4. Data Collection Policy

When you use the AethoVPN website or client application, your internet data will be protected by advanced encryption technologies. Your online traffic shall be invisible to Internet Service Providers (ISPs), third-party eavesdroppers, and unauthorized entities.

4.1 No-Log Policy Commitment

AethoVPN strictly adheres to a No-Log Policy, meaning that during your use of VPN services, we do not collect, record, or store any data that could identify or trace individual users or reconstruct their online activities, including:

• Domain names and destination IP addresses you accessed through VPN services.
• DNS query records.
• Connection timestamps and session duration.
• Traffic destinations and data transmission content.
• For EU users, we further commit under GDPR not to establish identifiable user activity databases.

Important Notice: Our No-Log Policy applies solely to the VPN service. For operational security purposes related to our website and client application, we may collect limited access log information from these platforms. This data is strictly separated from VPN usage logs both technically and in scope.

4.2 Necessary Technical Data Collection

To maintain service quality, security, and performance optimization, we only collect the following necessary anonymous technical data. Such data consists solely of aggregated anonymous statistics and does not involve your personal identity or specific online activities, including:

4.2.1 VPN Service-Related Data

• Traffic Statistics: Account-level cumulative traffic statistics (not linked to the specific time or content).
• Device Connections: Number of simultaneously connected devices (used to enforce service plan limits).
• Server Performance Metrics: Server performance data such as server load, data usage, and country/region of source IP address (used solely to recommend optimal server locations or improve routing performance, completely anonymized, not linked to specific users, and not used for profiling or automated decision-making).
• Application Stability Data: Crash reports and error diagnostic information of the Application (containing no personal data).

4.2.2 Access Logs from Website/Client Application

• Access Time: Used for website performance analysis and security auditing.
• Browser Information: Used to ensure website compatibility and optimize your experience.
• Pages Visited: Used to improve website structure and content.
• Access Source Information (e.g., source IP addresses): Used solely for website security monitoring, abuse prevention, route optimization, and localization (e.g., language display).

Important Notice:

• Access logs are completely separated from VPN service usage logs both technically and operationally.
• Access source information shall not be linked to your activities during VPN usage.
• Access logs shall be anonymized promptly after collection.
• Access logs are retained for no more than 30 days and are automatically deleted or anonymized upon expiration.

4.3 Anti-Abuse Measures

We implement the following measures to prevent service abuse, which do not affect your privacy:

• Limits on concurrent device connections.
• Detection of abnormal traffic patterns (based on anonymous statistics).
• Monitoring of technical indicators related to account usage (e.g., concurrent connections, frequency of abnormal requests), without involving content-level data. We may collaborate with third-party security providers (e.g., DDoS protection services) for protection, but we shall not share identifiable user activity data. Third-party providers only access necessary anonymous technical data.

5. AethoVPN Customer Data

5.1 Account Information

When registering or logging in, you need only provide an email address. We use email verification codes for identity authentication, eliminating the need to set up a username or password. Your email address serves as your sole login credential, please safeguard it carefully. We shall use it to create and manage your account and contact you when necessary (e.g., for service updates, critical notifications, or error reports).

5.2 Payment Information

We use Stripe to process payments when you purchase our services. We do not retain your full payment information but may retain:

• Last four digits of payment card (used for verification and account association).
• Transaction records and invoice information.
• Records related to payment dispute resolution.
• Customer identifier provided by Stripe (i.e., stripe_customer_id, which does not contain full payment information and is used solely for account identification and customer support).
• Payment data processing strictly complies with applicable security standards such as PCI DSS, with payment data security safeguarded by Stripe.
• Specific Jurisdictional Notes: For EU users, certain billing information (e.g., transaction amounts, billing country) may be retained for 7 to 10 years under applicable law. For California residents, secondary use of payment data is strictly prohibited under applicable law.

6. Third-Party Services and Data Sharing

6.1 Third-Party Services We Use

To provide and improve our services, we currently rely on the following third-party providers:

• Payment Processing: Stripe - for subscription payments and billing management.
• Website and Application Analytics: Google Analytics, Firebase - for analyzing your access and behavior on AethoVPN’s website and client application (relevant data is anonymized and used solely for statistical analysis and user experience optimization).
• Email Services: Zoho and others - for sending verification codes, service notifications, and customer communications.
• Error Monitoring: Application performance monitoring tools - for collecting and analyzing software errors or failure data.
• Network and Security Services: Cloudflare - for website traffic management, content distribution, and providing DDoS protection, malicious bot detection, and cyberattack defense.
• Advertising Services: Google AdMob, Meta Ads - for displaying advertisements on our website or client application. The specific content is determined by third-party providers based on their own algorithms and strategies. We do not participate in the selection or decision-making of advertising content.

6.2 Data Sharing Principles

• We share only the minimum necessary data with third parties when required, ensuring they undertake contractual obligations consistent with applicable laws in relevant jurisdictions, including GDPR, CCPA, etc.
• We shall sign Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) with all third-party providers that process or access personal data. These agreements will include at a minimum processing purposes and scope, data categories, respective responsibilities, confidentiality obligations, security technical and organizational measures, approval procedures for sub-processors, cross-border transfer provisions, and obligations for data deletion or return upon contract termination.
• We require third-party providers to adhere to strict privacy standards, to ensure that their data processing practices comply with relevant requirements across different jurisdictions.
• We conduct security and privacy compliance audits of third-party providers periodically and reserve the right to take corrective action or terminate cooperation with non-compliant providers.
• Specific Jurisdictional Notes: For EU users, third parties shall ensure all cross-border data transfers comply with EU Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or equivalent mechanisms. For California residents, third parties shall ensure data is not used for purposes beyond the contractual scope.

6.3 Data Transfer Security

All data shared with third parties is transmitted via secure encryption methods and limited to error logs and performance metrics, and does not contain any user VPN activity data or personal identification information.

7. Cookies Policy

7.1 What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that websites use to remember information about your visits. The AethoVPN website uses cookies to enhance your experience, and the cookie types may evolve as the website is updated and improved.

7.2 Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies:

• Used for basic website functions such as maintaining login status and security verification.
• These cookies are critical for the website to function properly and cannot be disabled.

Analytics Cookies (Google Analytics):

• Used to measure website traffic and analyze performance to help us improve website functions.
• Collects anonymous visit data that does not include personal identification information.

Marketing Cookies, Affiliate and Referral Cookies:

• Used to identify users who visit our website through partner referrals, enabling us to pay commissions to relevant partners.
• Tracks referral sources and evaluates marketing campaign effectiveness.

Functional and Personalization Cookies:

• Used to remember your preferences including but not limited to default language settings.
• Enhances personalized user experience.

7.3 Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies we use are provided by third-party providers:

• Google Analytics: for website analytics services.
• Stripe: for secure payment processing.
• Cloudflare: for network and security services.

