This policy describes how MainStreetDNS expects its services to be used. It is written in plain English so that business owners, technical helpers, and agencies can understand what is expected. These guidelines exist to maintain safety and reliability for every customer on our infrastructure.
The Acceptable Use Policy is the set of expectations that MainStreetDNS maintains for everyone who uses our web hosting, DNS, and email services. It describes what responsible use looks like and what activities are not permitted on our infrastructure.
This policy matters because our customers share infrastructure. When one account is used in a way that affects server stability, network performance, or email deliverability, it can affect other customers. These guidelines exist to protect everyone who depends on our services for their business operations.
We have written this policy to be clear, not adversarial. If any section is unclear, you can contact our support team for a plain-English explanation. If you are a technical helper or agency managing accounts on behalf of clients, you are responsible for ensuring that the accounts you manage comply with these expectations.
By using MainStreetDNS services, you agree to follow this policy. If you do not agree, you are not obligated to use our services.
These principles guide how we expect our services to be used. They apply to all customers, whether you manage your own account or an agency manages it on your behalf.
Use your account in a way that maintains the stability of our shared infrastructure. Avoid activities that consume excessive server resources, generate abnormal traffic patterns, or interfere with the normal operation of other accounts on the same server.
Keep your account secure and use our services for lawful purposes. Do not use your hosting, DNS, or email services in ways that could harm other customers, compromise their data, or expose our infrastructure to unnecessary risk.
Operate your account in ways that are consistent and predictable. If you plan to make significant changes to your configuration, DNS records, or email sending patterns, contact our support team first so we can help you make those changes safely.
Our servers, network, and email systems are shared resources. Every customer benefits when the infrastructure is used responsibly. If your account requires resources beyond what your plan includes, contact us to discuss options rather than exceeding your allocation.
The following activities are not permitted on MainStreetDNS infrastructure. These prohibitions apply to all services, including web hosting, DNS, and email. If you are unsure whether a specific activity is permitted, contact our support team before proceeding.
Illegal activities are prohibited. You may not use your account to host, distribute, or facilitate content or activity that violates applicable federal, state, or local law. This includes but is not limited to fraud, identity theft, and distribution of illegal materials.
Abuse of network or server resources is prohibited. You may not run processes, scripts, or applications that consume CPU, memory, bandwidth, or storage in a way that degrades performance for other customers on the same server. If your website or application requires dedicated resources, contact us to discuss appropriate plan options.
Attempts to interfere with service stability are prohibited. You may not intentionally or negligently cause outages, slowdowns, or service interruptions. This includes launching attacks against other systems from your account or generating traffic patterns designed to overwhelm our infrastructure.
Unauthorized access attempts are prohibited. You may not attempt to access accounts, servers, databases, or systems that you are not authorized to use. This applies to MainStreetDNS systems and to any external systems accessed through your account.
Harmful or unsafe configurations are prohibited. You may not configure your hosting environment, DNS records, or email settings in ways that create security vulnerabilities, expose other customers to risk, or undermine the integrity of our infrastructure. If you need help with configuration, our support team is available.
Misuse of email is prohibited. You may not use your email account to send spam, spoofed messages, or bulk unsolicited email. You may not send messages with deceptive headers, misleading subject lines, or forged sender information. These practices harm email deliverability for all customers who share our mail servers.
Misuse of DNS is prohibited. You may not create DNS records that redirect users to malicious or deceptive destinations. You may not configure your DNS in ways that undermine the safety or stability of the domain name system. If you are uncertain about a DNS change, contact our support team before making it.
Misuse of hosting is prohibited. You may not run scripts, cron jobs, or automated processes that are designed to harm other systems, harvest data without authorization, or consume resources in ways that affect other customers. If you run automation on your hosting account, ensure it operates within your plan limits and does not create stability issues.
Email services operate on shared mail servers. Safe sending practices protect your deliverability and the deliverability of every other customer on our infrastructure.
Send email only to recipients who expect to receive it. Maintain clean mailing lists, honor unsubscribe requests promptly, and ensure your sending volume is consistent with your account type. Sudden spikes in outbound email may trigger automated safety controls.
Do not use your email account to send unsolicited bulk messages. This includes commercial solicitations, marketing messages to purchased lists, and any email sent to recipients who have not given clear permission to receive it. Bulk unsolicited email harms deliverability for all customers.
Do not send email with forged headers, misleading subject lines, or spoofed sender addresses. Your email must accurately represent who is sending it and why. Deceptive email practices violate this policy and may violate applicable law.
Ensure your domain DNS records support safe email delivery. This includes properly configured SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. Our support team can help you set up and verify these records. Properly aligned DNS protects your domain reputation and improves delivery reliability.
DNS is a foundational service. The records associated with your domain control where your website loads, where your email is delivered, and how your online presence operates. Safe DNS usage is essential to your own business operations and to the stability of our shared infrastructure.
Do not create DNS records that redirect visitors to malicious, deceptive, or harmful destinations. If you manage DNS for client domains as an agency or technical helper, ensure that every record you create serves a legitimate and documented purpose.
