Privacy Policy

At SSH Stores (sshstores.net), we are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we handle information. This privacy policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and what rights you have regarding your information.

If you require any more information or have questions about our privacy practices, please contact us at [email protected].

Introduction and Scope

This privacy policy applies to all users of sshstores.net and the VPN/SSH services we provide. By using our website or creating an account, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy. We take privacy seriously because we understand that privacy is one of the primary reasons people use VPN and encrypted tunnel services.

SSH Stores is a free account creation platform that allows users to generate temporary VPN and SSH accounts across multiple protocols including SSH tunneling, OpenVPN, WireGuard, Vmess, Vless, Trojan, Shadowsocks, and NoobzVPN. Our mission is to make privacy tools accessible to everyone while maintaining transparency about our data practices.

Information We Collect

Website Usage Information

Like most websites, sshstores.net collects certain information automatically when you visit. This includes your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring website, pages viewed, and timestamps. We use this information to understand how visitors use our site, identify technical problems, prevent abuse, and improve our services.

Log Files: Our web servers automatically create log files that record basic information about each request. These logs include IP addresses, browser user agents, request URLs, HTTP status codes, and timestamps. We retain these logs for a limited time for security monitoring and troubleshooting purposes. Standard web server logs do not contain the content of your communications or detailed browsing activity while connected through a VPN account.

Cookies: We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us remember your preferences and improve site functionality. We use both first-party cookies (set by sshstores.net) and third-party cookies (set by advertising partners and analytics services).

Account Creation Data

When you create a VPN or SSH account on our platform, you provide a username and password (for protocols that require them). We do not require or collect email addresses, phone numbers, or payment information for free accounts. The username and password you provide are used solely to authenticate your connection to the VPN server.

Account credentials are stored temporarily for the duration of the account validity period (typically 3-30 days depending on the service type). After the account expires, credential data is automatically deleted from our systems.

VPN Connection Information

Important distinction: SSH Stores operates the website (sshstores.net) and account creation platform, but the actual VPN servers are operated by third-party infrastructure providers. While we control the account generation process, we cannot guarantee the logging practices of every VPN server operator.

Our policy: We configure servers to minimize logging wherever possible. We do not intentionally log the contents of VPN traffic, websites visited, DNS queries made through the tunnel, or data transmitted while connected. However, basic connection metadata (timestamps, connection duration, server location) may be temporarily stored for abuse prevention and server capacity planning.

We strongly recommend that users treat free VPN services as lower-trust than paid, privacy-focused VPN providers. For activities requiring maximum privacy, consider using a paid VPN service with a clear no-logs policy that has been independently audited.

Third-Party Services

Google AdSense and Advertising

SSH Stores displays advertisements through Google AdSense and potentially other advertising networks. These advertising partners use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to serve relevant ads based on your browsing activity across the web.

Google DART Cookie: Google, as a third-party vendor, uses the DoubleClick DART cookie to serve ads on sshstores.net. This cookie enables Google to show you ads based on your visits to our site and other websites across the internet. The DART cookie does not contain personally identifiable information such as your name, address, or email, but it does track browsing patterns to build an advertising profile.

You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings or by visiting aboutads.info to opt out of a third-party vendor's use of cookies for personalized advertising.

Other Advertising Partners: We may work with other advertising networks in addition to Google AdSense. Each network has its own privacy policy and cookie practices. These third-party ad servers automatically receive your IP address when advertisements appear on our site. They may use cookies, JavaScript, or web beacons to measure advertising effectiveness and personalize ad content.

SSH Stores does not have direct access to or control over the cookies used by third-party advertisers. You should consult the privacy policies of our advertising partners for detailed information about their data practices and opt-out instructions.