7.4 Cookies Management and User Control

• Browser Settings: You may manage or disable cookies via browser settings.
• Choice Rights: You have the right to refuse non-essential cookies, retaining only the essential cookies necessary for website operation.
• Change Preferences Anytime: You may change your cookie preferences at any time.
• Impact Notices: Disabling certain cookies may affect some website functions, such as language preference memory.
• Specific Jurisdictional Notes: For EU users, all non-essential cookies require your prior explicit consent. For California residents, you may opt out of advertising-related cookies via "Do Not Sell/Share" identifiers.

7.5 Cookies Retention Periods

• Session Cookies: Automatically deleted upon browser closure.
• Persistent Cookies: Retained for different periods depending on specific purposes (usually 1 to 24 months).
• Third-Party Cookies: Follow the retention policies of respective third-party providers.

8. User Rights

According to data protection laws applicable in your jurisdiction, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

8.1 Right of Access

You have the right to know and access what personal data of yours we have collected and how we use this information.

8.2 Right to Rectification

You have the right to request us to correct/rectify/supplement/update any inaccurate or incomplete personal data we hold about you.

8.3 Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten)

You have the right to request deletion of your personal data, including but not limited to the following circumstances:

• The personal data is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected.
• You withdraw your consent and there is no other legal basis for processing.
• The personal data has been processed unlawfully.

8.4 Right to Restrict Processing

You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.

8.5 Right to Data Portability

You have the right to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and to transmit that data to another controller.

8.6 Right to Object

You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data based on legitimate interests for reasons related to your particular situation.

8.7 Right to Withdraw Consent

If our data processing activities are based on your prior consent, you may withdraw such consent at any time. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing activities conducted prior to withdrawal. However, withdrawal may result in certain services becoming unavailable.

You may submit feedback through the help center of the AethoVPN App or website, or send an email to support@aethovpn.com.

8.8 Right to Refuse Sale/Sharing

For California residents, you also have the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal data. Should we provide identification or tracking data to third-party providers for the purpose of targeted advertising on their products based on our own product or service promotions, we shall prominently display a "Do Not Sell/Share" identifier and provide reasonable opt-out mechanisms.

8.9 How to Exercise Your Rights

We respect and comply with the data subject rights granted by applicable law. To exercise any of the above rights, please submit feedback through the help center of the AethoVPN App or website, or send an email to support@aethovpn.com.

To protect your privacy and account security, we shall conduct reasonable identity verification before processing requests for access/deletion/correction. If you authorize a third party to submit a request on your behalf, we may require that third party to provide written authorization or verified proof of agency.

Specific Jurisdictional Notes: To accommodate statutory time limits in different jurisdictions, we shall adhere to the following time limits for your requests:

• For EU users, we shall typically respond to your requests within 1 month (30 days). In complex cases, we may extend this period by up to 2 months (an additional 60 days) as permitted by law. Should an extension occur, we shall explain the reasons and inform you within 1 month.
• For California residents, we shall respond to verifiable consumer requests within 45 days. If an extension is necessary, we may extend the response period by an additional 45 days (totaling 90 days). Should an extension occur, we shall promptly notify you and explain the reasons.
• For users in other jurisdictions, we shall respond promptly based on applicable jurisdictional regulations and process requests within a reasonable timeframe. If delays occur due to cross-border issues or identity verification, we shall inform you of the reasons and expected timeframes.

9. Data Retention Policy

9.1 General Retention Principles

• Personal Data: Your registration information shall be retained until you actively request account deletion or service termination.
• Customer Service Records: Communication records may continue to be retained for a reasonable period after you request account deletion or following service termination, as necessary for customer support, dispute resolution, compliance audits, or legal obligations.
• Performance Data: Data such as server load and error logs shall be purged periodically, retaining only necessary historical data to optimize service.

9.2 Account Deletion and Service Termination

9.2.1 User-Initiated Account Deletion

• When you actively request account deletion, we shall delete the personal data associated with that account within 7 days, except for data that must continue to be retained until the statutory retention period expires pursuant to legal requirements (e.g., accounting records, payment records).
• Account-related payment records may be retained for up to 7 to 10 years according to legal requirements.
• Anonymized statistical data may be retained for service improvement purposes.

9.2.2 Service Termination

• If your account is terminated due to violation of the Terms of Service, personal data shall be deleted within 30 days, except for data required to be retained until the statutory retention period expires according to legal requirements (e.g., accounting records, payment records).
• To prevent abuse, we may retain hashed email records, typically for no more than 2 years. However, this retention period may be appropriately extended if necessary for security or compliance purposes.

9.2.3 Subscription Expiration

• After subscription expiration, your account shall be retained so you may renew and reactivate services at any time.
• Your account data shall be retained unless you actively request account deletion.
• You may contact us at any time to reactivate services or request account deletion.

10. Data Security Measures

AethoVPN periodically undergoes third-party security audits to ensure the effectiveness of its security control measures and implements multiple security measures to protect your data, such as:

10.1 Technical Security Measures

• Transmission Encryption: All data transmissions utilize specific encryption protocols.
• Storage Security: Your data is stored in encrypted form on secure servers.
• Network Security: Deployment of network security infrastructure such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems.
• Periodic Updates: Systems and software are regularly updated to patch security vulnerabilities.

10.2 Administrative Security Measures

• Access Control: Only authorized personnel may access your data when necessary, implementing the principle of least privilege access.
• Employee Training: Conduct periodic training for employees on data protection and privacy security.
• Access Auditing: Record and review access to your data.
• Security Policies: Develop and implement strict internal data security policies.

11. Data Breach Notification

11.1 Monitoring and Prevention

We continuously monitor system security, employing advanced intrusion detection and prevention measures to safeguard against unauthorized access. When necessary, we provide guidance on protecting against data breaches and fulfill our obligations to notify affected users individually within applicable jurisdictions.

11.2 Breach Response Process

In the event of a data breach, we shall comply with applicable legal requirements by:

• Notify Regulatory Authorities Within A Reasonable Time: Notify relevant regulatory authorities within reasonable time required by applicable laws and explain remedial measures (e.g., notifying the relevant data protection regulatory authorities within 72 hours of discovering the breach according to GDPR requirements).
• Promptly Notify Affected Users: If the breach poses high risks to your rights and freedoms, we shall promptly notify you via email, in-app notifications, or website announcements.
• Provide Detailed Breach Information: Including the type of data affected, potential consequences, and remedial measures we have taken.
• Offer Protection Recommendations: Offer specific protection recommendations and subsequent operational guidance for affected users.

11.3 Breach Records

We shall document all detailed information on data breaches, including incident timeline, scope of impact, measures taken, and lessons learned, to continuously enhance our security capabilities.

