Somebody filed a complaint against a website hosted on my web host. They are claiming that the website promotes hacking, SPAM, and harvests emails from Hi5 accounts and refuses to take them down. The site is http://hi5email.info/index.php So far, I can see that they are harvesting email addresses - but I do not have any proof that they hack/SPAM (I have requested the accuser for further proof). I checked their email logs, and there have been no messages sent directly from the server. Is this illegal? Is this grounds for suspension? I asked my friend, and he says email harvesting is not illegal as emails are public record - and I do not have proof yet to suspend on grounds of hacking/SPAM. According to Wikipedia: I assume this falls under the above? Update: I just found a YouTube video explaining how this site works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv5MnBeKUdE Apparently, you enter the URL of the Hi5 profile and it automatically reveals the email address for you.
if they are gathering emails without the permission of the owner, it is illegal. And if they have a tool to get emails from a profile, that means they do support spamming.
They can also SPAM using another host or a software Can you also track emails that are sent via php email function? Thats probably what they are using
email harvesting is illegal and any site doing it on my servers would be terminated and reported to the feds
it is your host.. they have to operate under your terms of service.. if they violate that.. you can terminate their service.. but be sure to keep the evidence otherwise you may have trouble with their attorney for breach of contract.. it is a good idea to add clause "terminate service at will"