ServerTweak.com
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would you allow this on your network ?
Porn Hosting
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Exon
New member
Unless a special contract is written up and signed, we don't allow pornographic content on our main servers, however, we do have a few pornogrpahic sites that we put on a different network than the main network. For that, we do charge a higher fee, but that is mainly because said sites would need more bandwidth requirements.
ldcdc
New member
I have nothing against porn, so, if I were a host, the decision whether to allow pornographic content on my servers would probably depend mainly on the target market I would go for. Most likely I would allow it. If I would run a network, I would allow it.
I do like Mark's idea of keeping such content on designated servers, but it still means that the company is marked as "allowing porn". Personal views will still prevent some people to deal with hosts that permit such content to go anyway near their own data. You can't argue with them, as it's often a matter of beliefs. Still, a good way to make them feel that their data is somewhat separated, so good thinking Mark!
I do like Mark's idea of keeping such content on designated servers, but it still means that the company is marked as "allowing porn". Personal views will still prevent some people to deal with hosts that permit such content to go anyway near their own data. You can't argue with them, as it's often a matter of beliefs. Still, a good way to make them feel that their data is somewhat separated, so good thinking Mark!
Dan, I have an even better way for them to feel their data is seperate....find a new host. 
My theory is simple. I have my own ethics. I don't necessarily have to agree with, condone, or watch/view porn to allow a porn site to buy a server from us. A business in in business to make money. You must follow your own personal ethics, as well as your own business ethics, when running a business.
I find that you can accomodate a lot of people's needs. However, when it comes to beliefs, then the line gets a little harder when determining where it is drawn.
I mean, think about this. I know you said you have nothing against porn, so for this example, we'll pretend you do. Consider that you are looking for hosting, and for example, you find a host that meets your needs perfectly. You do your research on the host and find that their customer service is top notch, according to many happy customers of that host. Now, after contacting the host and asking standard questions, you find that they allow porn sites to reside on their servers, even if they are seperate servers.
Many people who have a dislike for this, will turn down the host, based purely on that aspect. So now, you have to ask yourself where the line is drawn. Does this spill over to other services as well?
Do people who have a strong dislike for porn, enough to turn down a hosting company because of it, also choose not to have electric because a porn studio uses the same electric company? Does it spill over to cellular service, and the person refuses to get a cellphone because some porn moguls have cellphones through many of the cellular providers?
Not to mention, does the line only get drawn at pornographic content? Do Catholic churches choose not to host with a provider who also hosts Baptist websites? The list can literally go on and on.
While these people's beliefs are important, they have to realize that you are providing a service, just like any other industry's service providers. The service you provide to one client is generally none of their concern, so long as it doesn't affect the service you provide to them.
We had one incident where a church wouldn't host with us because we had a casino's website on our servers.
I hate to be the one to tell a church to find a new place to reside, but I really had no choice. I had to prove an ethical point to them. We moved the casino site to a new server, which was then fine with the church. The church then proceeded to set up their website, where they then advertised their weekly bingo, and monthly Las Vegas Night. To me, this seemes like the exact thing they wanted to be seperated from...gambling. So, I pointed this out to them, and said "Another customer does not want to be hosted on the same server as you, so we will need to move you to another server. Is this fine?"
Of course they did not like this, and asked us to simply put the new client on another server. I responded with "Well we need to keep all of the gambling sites in one range, and all of the standard sites in another. Currently your website falls within the gambling genre, because you're advertising gambling events."
This went back and forth for a while, until we simply said, "We have to move your site, or you'll need to find a new host."
Ironically, they're still with us, as they eventually realized that it really wasn't such a big deal, as long as it didn't affect the service we were providing to them.
My experience may sound as though I was being harsh. However, I strongly believe that the only way to educate people about reality is to give them a taste of it.
My theory is simple. I have my own ethics. I don't necessarily have to agree with, condone, or watch/view porn to allow a porn site to buy a server from us. A business in in business to make money. You must follow your own personal ethics, as well as your own business ethics, when running a business.