12. Legal Compliance and Law Enforcement Requests

12.1 Legal and Regulatory Compliance

AethoVPN complies with major global data protection regulations to safeguard your rights under different jurisdictions.

12.2 Handling of Law Enforcement Requests

Request Evaluation:

• We shall strictly evaluate law enforcement and government requests, providing only limited data to the minimum extent necessary when requests are based on valid legal procedures (e.g., mutual legal assistance treaties or court orders). We do not participate in or proactively cooperate with mass surveillance, or proactively provide your data.

Limited Data Provision:

• Due to our No-Log Policy, we cannot provide data on your VPN usage activities.
• We can only provide basic account-related information (e.g., registration time).
• The scope of data provision is limited to the minimum required by legal requirements.

User Notification:

• Unless prohibited by law, we shall make every effort to notify you prior to disclosure.

13. Children's Data

AethoVPN services are not directed to minors. We do not knowingly collect personal data from individuals under the age of majority as defined by the jurisdiction where the user resides or uses the service. If you are under the age of majority in your jurisdiction of residence or service use, please do not provide us with any personal data without the involvement of a parent or legal guardian. Should we discover or reasonably suspect that our processing of personal data provided by a user violates applicable privacy regulations, we shall promptly delete the relevant personal data.

14. Cross-Border Data Transfers

14.1 Cross-Border Transfer Description

To facilitate AethoVPN’s services and operations, we may store, access, and transfer your personal data to servers located outside your country/region. We shall thoroughly assess all circumstances related to cross-border data transfers and implement appropriate safeguards to ensure your personal data receives protection no less stringent than the standards required in your country/region. For example, if your personal data is transferred to countries/regions outside the EU, we shall ensure such transfers are made only to countries for which the European Commission has issued an adequacy decision for the receiving countries, or we shall use the European Commission’s approved Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) to process such transfers of your personal data. Where the legal risks in the receiving countries are higher, we shall also take supplementary measures such as end-to-end encryption, access control, and periodic risk assessments.

14.2 Transfer Safeguards

For cross-border data transfers, we implement the following safeguards:

• Encrypted Transfer: All cross-border data transfers utilize specific encryption protocols.
• Security Assessment: Periodically evaluate the security environment of data transfer destinations.
• Minimized Transfer: Transfer only necessary data and control the scope of transfer strictly.
• Compliance Monitoring: Ensuring all data transfers comply with relevant privacy laws.

14.3 User Control

You have the right to know the countries or regions where your data is transferred to and the corresponding safeguards.

15. Business Transfers

15.1 Corporate Reorganization or Acquisition

Your personal data may be transferred as part of business assets in the following circumstances:

• Company mergers, acquisitions, or sales.
• Business reorganization or bankruptcy proceedings.
• Asset transfers or business transfers.

15.2 Transfer Safeguards

In the event of any business transfer:

• Advance Notice: We shall notify you at least 30 days in advance via email, in-app notifications, or website announcements.
• Privacy Commitment: The data recipients must commit to continuing compliance with all terms of this Privacy Policy and provide protection measures no less stringent than current legal requirements.
• User Choice: You have the right to request deletion of your account and associated personal data before the transfer is completed.
• Data Protection: Your data shall be protected during the transfer process through encryption and other security measures.
• Specific Jurisdictional Notes: For EU users, we guarantee the business transfers comply with Article 20 of GDPR regarding data portability rights. For California residents, we guarantee compliance with the specific requirements regarding data transfer notifications under the CCPA.

15.3 User Rights

If you disagree with the business transfer, you may, during the notice period prior to the completion of the transfer:

• Request account deletion.
• Request deletion of your personal data.
• Export your account data.
• Terminate your use of our services.

16. Regulatory Complaints

If you have any complaint about our privacy practices, you may:

16.1 Contact Us First

Submit feedback through the help center of the AethoVPN App or website, or send an email to support@aethovpn.com.

16.2 Complaints to Regulatory Authority

You may file a complaint with the relevant data protection regulatory authority in your country.

• EU Residents: You may file a complaint with the data protection authority in your country.
• California Residents: You may file a complaint with the California Attorney General's Office.
• Other Regions: You may file a complaint with the relevant local regulatory authorities.

17. Privacy Policy Modifications and Interpretation

17.1 Privacy Policy Changes and Notifications

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy within the scope permitted by law. In the event of significant changes, we shall notify you in advance via email, in-app notifications, or website announcements. If modifications involve significant changes to the purposes or methods of data processing, or to individual rights, we shall obtain your consent before proceeding. The revised Privacy Policy shall take effect upon its release. You are encouraged to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed of the latest information.

17.2 Relationship with Other Legal Provisions

This Privacy Policy serves as a supplement and integral part of AethoVPN’s Terms of Service. In case of conflicts or for any matter not covered by this Privacy Policy, the Terms of Service shall prevail. For matters concerning governing law and dispute resolution, please refer to relevant provisions in Article 10 of the Terms of Service.

17.3 Final Interpretation Rights

To the extent permitted by law, AethoVPN reserves the final right of interpretation of this Privacy Policy.

You may purchase membership services for your AethoVPN account through the following methods:

• Subscription Purchase: Purchase Pro or Premium Membership services on a monthly, quarterly, annual, or two-year basis.
• One-time Purchase: Make a single payment for a monthly, quarterly, annual, or two-year Pro or Premium Membership service.
• Participation in Official Activities: Obtain membership services by participating in activities such as inviting friends, Lucky Wheel, etc.

Purchase Restrictions: When your subscription membership is still active, the system does not allow buying an additional one-time membership. Likewise, if a one-time membership has not yet expired, you cannot initiate a new subscription. Please wait until the current membership expires before switching purchase methods.

2. Membership Validity Period

2.1 Paid Memberships

AethoVPN offers monthly, quarterly, annual, and two-year paid membership services. The validity period is calculated by natural months, maintaining the same time point:

• Monthly Membership: From the time of activation, extends forward by 1 natural month, expiring at the same time on the corresponding date;
• Quarterly Membership: From the time of activation, extends forward by 3 natural months, expiring at the same time on the corresponding date;
• Annual Membership: From the time of activation, extends forward by 12 natural months, expiring at the same time on the corresponding date;
• Two-year Membership: From the time of activation, extends forward by 24 natural months, expiring at the same time on the corresponding date.

Handling Rules for Non-existent Dates: When the target month does not have the activation date (e.g., monthly membership activated on January 31, but February has no 31st day), the system adjusts the expiry date to the last day of that month.

• Subscription Purchase: For subsequent auto-renewals, if the target month has the original activation date, the original date is restored;
• One-time Purchases: Only applies to the expiry time calculation for that specific purchase.

