Bulletproof hosting, also known as Bulk-proof hosting, is a type of hosting that allows its clients or users a lot more freedom than they would get from ordinary hosting services.

But, despite its daunting and fearsome name – which could wrongly be misconstrued as a hosting service with enhanced security measures included in its architecture – a Bulletproof Hosting Service Provider or BHSP is a service that allows more leniencies in the choice of the content they share or the services and products they provide from their websites.

Anyone would assume that this was hosting heaven – you are allowed to do almost anything and aren’t limited by the normally stringent Terms of Services (TOS) that are put in place by the every-day hosting providers we have gotten used to working with.

But, unfortunately, all good things attract the wrong sorts of people – the sorts that always jump in to take advantage of good things and ruin it for the rest of us – and BPHS is no exception.

In this case, the “bad” clients use the hosting servers to host sites that cater to stuff like spamming, online gambling and illegal pornography. As a principle, the BPHS extend their services to clients who opt for a way to bypass laws or contractual agreements (like TOS) that regulate internet content and service use in some countries.

Such BPHS users can have their sites hosted on these servers – which are almost always located in countries outside the ones the clients are in and are less stringent with their internet laws and thus allows the users to remain on the right side of the law in their own countries.

Some of the most commonly used BPHS providers are based in China – for the most part – and some other countries in Asia, in Russia and the countries bordering Russia and a few South American countries.

Of course, there have been rare instances when a company or two have tried to set up business in the United States too. Before it was shut down, California based BPHS provider McColo was responsible for 75 percent of the spam sent out into the world.

And so, right about this time you should start to wonder why you, a legitimate business owner, would want to have anything to do with a BPHS provider, let alone trust them with your website.

Well, not exactly everything is bad about BPHS. Here are a few reasons that might help convince you to shift to them:

Safety of your Data

The main reason why people with malicious, illegal or suspicious content prefer to go for BPHS is because no one is allowed to peek into the servers – at least, theoretically.

The servers are overseas, and hence should one country demand access to them it would raise an issue of jurisdiction and international laws.

So, if you have data or proto-type designs that you want to keep under wraps this is probably the way to go.

But, then again, you should always keep in mind that although you might be able to thwart the legal snoops, your business competitors and the average hacker at bay, it still is a server and that the big guns in internet hacking can still get to it.

A More Secure Server

Due to the fact that many entities – whether individual or governmental – have piqued interests in the data that is hosted on “rogue” BPHS, the providers are always kept on their toes when it comes to intrusion prevention and this, in turn makes them adept at securing the data on their servers.

This becomes another advantage to business sites that want to make sure they have their sites kept safe.

True Freedom of Speech and Expression

We live in times when we have to watch every word we say, print and broadcast. Everyone is expected to be patriotic and culturally, racially and socially responsible – so far, so good, right?

Well, there comes a time when you have a cause you support but isn’t exactly popular in your community, state or even country. Finding a hosting provider, where you can create your site to further that cause, can be a real pain.

Take the case of human euthanasia, for example. In countries like the United States the topic is a grey area. Some states have legalized the practice, while others have legalized the passive version of it while others still consider it illegal.

Now, to find a server where you could host your site without being afraid of any ramifications, you would have to go for a BPHS provider.

And so, let us give you a couple of warnings before you make the jump to a BPHS provider:

• BPHS servers are often used by hackers, spammers, dealers in illegal pornography and other illegal activities. That could be bad for your reputation.
• Should there be a time when you need to get your data back – in case the provider shuts down, for example – it could be difficult to do so as the servers are in foreign countries.

Therefore, make sure you take advantages and risks into consideration before you make up your mind and opt for BPHS.