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I've got MSSQL DB functionality set up with a hosting provider, and recently logged in for the first time. When I added the connection, it then listed (apparently) every single MSSQL database on their servers. I couldn't access them, but I could see their names, which led me to identifying the related websites. Is this bad practice?

andrewb
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    This is bad, very bad. The DB Police will be around shortly. Yes your correct this is bad pratice and has huge Data Protection issues. – Zapto Aug 12 '13 at 13:13
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    Run Forrest! Run like the wind! – Tom O'Connor Aug 12 '13 at 13:19
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    Do YOU care that your mssql db is seen now by the rest of the clients? When you see the smoke are you going to wait until the fire? – TheCleaner Aug 12 '13 at 13:26
  • @andrewb - he wasn't mocking you. Rather he was invoking a quote from a popular movie as a means of communicating how bad this situation is. Regarding your question - you are using shared hosting and as such are not the system administrator. You are a system user. Not that there's anything wrong with that - you're just not the target audience for ServerFault. – EEAA Aug 13 '13 at 04:15
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    @EEAA and in said popular movie, Forrest is a disabled and completely clueless guy. Who am I in his analogy? 3 out of 5 responses have been a heavily sarcastic take at my apparent (yet non-existent) paranoia - all I asked was "Is this bad practice?". There's much better ways of dealing with novice off-topic questions. Looking at the meta it appears that you guys have been concerned about site health, maybe try being friendlier as that'd encourage me to come back when I have some legitimate and advanced questions. – andrewb Aug 13 '13 at 07:24
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    That wasn't mocking, that was British Humour. – Tom O'Connor Aug 13 '13 at 08:18
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    @andrewb - yours is a borderline case regarding its appropriateness - I actually think it's relevant and reusable to document than no, this is far from best practice, in fact I'd go nuts with your provider. That said I would like your thoughts on my contention that we might be unfriendly but we consider it unfriendly of new users to ignore all written directions about what and who the site is - it happens SO much, new users think the site should fit their problem, never the opposite. As a new user I'd be interested in your thoughts as we're keen to clarify the purpose of the site. – Chopper3 Aug 13 '13 at 08:25
  • @Chopper3 that would be great, how should we best do this? Chat or meta? I think it would be best to move it out of this comment block. – andrewb Aug 13 '13 at 22:54
  • Either would be good, cheers. – Chopper3 Aug 14 '13 at 08:00
  • @Chopper3 I added a chat, you able to find it? If not I may just make a question on meta. – andrewb Aug 15 '13 at 23:10

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Yes, and the hosting provider is bad and they should feel bad. Run away!

Nathan C
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This is an unavoidable artifact of being on shared web hosting: The resources are shared between clients without much isolation.

If it's of particular concern to you, for privacy or other reasons, you should not use shared web hosting.

Michael Hampton
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