Acceptable Use Policy

Overview

This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") applies to all customers ("Customer") using hosting services provided by SHOMPTON, LLC ("Shompton"). This policy is designed to protect the security, integrity, reliability, and privacy of both the Shompton network and the services we provide.

By using Shompton hosting services, you agree to comply with this AUP. Shompton reserves the right to modify this policy at any time, effective upon posting. Your continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of any modifications.

Customer Responsibility: You are solely responsible for all activities that occur under your account, including unauthorized use. You agree not to engage in any unacceptable use of our services.

Prohibited Content

You may not post, transmit, store, or link to any content that:

Illegal or Harmful Content

• Violates any local, state, federal, or international law or regulation
• Infringes on intellectual property rights (copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret)
• Contains child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or child pornography
• Promotes or facilitates illegal activities
• Contains malware, viruses, or other malicious code
• Facilitates identity theft or fraud

Harmful or Offensive Content

• Incites violence or contains credible threats of violence
• Constitutes hate speech or harassment
• Defames or violates the privacy rights of others
• Contains graphic violence or gore (except for legitimate news/educational purposes)
• Promotes self-harm or suicide

Deceptive or Fraudulent Content

• Phishing schemes or social engineering attacks
• Pyramid schemes or multi-level marketing scams
• Fraudulent or deceptive business practices
• Counterfeit goods or services

Prohibited Activities

Unauthorized Access

You may not:

• Access data, systems, or networks without authorization
• Probe, scan, or test vulnerabilities of systems or networks
• Breach security or authentication measures
• Intercept data not intended for you
• Circumvent user authentication or security controls

Network Abuse

You may not:

• Interfere with or disrupt services, servers, or networks
• Launch denial of service (DoS) or distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks
• Engage in port scanning or network flooding
• Use packet spoofing or forged routing information
• Operate IRC servers or bots without prior authorization

Resource Abuse

You may not:

• Use excessive server resources that impact other customers
• Run cryptocurrency mining operations
• Host file-sharing or torrent services
• Use automated scripts that generate excessive traffic
• Resell or redistribute services without authorization

Network Security Requirements

Security Best Practices

You must:

• Keep all software, scripts, and applications up to date with security patches
• Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts
• Implement appropriate security measures for your applications
• Monitor your account for suspicious activity
• Promptly address security vulnerabilities when notified

Vulnerable Resources

Upon notification of a security vulnerability (e.g., open relay, unsecured application, outdated software), you must immediately take corrective action. Continued abuse after notification will be considered a violation of this AUP.

Email Policies

Spam and Unsolicited Email

Strictly Prohibited: Sending spam or unsolicited commercial email (UCE) is absolutely forbidden. This includes:

• Mass unsolicited email campaigns
• Email to purchased or harvested email lists
• Email sent without recipient consent
• Misleading subject lines or sender information
• Email that violates CAN-SPAM Act requirements

Email Best Practices

All commercial email must:

• Include accurate sender information
• Provide clear opt-out mechanisms
• Honor opt-out requests within 10 business days
• Include valid physical mailing address
• Clearly identify the message as an advertisement

Email Volume Limits

Excessive email sending may be flagged as potential spam. Contact us before sending bulk legitimate email campaigns to avoid service disruption.

Resource Usage

Fair Use Policy

Hosting plans include specified resource allocations (disk space, bandwidth, CPU, memory). You must use resources reasonably and not in a manner that:

• Degrades performance for other customers
• Exceeds your plan's resource limits
• Constitutes abuse of shared resources

Bandwidth Overages

Accounts exceeding bandwidth allocations may be:

• Billed at $4.00 per GB over the limit, or
• Suspended until the next billing cycle

Suspended accounts are subject to a $30 reconnection fee.

Storage Limits

Accounts must stay within allocated disk space limits. Excessive storage use may result in additional charges or service suspension.

Legal Compliance

You are responsible for ensuring your use of hosting services complies with all applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to:

• Copyright and intellectual property laws (DMCA)
• Privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA, etc.)
• Export control regulations
• Anti-spam laws (CAN-SPAM Act)
• Accessibility requirements (ADA, Section 508)
• Industry-specific regulations (HIPAA, PCI-DSS, etc.)

Shompton will cooperate with law enforcement and may disclose customer information when required by law.

Enforcement

Investigation and Response

Upon discovering or receiving notification of a potential AUP violation, Shompton may:

• Investigate the alleged violation
• Request information or cooperation from you
• Suspend service immediately if necessary to protect our network
• Remove content that violates this AUP
• Terminate your account for serious or repeated violations

Notification

We will attempt to contact you prior to suspension when possible, but prior notification is not guaranteed, especially in cases of:

• Active security threats
• Ongoing attacks or abuse
• Legal requirements for immediate action
• Severe resource abuse affecting other customers

Violation Fees

You will be charged for costs incurred due to AUP violations, including:

• $100/hour for security breach investigation and recovery
• Costs to remove IP addresses from blacklists (SpamHaus, etc.)
• Equipment and materials needed for remediation
• Legal fees and costs related to responding to complaints

Reporting Violations

If you become aware of any violation of this AUP, please report it to us immediately:

Questions About This Policy

If you are unsure whether a contemplated use or action is permitted under this AUP, please contact us before proceeding:

Related Policies:

• Hosting Terms of Service - Complete hosting agreement
• Privacy Policy - How we handle your personal data