Calculation Examples:

• Subscription Purchase Examples:

  • Example 1: If you subscribe to monthly Pro Membership (auto-renewal) at 10:00 AM on January 31, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time), the first billing cycle will expire and auto-renew at 10:00 AM on February 28, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time), and the second billing cycle will expire at 10:00 AM on March 31, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time), restoring the original date of 31st.

• One-time Purchase Examples:

  • Example 2: If you purchase a monthly Pro Membership at 8:00 AM on February 1, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time), the membership will expire at 8:00 AM on March 1, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time), and manual repurchase is required after expiry;
  • Example 3: If you purchase a monthly Pro Membership at 10:00 AM on January 31, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time), since February has no 31st day, the membership will expire at 10:00 AM on February 28, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time), and manual repurchase is required after expiry.

2.2 Free Membership Validity Period

AethoVPN offers free membership services with validity periods calculated by natural days, months, and years, maintaining the same time point:

• Free Membership Examples:
  • Example 1: If you obtain 1 day of Standard Membership at 2:00 PM on February 1, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time), it will be valid until 2:00 PM on February 2, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time);
  • Example 2: If you obtain 1 month of Standard Membership at 10:00 AM on February 1, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time), it will be valid until 10:00 AM on March 1, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time).

2.3 Subscription Payments

The billing date for subscription payments is subject to the rules of the payment platform (e.g., Stripe). However, membership validity periods shall be calculated according to these Membership Terms.

2.4 Time Zone Calculation

The validity period of all membership services (including paid and free memberships) shall be determined according to the time zone where the user is located when purchasing or obtaining membership services through participation in official activities.

3. Membership Levels and Types

3.1 Paid Membership Levels

AethoVPN offers two types of paid membership services:

3.2 Free Membership

In addition to paid memberships, AethoVPN also offers free membership that can be obtained through participating in official activities:

3.3 Membership Benefits Description

To avoid inconsistencies due to untimely updates of these Membership Terms, the specific benefits, functions, and usage restrictions of memberships shall be subject to the latest descriptions on AethoVPN product pages. If there is any discrepancy between the product pages and these Membership Terms, the product page shall prevail, without affecting the overall validity of these Membership Terms.

4. Refund Policy

4.1 Refund Terms

• Since we provide a free trial for all new users to fully experience and evaluate service quality prior to payment, and as membership services constitute digital services which are deemed activated upon purchase, all paid membership services are non-refundable once effective, except as required by applicable law (e.g., failure to provide services due to our reasons, material service defects, erroneous charges, etc.);
• You may cancel auto-renewal at any time by clicking "Manage Membership" on the "My Membership" page, which links to a third-party payment platform (e.g., Stripe). Once canceled, no further charges will be incurred;
• After canceling auto-renewal, you may continue to use the services until the end of the current billing cycle, however, fees for unused portions of the current billing cycle will not be refunded.

4.2 Free Trial Recommendations

During your free trial, we recommend that you:

• Test server connection speed and stability;
• Evaluate application functionality and interface experience;
• Determine whether the service meets your usage needs.

If you have questions, please contact us through the help center on AethoVPN website or app, or send an email to support@aethovpn.com.

5. Free Trial Rules

• Free trials are limited to new users once only and terminate immediately upon commencement of any subscription purchases or one-time purchases of paid memberships. Therefore, once you begin a subscription purchase or one-time purchase of paid memberships, the free trial will automatically end and cannot be restored;
• Deleting accounts and re-registering does not entitle a user to an additional free trial;
• Users are expected to fully evaluate service quality and usage needs during the trial period;
• If AethoVPN subsequently offers additional membership promotions, the specific benefits and applicable conditions shall be subject to the activity terms officially published by our company and shall be deemed a supplement to these Membership Terms.

6. Membership Stacking and Priority

6.1 General Principle

Only one membership service may be active at any given time.

6.2 Priority Order

Remaining time for the same type of membership (e.g., multiple Premium Memberships or multiple Pro Memberships) will be automatically combined for use.

Different types of memberships will automatically take effect in the following order of priority:

1. Premium Membership
2. Pro Membership
3. Standard Membership

6.3 Upgrade and Downgrade Rules

The following upgrade and downgrade rules apply only to subscription purchases. One-time purchase memberships cannot be upgraded or downgraded; to change membership levels or durations you must wait for the current service to expire and then purchase a new plan.

6.3.1 Upgrade Rules

Users may upgrade their current subscription membership to a higher-tier membership or a longer subscription period by paying the corresponding price difference.

Effective Time: Upgrades take effect immediately upon completion, and users can enjoy the upgraded membership benefits.

Billing Rules:

• The system calculates the prorated cost of the original membership for the remaining days in the current billing cycle, then calculates the difference between this amount and the cost of the new membership's new billing cycle, which is immediately charged to the user's payment method. Specifically:

  Actual amount to be paid = New membership new cycle cost - Original membership remaining days cost

• Subsequent subscription cycles will be billed at the upgraded membership rate.

Billing Cycle: After the upgrade is completed, the upgrade time becomes the start time of the new billing cycle. The next renewal time will be one complete new billing cycle from the upgrade time.

Example: If you subscribe to monthly Pro Membership at 10:00 AM on January 1, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time), and upgrade to annual Premium Membership at 3:00 PM on January 3, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time), paying the corresponding price difference, you will enjoy annual Premium Membership benefits from 3:00 PM on January 3, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time). Your subscription service cycle will change to start at 3:00 PM on January 3, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time), with an expiry time of 3:00 PM on January 3, 2026 (Singapore Standard Time), and auto-renewal will be charged at the annual Premium Membership rate.

6.3.2 Downgrade Rules

Users may downgrade their current subscription membership to a lower-tier membership or a shorter subscription period.

Effective Time: After a downgrade request is submitted, it will take effect at the end of the current billing cycle. Users will continue to enjoy the original membership benefits during the current billing cycle.

Billing Rules: Downgrades do not result in refunds. Fees already paid for the current billing cycle will not be refunded. After the downgrade takes effect, subsequent subscription cycles will be billed at the downgraded membership rate.

Billing Cycle: Downgrades do not change the billing cycle start time of the original subscription. The next renewal time remains the expiry time of the original subscription.

Example: If you subscribe to monthly Premium Membership at 10:00 AM on January 1, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time), and request a downgrade to monthly Pro Membership at 3:00 PM on January 3, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time), you will continue to enjoy monthly Premium Membership benefits from 3:00 PM on January 3, 2025 until 10:00 AM on February 1, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time). Starting at 10:00 AM on February 1, 2025 (Singapore Standard Time), the downgrade will officially take effect, and you will begin enjoying monthly Pro Membership benefits, with auto-renewal charged at the monthly Pro Membership rate.

