Acceptable Use Policy

1. Purpose

This AUP is designed to protect Sapling Hosting’s network, customers, and the wider internet community from misuse, abuse, and illegal activity. All users are required to use our Services responsibly and in good faith.

2. General Responsibilities

• You are responsible for all content, data, and activity conducted under your account.
• You must ensure end-users (visitors, customers, employees) also comply with this AUP.
• You must keep your website software (CMS, plugins, scripts) updated and secure.

3. Prohibited Uses

You may not use our Services for:

• Distributing malware, viruses, worms, Trojan horses, or other harmful code.
• Hosting or promoting phishing, scams, or deceptive practices.
• Spamming or sending unsolicited bulk email (see Section 5).
• Infringing on third-party intellectual property (copyright, trademarks, patents).
• Hosting illegal material including (but not limited to) pirated software, unlicensed media, or child exploitation content (zero tolerance).
• Running IRC servers, crypto-mining operations, or open proxies.
• Engaging in harassment, hate speech, or promoting violence.

4. Network & System Abuse

• Do not launch or participate in DDoS, port scanning, brute force attacks, or network flooding.
• Do not use excessive bandwidth or CPU in ways that disrupt other users (“fair use” applies).
• Do not attempt unauthorized access to any system or network (ours or others).

5. Email & Spam Policy

• You must not use our servers to send unsolicited bulk email (“spam”).
• All bulk or marketing emails must comply with applicable laws (e.g., UK PECR, EU ePrivacy, CAN-SPAM in US).
• Each message must include a clear opt-out mechanism.
• You may not run open relays or misconfigure mail servers to allow third-party abuse.

6. Security Obligations

• You must maintain secure passwords and access controls.
• You must promptly patch vulnerabilities in scripts, apps, and CMS platforms.
• You must not attempt to bypass our security controls or monitoring.

7. Illegal & Harmful Content

Strictly prohibited content includes:

• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
• Material that promotes terrorism, violent extremism, or hate crimes.
• Distribution of illegal drugs, weapons, or contraband.
• Fraudulent financial services, pyramid schemes, or unlicensed gambling.

8. Fair Use of Resources

• Shared hosting plans are intended for standard websites and apps, not file storage or large-scale distribution.
• Excessive disk space or bandwidth usage may result in throttling or suspension until an upgrade is arranged.
• We reserve the right to enforce limits if one user negatively impacts others.

9. Enforcement & Penalties

• Violations may result in warnings, suspension, or immediate termination of Services without refund.
• We may block or remove offending content or restrict access as needed to protect our network.
• Serious violations may be reported to law enforcement authorities.

10. Reporting Violations

If you believe this AUP has been violated, please report it to: contact@saplinghosting.com with full details (URLs, logs, evidence). We review all reports promptly.

---

Note: This AUP works alongside our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. By using Sapling Hosting services, you agree to comply with all three.