I find that you can accomodate a lot of people's needs. However, when it comes to beliefs, then the line gets a little harder when determining where it is drawn.
I mean, think about this. I know you said you have nothing against porn, so for this example, we'll pretend you do. Consider that you are looking for hosting, and for example, you find a host that meets your needs perfectly. You do your research on the host and find that their customer service is top notch, according to many happy customers of that host. Now, after contacting the host and asking standard questions, you find that they allow porn sites to reside on their servers, even if they are seperate servers.
Many people who have a dislike for this, will turn down the host, based purely on that aspect. So now, you have to ask yourself where the line is drawn. Does this spill over to other services as well?
Do people who have a strong dislike for porn, enough to turn down a hosting company because of it, also choose not to have electric because a porn studio uses the same electric company? Does it spill over to cellular service, and the person refuses to get a cellphone because some porn moguls have cellphones through many of the cellular providers?
Not to mention, does the line only get drawn at pornographic content? Do Catholic churches choose not to host with a provider who also hosts Baptist websites? The list can literally go on and on.
While these people's beliefs are important, they have to realize that you are providing a service, just like any other industry's service providers. The service you provide to one client is generally none of their concern, so long as it doesn't affect the service you provide to them.
We had one incident where a church wouldn't host with us because we had a casino's website on our servers.
I hate to be the one to tell a church to find a new place to reside, but I really had no choice. I had to prove an ethical point to them. We moved the casino site to a new server, which was then fine with the church. The church then proceeded to set up their website, where they then advertised their weekly bingo, and monthly Las Vegas Night. To me, this seemes like the exact thing they wanted to be seperated from...gambling. So, I pointed this out to them, and said "Another customer does not want to be hosted on the same server as you, so we will need to move you to another server. Is this fine?"
Of course they did not like this, and asked us to simply put the new client on another server. I responded with "Well we need to keep all of the gambling sites in one range, and all of the standard sites in another. Currently your website falls within the gambling genre, because you're advertising gambling events."
This went back and forth for a while, until we simply said, "We have to move your site, or you'll need to find a new host."
Ironically, they're still with us, as they eventually realized that it really wasn't such a big deal, as long as it didn't affect the service we were providing to them.
My experience may sound as though I was being harsh. However, I strongly believe that the only way to educate people about reality is to give them a taste of it.
I guess I'll be the first to go against the crowd on this one. Although Mark made very good points one also has keep his own ethics of running a network. Personally I would never allow adult content on my network as it is my own religious and ethical belief (since this is my company I have decided to run a business plan to not include those type of websites so it's a choice I made).
To play devil's advocate here...
Firstly we must look at how allowing pornography will most likely impact your network performance. Reading past threads on forums such as this...I frankly do see an impact of sites that allow adult content. Yes adding a price increase will probably help you maintain network performance but with pornography also come are higher security risks and me being a security freak...I would not allow that type of content on the network.
I think NAC/ThePlanet do not offer adult content on their servers and look at their networks (amazing), look at BURSTNET/NOCSTER/UNRESTRICTEDNET...one has higher quality on their network while the other does not.
Also look at Walmart, because of them recordings in the Music industry have to have two CDs made (one that doesn't use swearing) because Walmart will only purchase those types of CDs. So even if we say it is a business...businesses run themselves based on how their CEO's want to run them.
To play devil's advocate here...
Firstly we must look at how allowing pornography will most likely impact your network performance. Reading past threads on forums such as this...I frankly do see an impact of sites that allow adult content. Yes adding a price increase will probably help you maintain network performance but with pornography also come are higher security risks and me being a security freak...I would not allow that type of content on the network.
I think NAC/ThePlanet do not offer adult content on their servers and look at their networks (amazing), look at BURSTNET/NOCSTER/UNRESTRICTEDNET...one has higher quality on their network while the other does not.