7. Usage Rules and Restrictions

• Once a membership validity period begins, it cannot be suspended or extended except as expressly provided by law or these Membership Terms;
• Membership services remain effective regardless of usage frequency or login status. If you request account deletion, uninstall AethoVPN, or fail to use membership services during the membership validity period, the membership validity period will continue to elapse normally, and no refunds or time compensation will be provided during such period;
• Membership benefits are non-transferable and may not be shared with others. If account sharing or other abnormal usage is detected, AethoVPN reserves the right to issue warnings or restrict usage, and in serious cases, to ban accounts or terminate membership services;
• Users must not maliciously obtain or abuse membership services. If the system detects malicious exploitation, malicious refunds, or abnormal behavior, AethoVPN reserves the right to issue warnings, restrict functions, suspend services, ban accounts, or terminate membership services.

8. Terms Modification and Interpretation

8.1 Terms Changes and Notifications

The Company reserves the right to amend these Membership Terms to the extent permitted by law. In the event of material changes, we will notify you in advance via email, in-app notifications, or website announcements. Amended Terms shall take effect as of the date of publication. You are encouraged to review these Membership Terms periodically.

8.2 Terms Relationship

These Membership Terms are a supplementary document to AethoVPN's Terms of Service. In case of conflicts or matters not covered by these Membership Terms, the Terms of Service shall prevail. For matters concerning applicable law and dispute resolution, please refer to the relevant provisions in Chapter 10 of the Terms of Service.

8.3 Final Interpretation Rights

To the extent permitted by law, AethoVPN reserves the final right to interpret these Membership Terms.

1. Overview of the Affiliate Program

1.1 Program Introduction

This Affiliate Program is a performance-based cooperation program. Affiliate Members may earn corresponding commissions by successfully referring new users who register and purchase AethoVPN's membership services (including Pro and Premium Membership) through their Exclusive Affiliate Links.

1.2 Principles of Cooperation

This Affiliate Program operates based on the principles of legality, integrity, equality, and mutual benefit. Affiliate Members shall ensure that their promotional activities comply with applicable laws and these Terms. Any violations of law or breach of these Terms may result in termination of cooperation.

2. Application Eligibility and Requirements

2.1 Basic Eligibility

To apply to become an Affiliate Member or participate in the Affiliate Program, the applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years of age and possess full legal capacity.
• Own lawful and valid promotional channels (websites, blogs, social media accounts, etc.).
• Ensure promotional content complies with applicable laws, regulations, and public order and morality.
• Possess lawful and valid payment accounts for receiving commissions.

2.2 Prohibited Conditions

Applicants shall be ineligible to apply to become Affiliate Members or participate in the Affiliate Program under any of the following conditions:

• Being an individual or organization engaged in illegal or irregular activities.
• Using promotional channels involving pornography, violence, gambling, fraud, or other content.
• Having previously been expelled by AethoVPN or other affiliate programs.
• Being a VPN service provider that directly competes with AethoVPN, or being an employee of such provider.
• Being an individual or entity involved in money laundering, terrorist activities, or other activities that violate international sanctions.

2.3 Geographic Restrictions

For legal compliance and commercial considerations, AethoVPN currently does not accept applicants from:

• Countries or regions under international sanctions.
• Jurisdictions where local law expressly prohibits the promotion of VPN services or affiliate marketing activities.
• Regions deemed to pose high political or economic risk.

AethoVPN reserves the right to adjust the restriction list according to changes in legal policies. Applicants or Affiliate Members are prohibited from circumventing geographic restrictions through the use of fake addresses, proxy addresses, or other means. Any such attempt may result in immediate termination of the cooperation, clearance of account balances, and recovery of all paid commissions (if applicable).

2.4 Application Process

Applicants interested in joining the Affiliate Program should visit the Affiliate Program page on the AethoVPN official website to apply using their personal email address. When applying, applicants should submit the following materials or information:

• Basic information and contact details of the individual or entity.
• Description of promotional channels (website links, social media accounts, etc.).
• Outline of expected promotional plans and strategies.
• Payment account information.

AethoVPN will verify the authenticity and accuracy of the submitted materials prior to commission withdrawals. Affiliate Members who pass the verification will receive commissions according to the commission withdrawal process. Those who fail may be required to provide supplementary materials for clarification. If supplementary materials remain unsatisfactory, AethoVPN reserves the right to refuse to distribute corresponding commissions.

3. Commission Structure and Incentive Mechanism

3.1 Basic Commission

• For new users who registered via your Exclusive Affiliate Link and successfully purchased a paid membership service for the first time, you will receive 40% of the actual payment amount for that order as commission (referred to as the "First Payment Commission").
• For subsequent renewal orders from that user, you will receive 36% of the actual payment amount for the order as commission (referred to as the "Renewal Commission").
• All commissions are calculated based on users' actual payment amounts. That is, when users receive a price reduction through promo codes, coupons, or discount activities, commissions are calculated based on the actual payment amount after the reduction. For example, if a new user purchases a package originally priced at $100 using a 20% discount, resulting in an actual payment amount of $80, the Affiliate Member will receive $32 as the First Payment Commission ($80 × 40%).

3.2 Monthly Performance Incentives

To incentivize high-performing Affiliate Members, AethoVPN has established a Monthly Performance Incentive mechanism. Eligible Affiliate Members may receive corresponding additional commissions in the following month based on the number of Valid Orders successfully promoted during the current month.

3.2.1 Statistical Period

The statistical period for Monthly Performance Incentives is from 00:00 on the first day of the month to 23:59 on the last day of the month in Singapore Standard Time, calculated based on order generation time.

3.2.2 Incentive Implementation Rules

Example: If you successfully promote 100 Valid Orders in January, all confirmed commissions in February will be increased by an additional 5% on top of the basic commission calculation. Therefore:

• First Payment Commission: 45% of the users' actual payment amount (basic 40% + incentive 5%).
• Renewal Commission: 41% of the users' actual payment amount (basic 36% + incentive 5%).

Important Note: Monthly Performance Incentives are calculated based on all confirmed commissions in the following month and cannot be accumulated or transferred across months.

3.3 Tracking and Attribution Mechanism

• Only new users who first register for AethoVPN accounts via Affiliate Members' Exclusive Affiliate Links are eligible for commission calculation; the system will use technical means such as email addresses and device fingerprints to distinguish between new and existing users to prevent duplicate calculations.
• The tracking window for promotional activity is 30 days, starting from the user's first valid click. After account registration, the attribution relationship will be determined by the system based on invitation code information and other relevant technical identification methods.
• If new users complete their first payment within the tracking window, the attribution is confirmed for that Affiliate Member. First payments occurring after the tracking window shall not be attributed for commission purposes.
• Once attribution is confirmed, subsequent renewal orders by that user may be included in the Renewal Commission, valid for 2 years (730 days) from the date of confirmation of the first payment.
• Renewal orders generated after the cumulative 2-year period, as well as new renewal orders generated after the termination of the Affiliate Member's account, shall no longer be counted toward commissions.

