Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
Use of any VPHost service
constitutes acceptance and agreement to VPHost's AUP as well as VPHost's TOS
(Terms of Service).
IMPORTANT NOTICE: *All
payments to VPHost are non-refundable after the first 30 days period is over*
We support the uncensored flow of information and ideas over the Internet and do
not actively monitor subscriber activity under normal circumstances. Similarly,
we do not exercise editorial control over the content of any web site, e-mail
transmission, newsgroups, or other material created or accessible over or
through the services, except for certain proprietary Web sites. However, in
accordance with our TOS (Terms of Service), we may remove any materials that, in
our sole discretion, may be illegal, may subject us to liability, or which may
violate this AUP. VPHost may cooperate with legal authorities and/or third
parties in the investigation of any suspected or alleged crime or civil
wrongdoing. Your violation of this AUP may result in the suspension or immediate
termination of either your VPHost account or other actions as detailed in
Section 3 WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.
This document is intended to provide a basic understanding of VPHost's
Acceptable Use Policy. The following are guidelines for the establishment and
enforcement of VPHost's AUP:
- Ensure reliable service to
our customers
- Ensure security and privacy
of our systems and network, as well as the networks and systems of others
- Comply with existing laws
- Maintain our reputation as a
responsible service provider
- Encourage responsible use of
the Internet and discourage activities which reduce the usability and value
of Internet services
- Preserve the value of
Internet resources as a conduit for free expression and exchange of
information
- Preserve the privacy and
security of individual users
- VPHost intends to provide
its customers access to everything the Internet has to offer. While the
VPHost is firmly committed to the principles of free speech, certain
activities that may be damaging to the resources of both the VPHost and the
Internet and cannot be permitted under the guise of free speech. The
resources of the VPHost and the Internet are limited, and abuse of these
resources by one user has a negative impact on the entire community.
We do not routinely monitor the
activity of accounts except for measurements of system utilization and the
preparation of billing records. However, in our efforts to promote good
citizenship within the Internet community, we will respond appropriately if we
become aware of inappropriate use of our service.
You may not use our services to publish material, which VPHost determines, at
its sole discretion, to be unlawful, indecent or objectionable. For purposes of
this policy, "material" refers to all forms of communications including
narrative descriptions, graphics (including photographs, illustrations, images,
drawings, logos), executable programs, video recordings, and audio recordings.
If a VPHost account is used to violate the Acceptable Use Policy or our TOS, we
reserve the right to terminate your service without notice. We prefer to advise
customers of inappropriate behavior and any necessary corrective action,
however, flagrant violations of the Acceptable Use Policy will result in
immediate termination of service. Our failure to enforce this policy, for
whatever reason, shall not be construed as a waiver of our right to do so at any
time.
VIOLATIONS OF VPHost ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
The following constitute violations of this AUP:
- Illegal use: VPHost's
services may not be used for illegal purposes, or in support of illegal
activities. VPHost reserves the right to cooperate with legal authorities
and/or injured third parties in the investigation of any suspected crime or
civil wrongdoing.
- Harm to minors: Use
of the VPHost service to harm, or attempt to harm, minors in any way,
including, but not limited to child pornography.
- Threats: Use of the
VPHost service to transmit any material (by e-mail, uploading, posting or
otherwise) that threatens or encourages bodily harm or destruction of
property.
- Harassment: Use of
the VPHost service to transmit any material (by e-mail, uploading, posting
or otherwise) that harasses another.
- Fraudulent activity:
Use of VPHost service to make fraudulent offers to sell or buy products,
items, or services, or to advance any type of financial scam such as
"pyramid schemes," "ponzi schemes," and "chain letters."
- Forgery or impersonation:
Adding, removing or modifying identifying network header information in an
effort to deceive or mislead is prohibited. Attempting to impersonate any
person by using forged headers or other identifying information is
prohibited. The use of anonymous remailers or nicknames does not constitute
impersonation.
- Unsolicited commercial
e-mail / Unsolicited bulk e-mail (SPAM): Use of the VPHost service to
transmit any unsolicited commercial or unsolicited bulk e-mail is expressly
prohibited. Violations of this type will result in the immediate termination
of the offending VPHost account.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY, any website/account that
is found to support spammers or cause any of our IP space to be listed in
any of the various Spam Databases will have their account immediately
removed from our network. The account will not be reconnected until such
time that you agree to remove ANY and ALL traces of the
offending material immediately upon reconnection and agree to allow us
access to the account to confirm that all material has been COMPLETELY
removed. Severe violations may result in immediate and permanent removal of
the account from our network without notice to the customer. Any account
guilty of a second violation WILL be immediately and permanently
removed from our network without notice.
- E-mail / News Bombing:
Malicious intent to impede another person's use of electronic mail services
or news will result in the immediate termination of the offending VPHost
account.
- E-mail / Message Forging:
Forging any message header, in part or whole, of any electronic
transmission, originating or passing through the VPHost service is in
violation of this AUP.
- Usenet SPAMing:
VPHost has a zero tolerance policy for the use of its network for the
posting of messages or commercial advertisements, which violate the rules,
regulations, FAQ or charter of any newsgroups or mailing list. Commercial
messages that are appropriate under the rules of a newsgroup or mailing list
or that are solicited by the recipients are permitted.