Also look at Walmart, because of them recordings in the Music industry have to have two CDs made (one that doesn't use swearing) because Walmart will only purchase those types of CDs. So even if we say it is a business...businesses run themselves based on how their CEO's want to run them.
AllureHost
New member
I am not sure how I quite feel about this yet, because I do not want to bash the Porn Industry, but I do not support them whatsoever. I would never allow them on our servers for any price, I just think that AdultHosting sites should handle those types of companies. I would suggest that any hosting company looking to host AdultSites too have a seperate dedicated server that is solely for porn websites. It seems more practical to do it that way.
This would still need to be on someone's network.
Not accurate. We use NAC colo, and as long as the content is legal, pornography or not, it is permitted.
There is a lot more to network performance than porn sites.
This is assuming you own your own network. At that point, yes, you can control what is on it. However, simply owning a few servers within someone else's network, and not allowing porn sites on those servers, does not guarantee that there is not porn circulating on that network. It just means it's not on any of your servers.
Okay lol you're making me sound like a porn addict now, because I'm left defending the hosting of porn sites (when in fact we currently host none, nor am I a porn advocate). However, I feel that server security is not the problem of the content posted on the site. The server admin should have measures in place to protect all sites on that server. I fail to see how a porn site is any more insecure than any other high profile website.
I dont' own my own network but if I did (which is in the end ever hosts dream after all 
), I wouldn't allow it.
As for security issues, you mean to tell me that sites that host pornography or any other sort of riskay material do not have a slightly higher percentage increase of being attacked? I personally find it hard to believe that sites that bring up more controversial topics (such as pornography) would not have a slightly higher chance of being attacked.
As an administrator you always want to decrease your chances of being attacked by taking the most highly probably measures that you can correct? So why would one then wish to host pornography sites if it will be a bigger headache to deal with in the end?
I think the porn industry, unfortunately, makes enough money so why should they not just create their own network then?
In the end I think it is just a right of free trade for each company to choose what they wish to allow or not. If, like I said in my past post, you look at Walmart....They will not sell CDs that have swears in them and hence the recording industry has to make two recordings because of stores like Walmart (I don't shop there, I just remember a few years back watching some Walmart documentary so this just poped into my head).
Thank you for correcting me in regards to NAC Mark, I do remember a time though when even NAC had restrictions in regards to pornography and even selling SSH accounts.
), I wouldn't allow it. As for security issues, you mean to tell me that sites that host pornography or any other sort of riskay material do not have a slightly higher percentage increase of being attacked? I personally find it hard to believe that sites that bring up more controversial topics (such as pornography) would not have a slightly higher chance of being attacked.
As an administrator you always want to decrease your chances of being attacked by taking the most highly probably measures that you can correct? So why would one then wish to host pornography sites if it will be a bigger headache to deal with in the end?
I think the porn industry, unfortunately, makes enough money so why should they not just create their own network then?
In the end I think it is just a right of free trade for each company to choose what they wish to allow or not. If, like I said in my past post, you look at Walmart....They will not sell CDs that have swears in them and hence the recording industry has to make two recordings because of stores like Walmart (I don't shop there, I just remember a few years back watching some Walmart documentary so this just poped into my head).
Thank you for correcting me in regards to NAC Mark, I do remember a time though when even NAC had restrictions in regards to pornography and even selling SSH accounts.
Exon
New member
Senad,
The reason for the edits, are not for Walmart, they are for the radio, hence why they are called....radio edits. Walmart does not intimidate the music industry. Now, back on track.
So, you will not host pornography sites because they have a "higher percentage of attack" than other sites. Then I also assume that you don't host any website that handles business transactions, such as credit cards, paypal accounts, etc... I also assume that you would refuse to host banks, small businesses, or even music sites - as they would all attract attention. Heck, I bet you aren't willing to then host any site that gets over 20GB in monthly transfer, as that is a lot of attention and would bring risks to the network.
There is a risk in driving to work every morning, in just getting out of bed and making breakfast you are taking a risk of falling down the stairs, or cutting yourself with the knife you cut the orange with, or you might even lose a finger to the blender or burn yourself on the toaster.