3.4 Commission Billing Scope

Only orders for paid membership services (Pro and Premium Membership) purchased by users are included in the commission billing scope. Orders for non-membership paid services or refund orders are excluded from the commission billing scope.

4. Promotional Standards and Compliance Requirements

4.1 Lawful Promotional Channels

Affiliate Members may promote AethoVPN services through the following lawful channels:

4.1.1 Online Digital Channels

• Personal Websites/Blogs: Must be legal personal websites or blog platforms.
• Social Media and Content Platforms: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, Telegram, Zhihu, Bilibili, Weibo, Douyin, Xiaohongshu, WeChat, and other mainstream platforms.
• Email Marketing: Must strictly comply with anti-spam laws and regulations, and may only be sent to users who have provided explicit consent.

4.1.2 Offline Promotional Channels

• Offline Events: Conferences, exhibitions, technical sharing sessions, and other legitimate commercial activities.
• Word-of-Mouth Promotion: Authentic recommendations to friends and family are permitted, but misleading advertising is prohibited.

4.1.3 Other Channels

Other channels that comply with laws and regulations and have obtained prior written approval from AethoVPN.

4.2 Promotional Content Requirements

4.2.1 Basic Requirements

• Authenticity: All promotional content must be truthful and accurate, without any exaggerated, misleading, or false information.
• Identity Disclosure: Affiliate Members should clearly disclose their affiliate promotional status and may not impersonate AethoVPN official personnel.
• Service Description: Affiliate Members must not promise or claim functions or effects beyond AethoVPN's actual service scope.
• Authorized Use: All brand names, trademarks, logos, and other elements used in promotional materials must be authorized in writing by AethoVPN in advance.

4.2.2 Prohibited Content

Promotional content must not include:

• False statements regarding product features, performance metrics, or service commitments.
• Misleading information about free offers or discounts.
• Expressions or statements that may trigger legal or compliance risks.
• Any content involving violations of laws and regulations or that may lead to legal risks.

4.3 Data Protection and Privacy Compliance

Affiliate Members must strictly comply with data protection laws and regulations during promotion, including:

• User Consent: Obtain clear and informed user consent prior to collecting personal data and refrain from coercing or inducing users to provide information.
• Lawful Processing: Strictly comply with applicable data protection regulations such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act).
• Information Security: Properly safeguard user data and prevent leaks.
• Purpose Limitation: User data may only be used for promoting AethoVPN services and must not be sold or used for other purposes.
• Privacy Notices: Clearly display the privacy policy on information collection pages.
• User Rights: Respect users' statutory rights including deletion, correction, and data portability.
• Policy Compliance: Affiliate Members must be familiar with and strictly comply with the data privacy compliance requirements outlined in AethoVPN's Privacy Policy, ensuring that data processing practices during promotional activities align with AethoVPN's privacy commitments.

4.4 Prohibited Promotional Conduct

4.4.1 Malicious Promotional Conduct

Affiliate Members must not:

• Promote via spam emails, malware, virus distribution, or other means.
• Place promotions on adult, illegal, violent, gambling, or other harmful-content websites.
• Use false identities or forged materials for promotional purposes.
• Self-click or organize others to click on affiliate links to generate fraudulent transactions.

4.4.2 Self-Referral Prohibition

• Affiliate Members are strictly prohibited from purchasing AethoVPN services by using their own Exclusive Affiliate Links.
• The system will monitor abnormal purchasing behaviors through technical means and may terminate the cooperation immediately and recover related commissions upon detection.

4.4.3 Search Engine Advertising Restrictions

Affiliate Members are prohibited from placing paid advertisements on advertising platforms (including but not limited to Google Ads, Bing Ads) and social media platforms (including but not limited to Instagram and TikTok) that contain the following keywords:

• Brand Terms: AethoVPN, Aetho VPN, AethoVPN official website, etc.
• Competitive Terms: AethoVPN + deals, AethoVPN + discounts, AethoVPN + official, etc.
• Misleading Terms: AethoVPN official agent, AethoVPN authorized dealer, etc.

4.4.4 Competitor Promotion Restrictions

Affiliate Members must comply with the following regulations when promoting AethoVPN services:

• Concurrent Promotion Restrictions: During the period of promoting AethoVPN services, Affiliate Members must not promote other VPNs, node providers, or other directly competing products, nor may they promote proxy services, encryption software, or other related products that overlap with VPN functions.
• Promotional Content Restrictions: Affiliate Members must not directly compare AethoVPN with other VPN services in promotional content, or disparage or make misleading comparison of competing products.

Exceptions:

• Review Content: Professional tech review media may conduct multi-brand reviews under objective and impartial conditions.
• Historical Content: Promotional content for competing products published prior to joining the Affiliate Program may be retained, but must be marked with a clear timeliness disclaimer in a prominent location.
• Special Authorization: Exceptions apply for special circumstances with written authorization from AethoVPN.

4.4.5 Other Prohibited Conduct

Affiliate Members must not:

• Impersonate AethoVPN official personnel (including but not limited to customer service, technical support, sales representatives, agents, etc.).
• Modify, crack, or reverse-engineer AethoVPN software without authorization.
• Promote illegal content or use AethoVPN services for illegal activities.
• Engage in any conduct that may damage AethoVPN's brand image, commercial reputation, or user experience.

5. Commission Settlement and Withdrawal

5.1 Commission Confirmation Mechanism

To ensure transaction security and properly handle refunds and other special situations, AethoVPN confirms commissions under the following mechanism:

• Each order’s commission shall be confirmed 31 calendar days after the Valid Order generation date.
• If a refund, chargeback, or transaction dispute occurs during the confirmation period, the related commission will be automatically deducted.
• Only confirmed commissions are eligible for withdrawal.

5.2 Commission Clawback Mechanism (Chargeback)

AethoVPN maintains a commission clawback mechanism to address situations such as credit card chargebacks, fraudulent transactions, and disputed transactions.

Chargeback situations include:

• Credit Card Chargebacks: Credit card transaction disputes or reversals initiated by users through their banks.
• Fraudulent Transactions: Transactions confirmed as card theft, identity theft, etc.
• Disputed Refunds: Transaction disputes initiated by users through third-party payment platforms.
• Bank Document Requests: Requests from banks or payment institutions for transaction documents.

Processing Procedure:

• Dispute Period Management: If chargebacks or transaction disputes occur, the related commissions will be immediately frozen and cannot be withdrawn until the dispute is resolved.
• Final Processing: Commissions will be permanently deducted if the dispute is lost, or recredited to the account balance if the dispute is won.
• Fee Responsibility: Dispute processing fees and bank charges incurred due to chargebacks shall be borne by the corresponding Affiliate Member.

