Hello! Lately, I've been frequently receiving messages on Steam, a digital distribution service. These messages are sent by people with the intention of gaining access to other people's accounts through fake sites like "steamcormuniti.com" or "steamcommnulity.com". Since the official website has a different address, "steamcommunity.com", account owners fall victim to financial losses.

Interestingly, there are many similar fake sites, and they're all hosted on the same hosting provider. As a result, I submitted a complaint to the hosting provider, requesting that they monitor the registration of similar domain names.

However, my question is whether the hosting provider is obligated to do anything about this issue. Should they block the sites or take any other actions to prevent these fraudulent activities?

Hello again! The answer to the question I posed earlier depends on the hosting provider's rules and regulations. It also partly depends on the laws of the country where the hosting company is based.

Interestingly, there are hosting services that are "abuse-resistant", meaning they ignore any complaints or petitions against their customers. There are even different levels of such hosting, with the highest level being that even if someone hosts illegal content like child pоrnography or calls for the assassination of a president, the content will not be removed.

This brings up an important issue about internet regulation and responsibility. Should hosting providers have the power to completely disregard reports of illegal activities on their servers? Or should they have a duty to take action when alerted to such content?

Sure thing! If you ever need to restore your website on your own, here are the steps you should take:

First, create a temporary page that returns a 200 server response. On this page, inform users that the site is currently undergoing maintenance and will be available soon.
Check the access_log, error_log, and FTP server logs for any anomalies or errors. Write down everything you find, including dates and affected pages.
Contact your hosting provider and explain the situation. They can help you analyze the security breach and provide you with warnings for future incidents, especially if you use shared hosting.
Run antivirus checks on all devices that have accessed your website.
Check if your site's IP address is listed in any spam databases.
Change passwords for the hosting, website admin panel, and FTP server. Use complex passwords generated by password managers like Keypass.
Restore your website using a backup.

Update your CMS to the latest version if you haven't already done so. Download and install updates as recommended by your engine notifications.
Scan your site for malicious scripts using security services mentioned in the section on site security checks.
Install necessary security plugins and scripts if you haven't already.
Set up IP address-based authorization for admins and disable PHP functions not typically used on your site.
Notify Google that your site is now secure and ask them to remove it from their blacklist.

Hosting providers typically have terms of service that outline the rules and responsibilities for their users. While these terms may vary among different providers, many of them include clauses related to prohibited activities such as fraud, phishing, or other malicious activities.

In some cases, hosting providers may take action against users who engage in fraudulent activities, such as suspending or terminating their accounts. They may also have mechanisms in place to report abuse or violations of their terms of service. However, the specific actions taken by the hosting provider would depend on their policies and procedures, as well as the evidence and information provided to them.

It is a good step on your part to report these fraudulent websites to the hosting provider. By doing so, you are helping to alert them to potential abuse of their services. Whether they choose to block or take any further action against these sites would be at their discretion, based on their own internal processes and policies.

While hosting providers have a responsibility to monitor and take action against fraudulent activities, the extent of their obligations can vary. Some hosting providers may have dedicated teams that actively monitor for illegal or malicious activities, while others may rely on user reports to identify and address such issues.

When it comes to phishing attempts or fraudulent websites, hosting providers may take different actions based on the severity and frequency of the reports. They might choose to block access to specific sites, suspend or terminate the accounts of offenders, or even cooperate with law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute those responsible.

However, it's worth noting that hosting providers cannot always prevent these fraudulent activities entirely. Scammers often create new domains or find ways to evade detection, so it becomes a constant cat-and-mouse game. Therefore, it's crucial for users to remain cautious, exercise good cybersecurity practices, and report any suspicious activities to both the hosting provider and the appropriate law enforcement agency.

If you believe you've been a victim of such fraud, it's important to take immediate action to protect your account and personal information. This might involve changing your passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and contacting Steam or other relevant platforms to inform them of the situation. Remember, vigilance and proactive measures are key to staying safe online.

Hosting providers are not directly liable for the activities of their clients, as long as they are not aware of and do not facilitate illegal activities. However, they may be liable for damages if they are found to have been negligent in their duties to monitor and prevent illegal activities.

A more effective approach would be for the hosting provider to work with law enforcement and domain registrars to identify and take down fraudulent sites.