Dangerous default re rDNS
Yes, so if it was changed FROM an unacceptable word, then surely it was no longer unacceptable, so why re-censor a word which wasn't unacceptable?! 
Quote There can be no valid reason or excuse to allow the username to be given.
I think you are wrong, and that the username should be the default !.
If you are setting up a static IP address for your connection, then you are most likely doing it so that services that you are hosting on your connection can be accessed from the internet.
For example you might want to host your own web server that can be accessed by family and friends, you wouldn't then tell your Grandma to open a web browser and type "http://212.159.234.210/photosdirectory/index.html", NO you would say type "www.myusername.plus.net" and click on "Photos".
Other than perhaps signing up for the ThinkBroadband quality monitor which monitors an IP address, most other services that externally access your static IP will be wanting your domain name - which in the simplest default case happens to be your Plusnet username.
Perhaps people should be more careful about choosing their Plusnet account username, if they intend to advertise it to the world.
Don't forget that if you are using your Plusnet account for your emails, then it won't be long before a spammer somewhere will know your Plusnet username because it forms part of the email address.
What I do object to is that if you register a unique internet domain in the UK as a private individual, while you can ask for your address and phone number to be hidden, your full name DOES appear when you do a 'WhoIs' lookup on your domain. Worse still is if you register for domains or IP address allocations from foreign companies, then they will often publish your full home address details, and possibly phone number, for everyone to see - SO BEWARE !
@Phileasfrog -
I couldn't find your webcam on the internet, but I did find your holiday photos amusing ! - Phileasfrog on holiday !
I couldn't find your webcam on the internet, but I did find your holiday photos amusing ! - Phileasfrog on holiday !
Quote from: purleigh I think you are wrong, and that the username should be the default !
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Perhaps people should be more careful about choosing their Plusnet account username, if they intend to advertise it to the world.
Sorry, I have to disagree
When I chose my Plusnet username I was under the impression I was choosing one half of the login credentials for my account. It didn't even cross my mind that, with a fixed IP, PN would advertise my username to every single web site I visit and they certainly didn't tell me what it would/could be used for. So the safer default option would be to use the IP address for rDNS, as Phileasfrog suggests. Then for those users who want a more memorable URL for their granny, they can either use their own domain name (my choice) or their username if they, personally, are comfortable with that. I get the impression racquel wasn't! I'm not either.
Quote from: Bright When I chose my Plusnet username I was under the impression I was choosing one half of the login credentials for my account. It didn't even cross my mind that, with a fixed IP, PN would advertise my username to every single web site I visit and they certainly didn't tell me what it would/could be used for.
Me too. In fact, here's a reply from Plusnet just now:
Quote Thank you for getting back to us.
Unfortunately I would be unable to refund the £5 charge [actually 2*£5 now], as this is the standard charge for adding a static IP. If you did wish for us to re-add a static IP, I could have done this with no additional cost to yourself and arrange for the rDNS to be updated as part of this, but as you added this via the portal this amount was applied to your account correctly.
I can confirm that as part of the sign up journey we do indicate that the username will form part of your email address as shown below:
I appreciate that we are currently talking about the rDNS of the static IP but the principle is the same, we do advise that your username will be viewable as part of your email address and as this is the case we would not consider this a breach of the Data Protection Act.
If you wish to raise a complaint regarding this, you can do so at the following link: Complaints Policy.
So they can't tell me where, on any of these pages, that it warns me that my username will be in the rDNS?
https://www.plus.net/AddOns.html
http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/products/IP_addresses_broadband.shtml
http://www.plus.net/support/customer_service/using/usernames_guide.shtml
There's a help-page at https://www.plus.net/wizard/?p=wizard&page=22425&wizard_id=38 which talks about the default rDNS settings.
At the foot of which is a link to http://www.iptools.com/ which is a domain for sale (very helpful).
This help page is not linked to from any of the static IP signup pages.
In what way is a clear note that my username will be the same as my email address which I choose to give out or not, "the same principle" as telling every website I visit my plusnet username without any warning? Particularly as this would be a change from one situation to another.
Quote I appreciate that we are currently talking about the rDNS of the static IP but the principle is the same".
Quote If you did wish for us to re-add a static IP, I could have done this with no additional cost to yourself and arrange for the rDNS to be updated as part of this, but as you added this via the portal this amount was applied to your account correctly.
Where does it say that?! So it's cheaper for you to have me holding for 30 minutes and get someone to physically do something, that it is for me to click a button?!
Needless to say I've just replied to the ticket asking for clarification and whether this is PN's final answer before starting the process at http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints/handling.aspx
Quote from: Bright
Quote from: purleigh I think you are wrong, and that the username should be the default !
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Perhaps people should be more careful about choosing their Plusnet account username, if they intend to advertise it to the world.
Sorry, I have to disagree
+1
Plusnet ought default to something anonymous and offer the option to associate the username with the rDNS entry. I don't use Plusnet email so, now the rDNS entry is IP based, there's nothing that advertises my username...