German internet service provider Internet Professionell GmbH, has had to shut down its web site after hackers were able to easily break into it and download huge lists of personal details of users that were subscribing to its proposed flat-rate ISP. Professionell, not related to the German Ziff-Davis publication of the same name, was offering internet access at a flat monthly fee and no metered dial-up charges, the holy grail for many European net users.
The ISP pulled its entire site after realizing customer passwords and credit card details were held in an easily-accessible unsecured text file on the server. Shortly before the firm had asked for patience from the hundreds of users that were trying to subscribe, as its server buckled under the demand for the service, which cost DM 149 ($78) per month for unlimited access, and DM 99 ($52) for off-peak access. Last night the site was still down and the management unavailable for comment.
