Why do we need an Acceptable use policy (AUP)? You
would hope a policy would not be needed, but common sense is not really common
enough to rely on that. Either way, it's a good idea to spell out our policy in
this matter to those who are curious and want to make sure they are in
compliance.
If you are aware of breach of the following WebSavvy Solutions AUP, please contact us.
General Usage:
First of all, let's be clear: WebSavvy Solutions
(WSS) does not knowingly allow our systems to be used for any activity
that is illegal. Using the network to advertise, transmit, store, post, display,
or otherwise encourage illegal activity is prohibited.
WSS does not allow sites that contain pornographic
material or sites that link to pornographic material (legal or illegal).
Transmission of any material in violation of any federal, state or local
regulation is prohibited. This includes copyrighted material, material judged to
be threatening or obscene, or material protected by trade secret.
Privacy:
While every attempt is made to keep all information passing to and from our
systems, and to and from our customers private, you must assume that any
information that you transmit or receive may not be private. WSS does not
monitor or record normal usage of our systems. However, WSS will fully cooperate
with any authority in investigation of illegal activity upon receipt of proper
orders or subpoenas.
WSS will not sell or transfer any information about our customer base to any
third party for the purpose of using that information for marketing or direct
sales. WSS can not guarantee such information will not be found on customer's
web site or through a domain check.
You might want to read the Electronic Communications Act of 1986
and the Telecommunications Act of 1998. They contain important privacy and
confidentiality information.
Responsible Usage:
We exercise no control over the content of the information passing through
our systems; we just provide the web site hosting. You must take responsibility
for your actions on our system and the systems you access through us. Avoid
whatever you find offensive. Take responsibility for the statements you make on
your web site. Don't do things to your website that
invite others to misuse our servers.
WSS is not liable for any damages, judgments or expenses and other
liabilities resulting from any final determination made against you.
Email:
WSS does not allow our network resources to be used by
anyone to email or mass-email any user or groups of users who have not indicated
a willingness to receive such mailings. People in the web industry call this
SPAM and it is considered rude in the least and actually illegal in some
circumstances. For those who are curious, a U.S. law was recently passed
specifically allowing single event unsolicited email. You might be aghast at
first, but in the paper mail world, people have been doing more than single-time
mailings soliciting your business for years (known as "junk mail").
WSS does not allow our systems to be used for RELAY
to or from other networks or people. Standard email is what is provided, not
"email laundering" for others.
Resource usage:
No communications system has unlimited resources,
and we expect you to act responsibly when consuming resources on our
system. The Resource Usage policy applies to any and all WSS resources
used by our Customers, including the allowed space and amount of transfer per
month. Further, Customers using WSS may not run IRC, bots or clients.
UNacceptable uses also include, but are NOT limited to: Bulk e-mailing,
unsolicited e-mailings, spam site advertising, newsgroup spamming, adult
content, illegal content, copyright infringement, trademark infringement, warez,
cracks, software serial numbers, online gambling, and/or anything else
determined by WSS to be unacceptable use of WSS's services. Customers are
responsible for any appearances of their internet domain name and may be found
in violation of WSS's AUP by the actions of outside parties. If you consume
excessive resources on our system we may suspend your access at any time
without prior notice.
Security:
WSS's hosting provider actively and
automatically monitors all of our systems for attempts at breaching security or
attempts to access systems or resources that are not available for customers to
use or access. This is commonly known as "hacking". Any attempt to
access or modify unauthorized computer system information or to interfere with
normal system operations, whether on the equipment of WSS or of any computer
system or network that is accessed by our services, will result in
immediate and permanent cancellation of your account and may also lead to other
legal proceedings against you(!).
WSS takes security very seriously;
this way you and all of our customers can enjoy a safe and productive Internet environment.
ANYONE FOUND ACCESSING OR ATTEMPTING TO ACCESS UNAUTHORIZED WSS OR WSS CUSTOMER EQUIPMENT WILL HAVE THEIR ACCOUNT IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED AND THE INCIDENT MAY BE REPORTED TO THE FBI.Examples of security actions that will trigger security alarms at the host's 24 hour / 7 day staffed network operations center are, but are not limited to:
NONE OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED SECURITY PROBLEMS ARE EVER ACCIDENTAL, AND NORMAL USE OF INTERNET SOFTWARE SUCH AS BROWSERS AND EMAIL PROGRAMS WILL NEVER CAUSE A PROBLEM. ALL OF THE ABOVE ACTIONS ARE DELIBERATE AND INTENTIONAL AND IN MANY CASES REQUIRE SOPHISTICATED PROGRAMS AND KNOWLEDGE.