No More FTP?

[Frostokovich]

Verizon today sent me an announcement regarding FTPing of HTML files: "For security reasons, Verizon will no longer allow users to FTP their HTML files to the personal web site Verizon offers."  On the face of it, this sounds like notification that customers with a web site set up as part of Verizon's Personal Webspace will no longer be able to update their website, since FTP is the way one uploads most files to one's web site.  

However, the language isn't clear.  Is Verizon banning FTP altogether across their network or only FTP aimed at these specific sites?

In other words, will those of us with websites elsewhere still be able to FTP HTML updates to our websites?

[Bri_Tech_Guy]

Believe me, you're not the only one with concerns and/or who is up in arms about this!!

I called Verizon this morning and was shuttled through 5 different transfers and still do not have an answer on this.    I have two different business websites up and running on Verizon webspace, one that was developed with KompoZer and the other with MS-Publisher.   These two programs, and any web authoring program I'm aware of, publish to webspace using FTP.

Someone at Verizon that I spoke to last is currently researching this and said that he had no knowledge of it whatsoever.  In addition to the e-mail last night, when you connect via an FTP server you get a lengthy "welcome" message (see screenshot) telling you that you won't be able to do this as of August 21st.

I really hope that this causes the cyber equivalent of a riot among Verizon webspace users.   You simply cannot cut off FTP access to webspace and have it be in any way functional anymore.   The rinky-dink sitebuilder software available via Verizon Online certainly doesn't let you create and maintain anything close to a viable website for even a small business.

I am protesting this move by Verizon in the strongest possible terms and hope that others will, too!!

Brian

[jimfo1]

I am furious about the possibility of losing FTP access to my personal website. I also called customer service this morning, and like you, the person I spoke to didn't know much about the policy change (it might have been nice of Verizon to brief their reps on this before emailing their customers). He put me on hold to find out, then he told me that the email I received was more for business customers, and it should not apply to me because I'm residential.  However, I don't completely believe that and I said would call back in a week when customers service learns more.

But if this is true, it completely upsets my phone and internet status. I was very happy with until now, but I can not tolerate losing FTP access to my site.

[Bri_Tech_Guy]

In my case, furious would be the "low end" of the emotional spectrum.   I tried my best, and succeeded, in not blasting the Verizon Tech Support Representative (and it took 5 transfers to get to him).

I have received a return call from him.   Apparently, and thank heavens, this is beginning to cause a stink.  When I last spoke to him about 40 minutes ago he said there is a meeting called for 3:30 PM this afternoon (Eastern Time) to discuss this "development."

I would encourage anyone who actually uses their Verizon webspace, whether for a website or for file sharing, and that uses FTP either directly or through the publishing capabilities of their web development software, to call tech support ASAP and express your opinion that FTP simply cannot be pulled as a transfer service.

How in heaven's name anyone in the decision making structure at Verizon could have come to the conclusion that you could pull FTP access to webspace is utterly mystifying!!  FTP is the backbone of web development and page transfer/publishing.   The whole schtick in the e-mail and FTP server announcements that this is "for security reasons" is even more ludicrous.  If you don't support anonymous FTP, and Verizon doesn't, it's every bit as secure as any other protocol that requires a login/password combination for access.   They must think that those of us who have been using our webspace for years and know about the "nuts and bolts" are morons, or else they're counting on people to just hit the "delete" button on the announcement e-mail and never notice this garbage is going on.

[restoman]

This is unsatisfactory. If Verizon is removing the ability to FTP to my site, I'll be going elsewhere. Their web builder is probably the worse program I've ever seen.

Brian, what's the phone number you called for tech support?

Ed

[Bri_Tech_Guy]

I have DSL service, which is important to note, because FIOS has a different number.

If you're a residential DSL user I'd try (800) 483-1000.    This at least got me to someone who was willing to listen and has been great so far in following up on this issue.

Please, please, please folks - heat up those phone lines.   Stop the insanity!!