Special Situations: If an Affiliate Member's account balance is insufficient to cover the deducted commissions, AethoVPN may deduct from future commissions. Multiple consecutive chargebacks may result in suspension or termination of the Affiliate Member’s eligibility. Affiliate Members must provide promotional evidence to assist in dispute resolution.

5.3 Withdrawal Cycle and Threshold

• The 1st of each month in Singapore Standard Time serves as the commission settlement statistics date. Withdrawal functionality is temporarily unavailable on this day.
• Commissions must accumulate to a minimum threshold of USD 50 or the equivalent in other currencies before a withdrawal application can be submitted. Amounts below the threshold will remain in the Affiliate Member's account and may be withdrawn once the threshold is met in a subsequent settlement.
• Commissions are calculated in US Dollars (USD). For payment in RMB or other currencies, the exchange rate applied during settlement will be based on real-time exchange rates provided by Google (reference: https://www.google.com/finance/markets/currencies). The exchange rate shall be the real-time rate on the actual payment date, and no separate notification will be provided.

5.4 Withdrawal Methods

AethoVPN supports the following withdrawal methods:

• Bank Transfer: Processed via the Stripe Connect platform (requires completion of KYC identity verification, see "About Stripe Connect" below). Complete bank account information must be provided, including account holder name, account number, bank name, and branch information. For bank accounts outside mainland China, SWIFT Code or IBAN information may be required, depending on the requirements on the withdrawal page.
• USDT: Supports ERC20 and TRC20 networks. USDT is calculated at a 1:1 ratio with USD.
• Alipay Password-Protected Lucky Money: AethoVPN bears no responsibility for situations not caused by AethoVPN such as password leaks, lucky money theft, or failure to claim lucky money within 24 hours after issuance.

Additional withdrawal methods may be added in the future, subject to written notice on AethoVPN's relevant withdrawal pages.

About Stripe Connect: Before withdrawing via bank transfer, Affiliate Members must complete the account registration and Identity Verification (KYC) required by Stripe. The availability of Stripe Connect is limited by the range of countries/regions it supports. If your region is not supported, please select another withdrawal method. Using Stripe Connect constitutes agreement to comply with Stripe's Terms of Service.

Note: Some withdrawal methods may incur third-party handling fees or additional processing costs, which shall be borne by Affiliate Members.

5.5 Withdrawal Timeline

After an Affiliate Member requests a withdrawal, we will process the withdrawal within 7 business days. Should unforeseen circumstances prevent timely payment, we will notify the Affiliate Member in advance and explain the reasons.

5.6 Fee Responsibility

All fees incurred during the withdrawal process shall be borne by the Affiliate Member, including but not limited to:

• Bank transfer fees such as cross-border transfer and wire transfer fees.
• Payment platform fees such as transaction handling fees and channel fees for password-protected lucky money charged by third-party payment platforms like Alipay.
• Blockchain network fees such as miner fees and gas fees for cryptocurrency withdrawals.
• Exchange rate variance costs such as potential losses and conversion fees incurred during currency conversions.
• Other related fees including but not limited to technical service fees, currency exchange fees, or intermediary service fees incurred due to future additions of withdrawal methods.

Note: Handling fees will be deducted directly when withdrawing commissions. The actual amount received will be the payable commission minus handling fees. We will explain the specific amounts prior to payment.

5.7 Withdrawal Failure Handling

5.7.1 Common Reasons

• Incorrect or invalid payment account information.
• Payment bank or platform system failures.
• Cross-border payments subject to foreign exchange controls or policy restrictions.
• Payment accounts frozen or restricted.

5.7.2 Processing Procedure

• Notification Mechanism: Affiliate Members will be notified via email within 72 hours after a withdrawal failure.
• Information Update: Affiliate Members should provide updated payment information within 30 days of receiving the notification if required.
• Fee Responsibility: Affiliate Members shall bear any related handling fees incurred due to withdrawal failures resulting from their own actions.

5.7.3 Timeout Handling

• Balance Return: Commissions from failed withdrawals will be returned to the Affiliate Member's account balance, and the Affiliate Member may reapply for withdrawal during the next settlement cycle.
• Fee Deduction: Related handling fees will be deducted from the returned commission balance.

5.8 Tax Treatment

Affiliate Members are solely responsible for any tax obligations arising from commission income. AethoVPN does not withhold taxes on behalf of Affiliate Members.

6. Promotional Materials and Technical Support

6.1 Official Promotional Materials

6.1.1 Material Types

AethoVPN will provide Affiliate Members with a wide range of promotional materials, including:

• Banner Advertisement Images: Horizontal banner advertisements in multiple sizes.
• Text Links and Buttons: Text links and CTA button codes in various styles.
• Product Introduction Copy: Product feature introductions and marketing copy templates of different lengths.
• Video Promotional Materials: Product demonstration videos, promotional clips, and other video content.
• Email Templates: Email promotional templates complying with anti-spam regulations.
• Social Media Materials: Image and text materials suitable for major social platforms.

6.1.2 Usage Standards

When using materials, Affiliate Members must ensure the integrity of the materials. Core content, brand logos, or product information must not be altered. Image resolution or video clarity must not be reduced. Expired promotional information or product feature introductions must be updated promptly. The materials must not be used for other commercial purposes.

6.1.3 Updates and Maintenance

• Regular Updates: AethoVPN will regularly update promotional materials based on product feature upgrades, holiday promotions, and other circumstances.
• Material Notifications: All Affiliate Members will be notified via email when new materials are released.
• Feedback Mechanism: Affiliate Members may provide feedback on material needs or usage issues via email.
• Version Management: Expired materials will be promptly removed. Affiliate Members should regularly check and update the promotional materials they use.

6.2 Support and Dashboard Management

AethoVPN will provide comprehensive support to Affiliate Members to help optimize their promotional performance, including a real-time analytics dashboard, detailed usage guides for affiliate links, promotional strategy recommendations from dedicated affiliate managers, and periodic sharing of industry best practices.

6.3 Promotional Code Management

6.3.1 Promotional Code Types

AethoVPN provides multiple promotional codes to drive promotion, including:

• General Promotional Codes: Standard discount codes applicable to all new users.
• Limited-time Promotional Codes: Limited-time discount codes for special holidays or marketing activities.
• Targeted Promotional Codes: Targeted discount codes for particular user groups or promotional channels.

Additionally, AethoVPN also provides exclusive promotional code support for top-performing Affiliate Members to enhance promotional effectiveness.

6.3.2 Application and Allocation of Exclusive Promotional Codes

Affiliate Members with monthly Valid Orders of 200 or more may apply for exclusive promotional codes by emailing AethoVPN at support@aethovpn.com and describing their promotional plan and expected results. AethoVPN will review the applications and respond based on promotional capability, historical performance, and market demand within 5 business days of receipt.

