Suit Claims Network Solutions Compromises Emails

SAN FRANCISCO — A John Doe plaintiff has filed suit against Network Solutions, claiming the company makes its customers’ private email messages publicly available on the Internet through common search engines such as Google.

The suit, which seeks class-action status, claims that Network Solutions-hosted email business is defective because the company “knowingly failed to install industry-standard hardware and/or software that would have prevented the release of this information.”

Network Solutions sells email services when it bundles registration of domain names. The company also offers web hosting, website design, online marketing and search engine optimization.

Doe, in the suit, said that Network Solutions customers have been faced with “public snooping on their bank accounts, Social Security numbers, romantic lives, business and social plans” because surfers can get that information through “snap shots” of customers’ email in-boxes through Google, Internet archives and caches, the complaint states.

“With a few key strokes anyone with access to the Internet could review this highly personal and sensitive information,” the suit said.

“[Network Solutions] holds itself out as one of the oldest, best and most-experienced domain name registration service on the Internet,” the suit continued. “It also claims to be an expert at search engine optimization, security and privacy. It’s business practices, however, do not support (and directly contradict) such claims.”

The suit, filed by Gutride, Safier & Reese at U.S. District Court in San Francisco, demands punitive damages over charges of deceptive trade practices, unjust enrichment and violations of the California Customer Records Act, among other allegations.

Calls to Network Solutions and Gutride Safier went unreturned by post time.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Adult Networking Platform SpicyGigs.com Launches

SpicyGigs, a new adult industry networking platform, has officially launched.

Pineapple Support to Host 'Cream Pie Challenge' Fundraiser

Pineapple Support is hosting its Cream Pie Challenge through August to raise funds for mental health services for industry performers.

Kyrgyzstan President Signs Measure Outlawing Internet Porn

President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday signed into law legislation outlawing online adult content in the country.

NC Legislature Overrides Veto of Extreme Anti-Adult Industry Bill

The North Carolina state legislature on Tuesday voted to override Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of a bill imposing regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most creators and content.

Report: VPN Downloads Soar in UK Following Age Verification Deadline

Virtual private network apps, which can be used to circumvent geo-specific age verification requirements, are topping Apple App Store downloads in the U.K. in the wake of new Online Safety Act rules, the BBC is reporting.

Strike 3 Holdings Sues Meta for Pirating Vixen Media Group Content to Train AI

Vixen Media Group owner Strike 3 Holdings filed suit in federal court this week, accusing Facebook parent company Meta of copyright infringement and alleging that Meta has extensively pirated VMG content to train its artificial intelligence models.

Pineapple Support, Streamate to Host 'Navigating Grief and Loss' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Streamate are hosting a free online support group to help performers cope with grief and loss.

Friday is Final AV Compliance Deadline in UK

Friday, July 25 marks U.K. media regulator Ofcom’s deadline for user-to-user services such as tube, cam and fan sites to implement its requisite “highly effective age assurance” measures for preventing minors from viewing adult content.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for May, June

AEBN has released the top search terms for the months of May and June from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Ofcom Releases Transparency Reporting Guidelines

Ofcom, the U.K. media regulator, has made public its official guidance detailing how online service providers — including adult sites — will be required to publish annual transparency reports on their efforts to protect children from online harms.

Show More