[jimfo1]

Thanks for the number. I'll do my best to give them hell and I urge everyone to do the same. Years ago, I was so glad to be rid of AT&T and loved the switch to Verizon. But every year they get more and more like the old AT&T, and discontinuing FTP access to my website is just plain malicious.

[jdphilly]

Everyone using FTP must call Verizon right away. Send a letter if possible. We have to make it clear that this is a disasterous change of policy, and we don't have a lot of time. Call now!!

[RTD1]

Just in case Verizon has a change in plans and will permit us to use Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) I went to my old version that did not have a secure option but the newer version of Core does...it is a free program for all to use.

http://www.coreftp.com/download.html

In it, there is an option to connect via SSH/SFTP which is Secure Socket /Secure FTP . In the event we are permitted, we will already have that option available to us. Just wish I didn't have to search for another venue for my site.

[Mctiggs]

Verizon has just notified me that I need to change the port and the server so that I can continue to get e-mail..  I tried to do that, but discovered that I can only change one port... so now what.  As soon as I changed my servers as directed, I stopped getting e-mails... now I can't access my e-mails... This is not the first time verizon has done this... I'm getting tired of this.  Disgusted subscriber held hostage

[tns2]

---

@Mctiggs wrote:

Verizon has just notified me that I need to change the port and the server so that I can continue to get e-mail..  I tried to do that, but discovered that I can only change one port... so now what.  As soon as I changed my servers as directed, I stopped getting e-mails... now I can't access my e-mails... This is not the first time verizon has done this... I'm getting tired of this.  Disgusted subscriber held hostage

---

This topic has to do with Personal Web SIte (PWS) that is available with FIOS subscriptions.  They eliminated the ability of using other then a rather crude web tool to build web pages for your PWS.

Look in the email forum for hints on how to get your email to work.  Do make the changes they do work for all clients reported to date.   if you cannot figure it out how to get yours working after looking there, then post specifics in that forum on your email client and what if anything happens with those changes.

[smith6612]

It's a shocker that Verizon had to make the decision to cut off FTP access. Like mentioned above, you really can't have web hosting without FTP access. It just does not make sense, since FTP is basically the bread of web hosting. Can't get data to the server and rely on the server doing the work using site building scripts (pretty much every one out there sucks; CMS software driven by PHP for example, does wonders due to how flexible they are!) doesn't make web hosting.

If Verizon does proceed with shutting off FTP access, there are plenty of Free Web Hosting companies out there, as well as dirt cheap hosting that can run for around $5-10 a year. For those leaving the Verizon site hosting, a host I suggest to everyone is x10Hosting. Great guys over there.

By the way, since the site builder doesn't even have a basic file manager in it to allow users to see their site files and modify them at will like FTP allows, the only other method Verizon really has in offering a univeral File Transfer system is SFTP. If this was about Security, Verizon would have to use that but that also relies on SSH Keys being given to everyone and setting up SSH permissions to do nothing more than what FTP does. That causes problems in itself with the risk of people rooting servers, even if they are hardened and locked down. FTP can't do a whole lot, and even if it is insecure from a transfer standpoint, if data is that important it should not be on ISP hosting nor should it be sent over a wireless connection of any kind.

[restoman]

Thanks for the number Brian. I called but was on hold for 30 minutes, so I'll try again later. I'm hoping I was on hold for so long because they're being swamped with complaints!

Ed

[cayz]

I too have been extremely frustrated in my calls to Verizon Tech Support tonight.

I started with a chat with Meena, who after I mentioned the web builder being a proprietary interface, transferred me to Smartpages support.

John, who had clearly had his share of mis-directed calls, but was still laughing about it, said that Smartpages support was only for businss domain issues, and gave me back a new number to tech support. Which rang, and then said "we're sorry, but that phone does not answer", and hung up.