Where do you draw the line in risk, and security. Do you lock your doors at night? Do you have deadbolts? What about motion detection lights? Do you have Brinks or a similar product that will call the cops? What about OnStar in your vehicle? Do you have side airbags? Do you keep your kids under 50 lbs in child seats regardless of age? And please, PLEASE tell me that your oil change is exactly every 3,000 miles or 3 months.
The reason for the edits, are not for Walmart, they are for the radio, hence why they are called....radio edits. Walmart does not intimidate the music industry. Now, back on track.
So, you will not host pornography sites because they have a "higher percentage of attack" than other sites. Then I also assume that you don't host any website that handles business transactions, such as credit cards, paypal accounts, etc... I also assume that you would refuse to host banks, small businesses, or even music sites - as they would all attract attention. Heck, I bet you aren't willing to then host any site that gets over 20GB in monthly transfer, as that is a lot of attention and would bring risks to the network.
There is a risk in driving to work every morning, in just getting out of bed and making breakfast you are taking a risk of falling down the stairs, or cutting yourself with the knife you cut the orange with, or you might even lose a finger to the blender or burn yourself on the toaster.
Where do you draw the line in risk, and security. Do you lock your doors at night? Do you have deadbolts? What about motion detection lights? Do you have Brinks or a similar product that will call the cops? What about OnStar in your vehicle? Do you have side airbags? Do you keep your kids under 50 lbs in child seats regardless of age? And please, PLEASE tell me that your oil change is exactly every 3,000 miles or 3 months.
ALL excellent points Exon...now give me a moment to recompose my thoughts so I can play devils advocate some more 
....
Allright yes there are security risks in all of those sites but I think the main issue we should discuss is most likely morality. I think that many of us here can argue that pornography is immoral correct? If so then can we not also state that with immorality comes more turmoil and more problems?
Secondly, If a host chooses not to host pornography on their servers/network do they not have the right to host just say no we do not provide services for that category? I mean not everybody here hosts every possible internet service, they specialize which is what makes every single company unique in a sense? Site5 specializes in SuperHosting (great marketing strategy), ThePlanet/EV1 specialize in dedicated servers, some hosting companies specialize in hosting religion, while others specialize hosting only pornography. So my question is, is it that bad to refuse to host certain genres of websites based upon your own moral judgement and how you established your own company?
....Allright yes there are security risks in all of those sites but I think the main issue we should discuss is most likely morality. I think that many of us here can argue that pornography is immoral correct? If so then can we not also state that with immorality comes more turmoil and more problems?
Secondly, If a host chooses not to host pornography on their servers/network do they not have the right to host just say no we do not provide services for that category? I mean not everybody here hosts every possible internet service, they specialize which is what makes every single company unique in a sense? Site5 specializes in SuperHosting (great marketing strategy), ThePlanet/EV1 specialize in dedicated servers, some hosting companies specialize in hosting religion, while others specialize hosting only pornography. So my question is, is it that bad to refuse to host certain genres of websites based upon your own moral judgement and how you established your own company?
GamePhreak
New member
Agh.... I would never allow pornographic sites on my network. Not only is it morally/ethically wrong according to the standards that I follow, but there are too many risks involving legal issues, security, and reputation.
Dediwebhost.com
New member
Porn is not an issue on our network as long as it follows the law of the land.
We believe that customers have the right to host whatever they want as long as it does not violate our TOS or AUP.
We believe that customers have the right to host whatever they want as long as it does not violate our TOS or AUP.
Blue
New member
I have never seen anyone actually be able to support the argument that pornographic sites are any more risky or insecure than general hosting.
Sure they generally use more resources but if you are not overselling why would that be a problem?
I have never seen any evidence that porn sites get hacked more than any other site.
Sure they generally use more resources but if you are not overselling why would that be a problem?
I have never seen any evidence that porn sites get hacked more than any other site.
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