the 'membership' list of the forum to obtain contact information. Last nite I banned an IP which was registered to a well known host...and yes, that host does view WHT. Two points, the first is the very reason why our forums are not accessible to the public. I don't mind competition because I keep my clients happy. I do mind spam and membership farming though and I try to protect their privacy by keeping that information restricted to members only.

The second point is a question really. How did you trace an IP to a host that posts here? More directly, how do you know the IP belongs to another web host at all?

Originally posted by Watcher_TVI

The second point is a question really. How did you trace an IP to a host that posts here? More directly, how do you know the IP belongs to another web host at all?

As administrator of the forum I was able to see their IP address. A WhoIs lookup using www.geektools.com showed that the IP address was registered to a "real" company and showed the company info. If a moderator of this forum viewed my IP address and performed this lookup he would see my company info.

I came here to WHT and did a search on that company name and several results were found.

Well, depending on which forum software you're using, there is a few things you can do.

I know for sure that there is a modification for phpBB that allows ONLY registered members to view the memberslist. You can also try disabling PM functions for certain/all accounts. If you've got email via the message board turned off, I suggest turning it on, as it will not reveal the users email address in any way.

Now, I'm not sure about anything except phpBB software, but if you're using phpBB, then maybe this will help you out some.

Pass the info you have to the WHT mods along with your case, although its not against the rules to do such a thing, it is more ethical, if they persist Name and Shame!

:( It just proves the lengths some will go to when trying to aquire business. :angry:
Its bad but it sure looks like a trend for a host having public forums is more pain than pleasure or benefit.
At least you can "thank" your clients, as they've contacted you to inform you of whats going on. That says alot.
Im not sure of your forum structure or how important it is to you to have one but maybe you could consider having a public area but for the most part "private" for paying clients only? Also disable the members list?

Originally posted by GandalfDDUK
Pass the info you have to the WHT mods along with your case, although its not against the rules to do such a thing, it is more ethical, if they persist Name and Shame!

I won't go public with the name of the host. When I posted this thread I was mainly blowing off steam. To date, I've never lost a customer who was dissatisfied. If a client goes to another host for a better deal then that's up to the client. I get clients who come from other hosts....so what's the difference?

Unfortunately, I had 4 clients tell me over the last 2 weeks of the same story and how persistant the other host was. It blew my mind that a larger host would put so much effort into getting another client.

What's even funnier, I posted a reply here on WHY a while back regarding advertising and getting local clients. I think part of my reply was to do a WhoIs lookup on local businesses websites and see if you can offer them a better deal on their hosting. Although I actually never have done this it's basically the same thing.

I think I'll go back to being a programmer....nobody bothered me then;)

Originally posted by Outofmymindy
Well, depending on which forum software you're using, there is a few things you can do.

I know for sure that there is a modification for phpBB that allows ONLY registered members to view the memberslist. You can also try disabling PM functions for certain/all accounts. If you've got email via the message board turned off, I suggest turning it on, as it will not reveal the users email address in any way.

Now, I'm not sure about anything except phpBB software, but if you're using phpBB, then maybe this will help you out some.

Yes, I am using phpBB. I didn't see anything that would disable the "Memberlist" from being viewed by unregistered users.

I'll take a look at phpBB's website and forums.....maybe I'll take a gander at their 'Memberlist':stickout:

Originally posted by bpasternak
As administrator of the forum I was able to see their IP address. A WhoIs lookup using www.geektools.com showed that the IP address was registered to a "real" company and showed the company info. If a moderator of this forum viewed my IP address and performed this lookup he would see my company info.

I came here to WHT and did a search on that company name and several results were found. Maybe I am just missing this whole thing here, if I do a Whois search on my IP address I get Comcast Cable along with a million other users. How is it that the IP address that connected to your forum is confirmed to be the IP of a Web Host? The Whois would show who the ISP is not the end user. The end user information is protected under confidentiality clauses (with most ISP's I am familiar with)

The only reason I am bringing this up is because you may think it is a specific Web Host doing this who really isn't the one doing this at all. If I accessed your forum you might think it was Comcast, if it was a dialup IP then you might think it was the ISP (who may also be a Web Host).

Originally posted by Watcher_TVI
Maybe I am just missing this whole thing here, if I do a Whois search on my IP address I get Comcast Cable along with a million other users. How is it that the IP address that connected to your forum is confirmed to be the IP of a Web Host? The Whois would show who the ISP is not the end user. The end user information is protected under confidentiality clauses (with most ISP's I am familiar with)

The only reason I am bringing this up is because you may think it is a specific Web Host doing this who really isn't the one doing this at all. If I accessed your forum you might think it was Comcast, if it was a dialup IP then you might think it was the ISP (who may also be a Web Host). You are assuming that whomever did this was dialing up through their ISP and getting a dynamically assigned IP when they log in. If, in fact, that IP is assigned to a host, more than likely the culprit is surfing from that same net and not as a dialup.

Originally posted by Watcher_TVI
Maybe I am just missing this whole thing here, if I do a Whois search on my IP address I get Comcast Cable along with a million other users. How is it that the IP address that connected to your forum is confirmed to be the IP of a Web Host? The Whois would show who the ISP is not the end user. The end user information is protected under confidentiality clauses (with most ISP's I am familiar with)

The only reason I am bringing this up is because you may think it is a specific Web Host doing this who really isn't the one doing this at all. If I accessed your forum you might think it was Comcast, if it was a dialup IP then you might think it was the ISP (who may also be a Web Host).

Some companies don't use ISPs. We have our own blocks of IP addresses with direct connections to the internet.

I will send you more info in a PM.

Originally posted by bpasternak
What's even funnier, I posted a reply here on WHY a while back regarding advertising and getting local clients. I think part of my reply was to do a WhoIs lookup on local businesses websites and see if you can offer them a better deal on their hosting. Although I actually never have done this it's basically the same thing. I remember that post! ;)

Well it depends on how they're getting your clients' info, if they're using YOUR forum that's pretty low but if they're just whois-ing the domain and getting the info that way, it's STILL pretty low (don't get me wrong) but at least they're not using YOUR resources to do the dirty deed.

I've been, and am, tempted to go on a big door to door local drive and solicit the businesses who host with an ex employer but, laziness and a desire to avoid problems with this guy have kept me at bay... so far.

If you're looking for a hack for phpbb why don't you head over to www.phpbbhacks.com I believe you'll find it there...

http://phpbbhacks.com/viewhack.php?id=1415 this might be just the thing for you, although if that "host" registers under some alias, you might have to take further precautions.

Another thing you can do is setup all your customers in a usergroup and disable normal users & anonymous users access to your customer profiles so this situation does not happen. The only way that you will find that hosts are stealing your customers away is that they sign up with your service and why would another host sign up with your service if they have their own hosting company :-P

And apply something like the previous poster has mentioned.

Thanks
- James