Do not manipulate DNS records in ways that attempt to circumvent safety controls, bypass authentication mechanisms, or interfere with service for other domains hosted on our infrastructure. If you need to make a complex DNS change, contact our support team for guidance before proceeding.
DNS propagation depends on external systems beyond our control. When you make DNS changes, allow time for propagation and verify that records resolve correctly before making additional changes. Our support team can help you confirm that your records are configured safely.
Web hosting accounts operate on shared server infrastructure. Responsible use of your hosting account protects your website and the websites of every other customer on the same server.
Use server resources within the limits of your hosting plan. This includes CPU, memory, storage, and bandwidth. If your website or application consistently approaches your plan limits, contact us to discuss options. Do not run processes that consume resources meant for other accounts.
If you run scripts, cron jobs, or automated processes on your hosting account, ensure they operate within your plan limits and do not affect server stability. Do not run processes designed to harvest data from external systems, launch requests against other servers, or perform tasks that create security risks.
Maintain your hosting environment in a secure state. Keep your applications, plugins, and database configurations updated. Do not disable security features provided by the control panel or server environment. If you are an agency managing client hosting accounts, ensure each account follows these same practices.
You are responsible for the content hosted on your account. Do not host files, applications, or materials that violate applicable law or that could expose our infrastructure or other customers to harm. If you become aware of a problem with content on your account, address it promptly or contact our support team for help.
Account security is a shared responsibility. MainStreetDNS maintains server-level security, including firewalls, malware scanning, and SSL certificates. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your own account credentials, applications, and access controls.
Use strong, unique passwords for your account and control panel access. Do not reuse passwords from other services. If your account supports multi-factor authentication, we recommend enabling it. Strong credentials are the first layer of protection for your website, email, and DNS records.
Do not share your login credentials with anyone who does not need direct access to your account. If you work with a technical helper or agency, use the control panel to grant scoped access rather than sharing your primary login. This protects your account and limits exposure if a third party is compromised.
Do not attempt to bypass, disable, or circumvent safety controls provided by MainStreetDNS. These controls exist to protect your account and our infrastructure. If a safety control interferes with a legitimate operation, contact our support team and we will work with you to find a safe resolution.
When a violation occurs, we follow a steady and predictable process. Our goal is to resolve the issue while keeping your services operational whenever possible.
If we identify a policy violation on your account, we will contact you by email to explain the issue. The notification will describe what was detected, which section of this policy applies, and what action is needed from you. We will give you a reasonable timeframe to respond.
We review each situation individually. We do not apply automated penalties without review. If the issue requires investigation, we will communicate what we are reviewing and provide updates as the investigation progresses. You will have the opportunity to provide context or explanation.
For most first-time violations, we work with you to resolve the issue. This may include removing harmful content, correcting unsafe configurations, or adjusting email sending practices. Our support team will provide clear instructions for what needs to change and help you make the correction.
Repeated violations, severe violations, or failure to respond to a policy notice may result in account suspension or closure. In cases where immediate action is necessary to protect other customers or our infrastructure, we may suspend an account before contacting the account holder. Your data is retained for 30 days after suspension.
If you become aware of misuse on our infrastructure, you can report it to our support team. This includes spam originating from our mail servers, websites hosting harmful content, or any activity that appears to violate this policy.
You can report concerns by contacting our support team by email or phone during business hours. The contact information is available on the Contact page and in your account welcome materials. When reporting, include as much detail as possible so that we can investigate effectively.
We review all reports and take appropriate action based on our investigation. We do not disclose the identity of the person who reported a concern. If you are a technical helper or agency and you discover a compliance issue on a client account you manage, we encourage you to address it directly and contact us if you need assistance.
If you believe your own account has been compromised or is being used without your authorization, contact our support team immediately. We will help you secure your account and investigate any unauthorized activity.
If this policy changes, we will tell you before the changes take effect. Here is how that process works.
We will notify you by email at least 30 days before any change to this policy takes effect. The notification will explain what is changing, why, and when the updated policy becomes active. This gives you time to review the changes and ask questions.
The current version of this policy is always available on this page. When updates are published, the effective date at the top of the document is updated to reflect the most recent revision. Previous versions are not published, but you may request a summary of changes from our support team.
If you continue using MainStreetDNS services after an updated policy takes effect, you are agreeing to the updated policy. If you do not agree with a change, you may close your account before the new policy takes effect without penalty.
If you receive a policy update notification and have questions, contact our support team. We will explain any change in plain English and help you understand how it affects your account, your domain, or your existing services.
This Acceptable Use Policy exists so that every customer who depends on MainStreetDNS can operate with confidence. When all accounts follow these expectations, the infrastructure remains stable, email deliverability remains strong, and DNS resolution remains reliable.
We have been providing web hosting, DNS, and email services to Main Street businesses since 1996. In that time, we have learned that clear expectations and responsible use are the foundation of a reliable hosting environment. That is the purpose of this document.
If anything in this policy is unclear, contact our support team. We will explain it plainly and make sure you have the information you need to use your account safely and confidently.