I called the first number (listed above), waited 5-10 minutes, & got Kevin, who first informed me (after a few minute hold) that the message meant that all personal webspace was going away "you need to go to Yahoo or someplace". When I said "doesn't the message only speak about FTP ? What about SFTP?", he put ms on hold for a few more minutes, and came back and said "yes, you can only use web builder".

When I asked who I could be transferred to to complain about this, another hold, and finally, "there is no one I can forward this complaint to, but I can note it here in the record".

Like, WHO IS GOING TO SEE THE RECORD!!!!?????

I am not demanding that FTP be held over. I am asking that the tech support at least know if there are any reasonable, standards-based alternative methods of uploading HTML. Sftp ssh-FTP FTP-via-https, anything.

This is NUTS!

[Bri_Tech_Guy]

Well, not that I think that my demands will be heard or met, I am demanding that FTP support not be pulled.

FTP is both the de facto and, effectively, de jure standard method by which HTML files (among myriad others) are uploaded to webspace everywhere.   Try to find a commercial web authoring product that does not use FTP as its method of uploading/dowloading from webspace as the primary method.

No ISP, including Verizon, has the right to effectively eliminate the ability to use something their customers have paid for and have been using, safely and easily, for years using "the usual methods."

Those of us who are paying customers need to make our feelings abundantly clear on this matter and, for those who can, walk if they actually go through with this action.

[piwtrnr]

Again I have to ask how a company so big can be soooo stupid!

Bill

[teck73]

I'm no activist, but I think someone out there should start up a petition to show Verizon how many people are upset about this change. This is ridiculous. I used my Personal Web Space to teach myself to write HTML. Now it'll be all for nothing.

[pernick]

I don't use the personal webspace to host my content.  I have a self-coded Java web server running at home and only store HTML re-direct files on the webspace that point to my IP. When the server detects that my IP has changed, it uploads updated HTML re-directs using FTP.  Since I won't be losing any content I guess it's not a big deal as I can switch to another host but I'm still peeved.  The personal space with FTP is a major reason I never switched to cable internet.

[AlexaW1]

Verizon will no longer allow users to FTP their files to the Personal Website that Verizon offers! This change will take effect on August 21, 2011.

[volunteerguy]

I support very small websites for non-profit and volunteer organizations by pointing their domain to html in my Verizon personal account.  Even though these sites are quite tidy, there is a lot of textual, helpful and important information out there that will now have to find another home.    

I believe many of us realize we can't use free hosting sites as an alternative since the features are extremely llimited.  The domains they provide for free, not unexpectedly, fail miserably in the Web of Trust (WOT) tests (imagine not having "faith" in a church web site).  You get what you pay for. 

There are quite a few hosting sites out there that offer reasonable rates for guys like me that only need a few features for this personal account (FTP, minimal space, 1 domain name).  Search around and you can find some coupon codes for them, too.  Some of us might work for or know someone that can give us a little space for free on a trustworthy web server, ask around.  I choose to keep my personal stuff separate, though.  Yes, I know, we shouldn't have to be doing this, but y'all said it well already... I won't override my </rant> tag.     

Maybe something will change, but in the meantime, if you're in the same boat as I where hundreds of good people depend on you to keep them informed with regularly updated websites, be prepared. 

[watsitmean]

I am trying to understand what the recent Notification Message really means to the user?  

The following was copied from the announcement.

"These modifications will occur on August 21, 2011. For security reasons, Verizon will no longer allow users to FTP their HTML files to the personal web site Verizon offers.

Verizon recommends that current FTP users download their files prior to August 21, 2011 to prevent any data loss.

If you still wish to have a Verizon website, please go to our site builder tool available with Personal Webspace which can be found under My Services in My Verizon at:

http://my.verizon.com/central/vzc.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pws_manageWebSpace#wlp_pws_manageWebS... "

When I try to find out what is really meant by going to the above link I do not find any information on the subject.

Can anyone help me know what I really need to do?  Can I still continue to use my Verizon email address?  Can I use a different server to send and receive email from?  Can I upload and download POP files?

What is an invalid HTML?