Where do hoaxers find their webhosts? - Obviously sometimes, if they were real, hoax sites would be illegal or at least against usual TOS, so how do they avoid being dropped?

Oftentimes they don’t avoid it.  Then they either disappear, or else simply bounce from host to host.  Other than that, though, I’ll let somebody who actually knows about these sorts of things answer. . .

good question….i’ll look into it….

Hoaxers find their web hosters just like anyone else.  They buy a domain name and pay to have the site hosted.  In most cases the hoster won’t know or care what the hoaxer does on the site unless he needs special scripts or software. 

As to whether a hoax is illegal or not depends on the hoax.  There are some that are harmless pranks and are there for nothing but entertainment.  If someone uses a hoax site to scam people out of their money then it becomes fraud which is definitely illegal.  But even then the site would likely remain online until the hoster gets a complaint or is ordered to shut the site down. 

Some hoaxers use web hosts in foreign countries, Russia, China etc, where the hosts just really don’t care what is put up there and will just thumb their noses at US laws.

The reason I ask is I’m having trouble finding hosting for this site: http://www.spamsubmitter.com/ . I normally host my sites with hostmonster but they turned this one down. It’s currently on a free account at awardspace and they are pretty good but I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stay there and I only have basic features. (and I have to use basic html form-to-email to take submissions which looks a bit lame.)

I was going to answer the original question, but… ummm… no. Good luck.

I realize you’re most likely not submitting the addresses to Spam sites for real, but even if you aren’t, you’re still potentially collecting many addresses. I can’t and won’t encourage this.

no the site is 100% legitimate which is why i am here talking about it on a hoax forum . maybe i should just ask on a spammers forum LOL.

Wait i knew it this is stealth spam..
Wait wheres the mods?
well this threads going to be sent to the spam area now…

I saw it last night…but I figured I would let it go for a little bit more.  Just to see what happens.

i knew it this is stealth spam

no, i really am looking for a host.
if i just wanted to drum up traffic to the site i would have just made a whole thread on the hoax board about it.

If you were looking for a host theres a new thing called ” search engine”
And yourre not drumming up traffic BTW it only happens on april 1
and BTW you did make a whole thread this is a post the thread is the one where you post and it is in the hoax board

arithmetic - 17 October 2008 04:20 PM

i knew it this is stealth spam

no, i really am looking for a host\

if i just wanted to drum up traffic to the site i would have just made a whole thread on the hoax board about it.

You just don’t get it.

1) If you are submitting people’s addresses to Spam sites, then I hope you never find a host
2) If you aren’t submitting people’s addresses to Spam sites, you still have the potential to COLLECT A TON OF EMAIL ADDRESSES, which you could potentially sell, or do a myriad of things with that people would not like.
3) If neither of the above apply, then your current hosting should be just fine.

If you’re remotely resourceful, and willing to spend actual money to host your site, then you’ll find hosting. If not, then… well your current site has already been picked up by Digg, so enjoy the “fame”. Either way, I don’t think you’ll find anyone here who will help you.