Not So Secure Scripts

[sgerner]

One of my top requirements when I chose a host provider was an easy-to-use script auto-installer that kept my site up-to-date with the latest security patches. Host Gator has selected Fantastico to fill that purpose. Prior to ordering I chatted with a Host Gator help line assistant online and I felt confident that the auto-installer requirement would be meet by Fantastico. So I signed up. Little did I realize that Host Gators choice of using Fantastico now is my biggest headache. Many of the scripts are 2 or 3 versions out-of-date (2 months worth of patches) and have critical security vulnerabilities which are widely known now. Yes, it is always possible to manually update the scripts on your own, which is a pain by the way. However when you are paying for a service that is suppose to do that for you, it defeats the purpose of choosing a provider with that service. Especially if one of the reasons you chose the provider was for a supposedly good auto-installer.

In conclusion, if you are using Drupal, PostNuke/Ziluka, ZenCart scripts, just to name a few, and want to easily keep them up-to-date without gaping security holes then I would avoid any provider with Fantastico. However, if your main concern is competitive pricing and are not concerned at all with auto-installation scripts then I would recommend Host Gator. I also did get quick responses to my support tickets, even though the answers where not what I wanted to hear.

[sgerner]

Wow. Host Gator decides to change the thumbs down icon on the original post to a neutral mark on their own. I wonder how many other bad reviews get the thumbs down icon changed to a neutral mark so their forum reviews look better. For me personally, I stand by my original thumbs down review of Host Gator. Even though I was being nice and did offer a reason for certain people to pick Host gator, a secure website is a much higher priority for me than a cheap one.

[GatorDHanna]

I apologize about the inconveniences you've experienced as a result of Fantastico not staying as up to date as it should.

As I'm sure you know and have been told, Fantastico is software developed and maintained by a third party company. As a result of that, we don't have much control over what versions of which software packages they use.

This fact is as frustrating for us as it is for our customers. We don't want our customers' accounts getting hacked, resource usage problems, etc. any more than our customers do. All of those things take up support resources and can negatively affect server performance.

With that in mind, we update Fantastico as soon as they do to ensure that the scripts in it are as quick as up-to-date as Fantastico makes possible.

We're also working on replacing Fantastico with something we've been developing in-house. The nice thing about the new script that we're working on is that we'll be able to keep it up-to-date ourselves. The script is pretty far along and we're hoping to get it out as soon as possible.

[GatorDHanna]

Originally Posted by sgerner

Wow. Host Gator decides to change the thumbs down icon on the original post to a neutral mark on their own. I wonder how many other bad reviews get the thumbs down icon changed to a neutral mark so their forum reviews look better. For me personally, I stand by my original thumbs down review of Host Gator. Even though I was being nice and did offer a reason for certain people to pick Host gator, a secure website is a much higher priority for me than a cheap one.

Sorry about that. I changed it to the neutral mark because I had responded (I was actually writing my post while you posted) and we would be awaiting your response afterwards. I'll change it back for you now.