Acceptable Use Policy

1. Introduction

This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") governs the use of all services provided by Afrilink Telecoms (Pty) Ltd, including web hosting, domain registration, fiber internet, and email hosting services.

This AUP is incorporated into and forms part of our Terms and Conditions. By using our services, you agree to comply with this policy.

2. Prohibited Activities

You may not use our services to:

2.1 Illegal Activities

• Violate any South African or international law
• Engage in or promote fraudulent activities
• Distribute pirated software, media, or copyrighted material
• Facilitate drug trafficking, gambling (where illegal), or other criminal activities
• Engage in money laundering or terrorist financing

2.2 Harmful Content

• Child exploitation material (absolutely prohibited, reported to authorities)
• Content promoting violence, terrorism, or self-harm
• Hate speech targeting race, religion, gender, or other protected characteristics
• Defamatory, libelous, or privacy-violating content
• Pornographic or adult content (on standard hosting plans)

2.3 Security Violations

• Unauthorized access to systems, networks, or data
• Distribution of malware, viruses, trojans, or ransomware
• Phishing, spoofing, or impersonation attacks
• Denial of service (DoS/DDoS) attacks
• Port scanning, network probing, or vulnerability testing without authorization
• Bypassing security measures or authentication systems

2.4 Email Abuse

• Sending spam or unsolicited bulk email
• Email harvesting or scraping
• Forging email headers or sender information
• Operating open mail relays
• Sending emails that violate CAN-SPAM, POPIA, or similar regulations

2.5 Resource Abuse

• Cryptocurrency mining or similar resource-intensive operations
• Running processes that consume excessive CPU, RAM, or I/O
• Using hosting for file storage/sharing or backup purposes only
• Operating torrent trackers or peer-to-peer file sharing hubs
• Proxy services, VPNs, or anonymizing services without approval

2.6 Intellectual Property

• Copyright infringement or hosting pirated content
• Trademark violations or brand impersonation
• Patent infringement
• Circumventing digital rights management (DRM)

3. Fair Usage

3.1 Shared Resources

Our shared hosting services are designed for normal website operation. Usage that significantly impacts other customers or server stability may result in resource limits or account suspension.

3.2 "Unlimited" Features

Features advertised as "unlimited" (bandwidth, storage, etc.) are subject to our fair usage policy. These features are intended for normal website operation, not:

• File distribution or backup storage
• Video/audio streaming platforms
• High-volume data processing
• Activities that consume disproportionate resources

4. Content Requirements

4.1 Your Responsibility

• You are solely responsible for all content on your hosting account
• You must have legal rights to all content you upload
• You must comply with applicable content laws and regulations

4.2 Backup & Security

• Keep your CMS, plugins, and themes updated
• Maintain your own backups of important data
• Use strong passwords and secure authentication
• Report any security vulnerabilities or breaches promptly

5. Fiber Internet Usage

For fiber internet services specifically:

• Service is for personal/business use at the installed address only
• Reselling or sharing connection with others outside your premises is prohibited
• Running servers is permitted for normal small business operations
• Excessive usage that degrades network performance may be managed
• All prohibited activities listed above apply to fiber usage

6. Reporting Violations

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

7. Enforcement

7.1 Investigation

We reserve the right to investigate any suspected violation of this AUP. We may review content, access logs, and other data as necessary to investigate complaints.

7.2 Actions We May Take

Depending on the severity and nature of the violation, we may:

• Issue a Warning: For minor first-time violations
• Remove Content: Delete specific offending content
• Suspend Service: Temporarily suspend access pending investigation or resolution
• Terminate Service: Permanently terminate service without refund for serious violations
• Report to Authorities: Report illegal activities to law enforcement

7.3 Immediate Action

We may take immediate action without prior notice for serious violations, including but not limited to: illegal content, security threats, spam, and activities that harm our infrastructure or other customers.

8. DMCA/Copyright Complaints

We respond to valid copyright infringement notices. To file a complaint, send the following to legal@afrilinktelecon.co.za:

• Description of the copyrighted work
• Location (URL) of the infringing material
• Your contact information
• Statement of good faith belief that use is unauthorized
• Statement of accuracy under penalty of perjury
• Your physical or electronic signature

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this AUP from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email or website notice. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.