- Unauthorized access:
Use of the VPHost service to access, or to attempt to access, the accounts
of others, or to penetrate, or attempt to penetrate, security measures of
VPHost's or another entity's computer software or hardware, electronic
communications system, or telecommunications system, whether or not the
intrusion results in the corruption or loss of data, is expressly prohibited
and the offending VPHost account is subject to immediate termination.
- Copyright or trademark
infringement: Use of the VPHost service to transmit any material (by
e-mail, uploading, posting or otherwise) that infringes any copyright,
trademark, patent, trade secret or other proprietary rights of any third
party, including, but not limited to, the unauthorized copying of
copyrighted material, the digitization and distribution of photographs from
magazines, books, or other copyrighted sources, and the unauthorized
transmittal of copyrighted software.
- Collection of personal
data: Use of the VPHost service to collect, or attempt to collect,
personal information about third parties without their knowledge or consent.
- Network disruptions and
unfriendly activity: Use of the VPHost service for any activity which
affects the ability of other people or systems to use VPHost Services or the
Internet. This includes "denial of service" (DOS) attacks against another
network host or individual user. Interference with or disruption of other
network users, services or equipment is prohibited. It is the Member's
responsibility to ensure that their network is configured in a secure
manner. A Subscriber may not, through action or inaction, allow others to
use their network for illegal or inappropriate actions. A Subscriber may not
permit their network, through action or inaction, to be configured in such a
way that gives a third party the capability to use their network in an
illegal or inappropriate manner. Unauthorized entry and/or use of another
company and/or individual's computer system will result in immediate account
termination. VPHost will not tolerate any subscriber attempting to access
the accounts of others, or penetrate security measures of other systems,
whether or not the intrusion results in corruption or loss of data.
- Fraud: Involves a
knowing misrepresentation or misleading statement, writing or activity made
with the intent that the person receiving it will act upon it.
- Infringement of
Copyright, Patent, Trademark, Trade Secret, or Intellectual Property Right:
Distribution and/or posting of copyrighted or the aforementioned
infringements will not be tolerated.
- Distribution of Viruses:
Intentional distributions of software that attempts to and/or causes damage,
harassment, or annoyance to persons, data, and/or computer systems are
prohibited. Such an offense will result in the immediate termination of the
offending account.
- Inappropriate Use of
Software: Use of software or any device that would facilitate a
disruption in the VPHost network, while using VPHost services could result
in suspension service.
- Third Party
Accountability: VPHost subscribers will be held responsible and
accountable for any activity by third parties, using their account, that
violates guidelines created within the Acceptable Use Policy.
- Violation Of VPHost
Services: It is absolutely forbidden to host IRC (run or connect) servers on any service
provided by VPHost. Accounts found hosting this material will be subject to
immediate cancellation without refund.
Security
You are responsible for any misuse of your account, even if the inappropriate
activity was committed by a friend, family member, guest or employee. Therefore,
you must take steps to ensure that others do not gain unauthorized access to
your account. In addition, you may not use your account to breach security of
another account or attempt to gain unauthorized access to another network or
server.
- Your password provides
access to your account. It is your responsibility to keep your password
secure.
- Sharing your password and
account access with unauthorized users is prohibited. You should take care
to prevent others from using your account since you will be held responsible
for such use.
- Attempting to obtain another
user's account password is strictly prohibited, and may result in
termination of service.
- You must adopt adequate
security measures to prevent or minimize unauthorized use of your account.
- You may not attempt to
circumvent user authentication or security of any host, network or account.
This includes, but is not limited to, accessing data not intended for you,
logging into or making use of a server or account you are not expressly
authorized to access, or probing the security of other networks. Use or
distribution of tools designed for compromising security is prohibited.
Examples of these tools include, but are not limited to, password guessing
programs, cracking tools or network probing tools.
- You may not attempt to
interfere with service to any user, host or network ("denial of service
attacks"). This includes, but is not limited to, "flooding" of networks,
deliberate attempts to overload a service, and attempts to "crash" a host.
- Users who violate systems or
network security may incur criminal or civil liability. VPHost will
cooperate fully with investigations of violations of systems or network
security at other sites, including cooperating with law enforcement
authorities in the investigation of suspected criminal violations.
Network Performance
Network Performance
VPHost accounts operate on shared resources. Excessive use or abuse of these
shared network resources by one customer may have a negative impact on all other
customers. Misuse of network resources in a manner which impairs network
performance is prohibited by this policy and may result in termination of your
account.
You are prohibited from excessive consumption of resources, including CPU
processes, memory, disk space and session time. You may not use
resource-intensive programs which negatively impact other customers or the
performances of VPHost systems or networks. VPHost reserves the right to
terminate or limit such activities.
REVISIONS TO THIS ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
VPHost reserves the right to
revise, amend, or modify this AUP, our TOS (Terms of Service) and our other
policies and agreements at any time and in any manner. Notice of any revision,
amendment, or modification will be posted in accordance with our TOS (Terms of
Service).
-Updated 7/11/2005