Analytics Services

We may use analytics services to understand how visitors interact with our website. These services help us identify which pages are most popular, how long visitors spend on the site, and what content is most valuable. Analytics data is typically aggregated and anonymized, and we use it solely to improve user experience and site performance.

reCAPTCHA

To prevent abuse and automated account creation, we use Google reCAPTCHA on our account creation forms. reCAPTCHA collects hardware and software information such as device and application data, and sends this data to Google for analysis. The use of reCAPTCHA is subject to Google's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

How We Use Collected Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Service Provision: To create and manage VPN/SSH accounts, authenticate users, and provide access to our server network.
• Security and Abuse Prevention: To detect and prevent fraud, spam, abuse, and attacks against our infrastructure. This includes rate limiting, identifying suspicious patterns, and blocking malicious activity.
• Site Improvement: To understand how users interact with our website, identify popular features, and improve user experience.
• Technical Operations: To maintain server uptime, diagnose technical issues, monitor server capacity, and plan infrastructure improvements.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, respond to valid legal requests, and enforce our Terms of Service.

We do not sell personal information to third parties. We do not use VPN connection data to build advertising profiles. The only third-party data sharing occurs through standard web technologies (advertising cookies, analytics scripts) that are common across the internet.

Data Retention

Account Data: VPN and SSH account credentials are automatically deleted when the account expires. Most accounts have validity periods ranging from 3 to 30 days. After expiration, account data is removed from our systems.

Web Logs: Server logs containing IP addresses and request data are retained for up to 30 days for security monitoring and troubleshooting. Older logs are automatically deleted.

Cookies: Website cookies expire according to their individual settings, typically ranging from session-only (deleted when you close your browser) to persistent cookies that last up to one year.

Your Privacy Rights and Choices

Browser Settings and Cookie Control

You have full control over cookies through your browser settings. All modern browsers allow you to view, block, or delete cookies. You can configure your browser to reject all cookies, accept only first-party cookies, or prompt you before accepting each cookie.

Please note that blocking cookies may affect website functionality. Some features may not work correctly if cookies are disabled. For detailed instructions on managing cookies, consult your browser's help documentation:

• Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies
• Mozilla Firefox: Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
• Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions

Opt-Out of Personalized Advertising

You can opt out of personalized advertising from Google and other advertising networks:

• Google Ads Settings - Control Google ad personalization
• Digital Advertising Alliance - Opt out of interest-based ads from participating companies
• Network Advertising Initiative - Opt out of behavioral advertising

Opting out does not mean you will see fewer ads — it means the ads you see will be less relevant to your interests because they will not be based on your browsing behavior.

Do Not Track

Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal that asks websites not to track your browsing. However, there is no universal standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals. Currently, sshstores.net does not respond to DNT signals, but you can use the opt-out methods described above to limit tracking.

Children's Privacy

SSH Stores does not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction). Our services are intended for general audiences and are not directed at children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a child, we will take steps to delete it as quickly as possible.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided information to us, please contact us at [email protected] so we can remove the information.

International Data Transfers

SSH Stores operates servers in multiple countries around the world. When you create an account and connect to a VPN server, your data may be transmitted to and processed in countries different from where you are located. Different countries have different data protection laws, and some countries may not provide the same level of privacy protection as your home country.

By using our services, you acknowledge and agree to the international transfer and processing of data. If you are located in the European Union or other regions with data transfer restrictions, please be aware that your data may be transferred to countries that are not deemed to provide adequate data protection under your local laws.

Security Practices

We implement reasonable security measures to protect information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. This includes:

• HTTPS encryption for website connections
• Secure password hashing for account credentials
• Regular security monitoring and vulnerability scanning
• Access controls limiting who can view system data
• Automatic data deletion after retention periods expire

However, no method of internet transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and should use strong, unique passwords.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make significant changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy and may provide additional notice through our website.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your privacy. Your continued use of our services after policy changes indicates your acceptance of the updated terms.

Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to external websites operated by third parties. This privacy policy does not apply to those third-party sites. When you click a link to leave sshstores.net, you should read the privacy policy of the destination site to understand how they collect and use your information.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of third-party websites. Links to external sites do not imply endorsement or guarantee of their privacy practices.

Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this privacy policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: [email protected]

We will respond to legitimate privacy inquiries within a reasonable timeframe. Please note that we may need to verify your identity before responding to certain requests.

Regards,

Team SSH Stores

Last updated: January 2024