6.3.3 Promotional Code Usage Standards

• Promotional codes are limited to the Affiliate Member's personal promotional use and may not be transferred, sold, or shared with other Affiliate Members.
• All promotional codes have explicit expiration dates and will automatically become invalid upon expiration. Affiliate Members are advised to monitor their codes promptly.

6.3.4 Violation Handling

Promotional code privileges will be revoked if the Affiliate Member engages in any of the following conduct:

• Sharing or selling promotional codes through unauthorized channels.
• Maliciously hoarding promotional codes that undermine other Affiliate Members' interests.
• Applying for promotional codes through false information.
• Other violations involving the improper use of promotional codes.

7. Account Management and Data Statistics

7.1 Affiliate Management Dashboard

Each Affiliate Member will receive a dedicated management dashboard where they can view promotional performance, earnings status and related records, commission withdrawal and payment status, etc. We may adjust dashboard functions, display content, or statistical metrics according to operational needs. Actual interface functionality shall prevail.

7.2 Data Accuracy

• All data statistics shall be based on AethoVPN system records and are typically synchronized and updated within 24 hours.
• Should any data be disputed, Affiliate Members must submit review requests within 30 days of data generation. Failure to do so will be deemed acceptance of the system records.
• AethoVPN reserves the right to review and adjust abnormal data based on system records.

8. Violation Penalties and Account Termination

8.1 Violation Penalty Mechanism

AethoVPN will impose the following corresponding penalty measures based on the nature, severity, and impact scope of the violation:

8.1.1 Minor Violations

• Promotional content contains minor misleading information or violates promotional content standards.
• Failure to update invalid affiliate links or information promptly.

Penalty: Written warning with a deadline for rectification.

8.1.2 Moderate Violations

• Committing 3 or more minor violations, or failing to rectify after receiving warnings.
• Causing a negative impact on AethoVPN brand image.
• Promotional content containing severe falsehoods or misleading information.

Penalty: Account suspension for 7-30 days, with no new commissions generated during the suspension period.

8.1.3 Serious Violations

• Engaging in prohibited promotional conduct explicitly listed in Article 4.4 of these Terms.
• Malicious fraud, data forgery, or other conduct damaging AethoVPN's interests.
• Organized intentional violations or malicious conduct to damage AethoVPN's reputation in collusion with others.
• Serious violations of laws, regulations or these Terms.

Penalty: Immediate permanent termination of cooperation, forfeiture of all unwithdrawn commissions, and reservation of AethoVPN’s rights to pursue legal remedies.

8.2 Account Termination

8.2.1 Termination Conditions

An affiliate account may be terminated in the following circumstances:

• The Affiliate Member engaging in a serious violation as described in Article 8.1.3 of these Terms.
• The Affiliate Member voluntarily requests to withdraw, or to cancel or delete their account.
• AethoVPN adjusts its business operations or terminates the Affiliate Program.
• If users registered via an Affiliate Member's Exclusive Affiliate Link have refunds or fraud incidents totaling 3 or more times within 30 days, or if the refund rate exceeds 20% during the period, AethoVPN reserves the right to suspend or terminate that affiliate account depending on circumstances.

8.2.2 Notification and Settlement

The method of notification for account termination varies by circumstance. In all cases, Affiliate Members must cease all promotional activities immediately upon receipt of a termination notice or confirmation:

• If termination is initiated by AethoVPN, AethoVPN will notify the Affiliate Member in advance via email.
• If an Affiliate Member voluntarily requests to withdraw or cancel/delete an account, the member must submit a request via their registered email to support@aethovpn.com. AethoVPN will respond with confirmation within 7 business days. Account cancellation will be officially completed within 7 days after the confirmation response is sent.

Unless termination results from a violation, confirmed but unwithdrawn commissions may be applied for in accordance with settlement rules. Balances below the minimum withdrawal threshold are non-payable and are deemed waived upon voluntary account cancellation/deletion. In the event of termination due to a violation, all unwithdrawn commissions shall be forfeited.

Data processing following account termination will be handled in accordance with the AethoVPN Privacy Policy. Financial records, including commissions and transaction data, will be retained separately as required by applicable laws and regulations for no less than the statutory retention period.

8.3 Compensation and Liability

8.3.1 Scope of Compensation

If an Affiliate Member's violations cause losses to AethoVPN, the Affiliate Member shall be liable for compensation, including but not limited to:

• Direct Economic Losses: Financial losses directly caused by violations, such as false commissions, malicious refunds, etc.
• Brand Reputation Losses: Reasonable expenses incurred by AethoVPN to eliminate negative impacts on its brand image resulting from improper promotional activities.
• Legal and Compliance Expenses: Costs related to attorney fees, litigation, mediation, etc.
• System Repair Costs: Expenses incurred by AethoVPN for technical repairs or system maintenance due to malicious attacks, data tampering, or similar conduct.
• Third-Party Claims and Mediation Fees: Fees associated with third-party claims against AethoVPN or mediation expenses due to Affiliate Member's violations.

8.3.2 Methods of Implementation

AethoVPN will prioritize deduction of compensation amounts from the Affiliate Member's account balance or future commissions. Should such funds remain insufficient to cover compensation, AethoVPN reserves the right to pursue additional compensation through legal channels.

8.3.3 Exemption Circumstances

Affiliate Members may be exempt from compensation liability where losses are caused by force majeure, AethoVPN system failures or technical problems, or with the explicit authorization of AethoVPN.

9. Intellectual Property and Trademark Usage

9.1 Ownership of Intellectual Property

AethoVPN's trademarks, logos, software, product names, technologies, and all related intellectual property rights belong to AethoVPN. Affiliate Members are granted limited usage rights solely for authorized promotional activities.

9.2 Usage Standards

• Use of AethoVPN trademarks is limited to lawful promotional purposes.
• Affiliate Members must not register domain names containing "AethoVPN" or related terms.
• Affiliate Members must not use AethoVPN trademarks in bidding advertisements or in misleading expressions.
• Affiliate Members must comply with AethoVPN brand usage guidelines when using trademarks.

9.3 Infringement Handling

If an Affiliate Member is found to use AethoVPN trademarks without authorization or otherwise infringe intellectual property, AethoVPN reserves the right to immediately terminate cooperation and take legal action, retaining the right to pursue liability for the infringement.

10. Confidentiality

10.1 Confidentiality Obligations

Affiliate Members shall maintain the confidentiality of non-public information obtained during cooperation. The confidential information includes but is not limited to:

• AethoVPN's business strategies, pricing strategies, marketing strategies, and promotional plans.
• Commission policies, commission structures, and internal operational data of the Affiliate Program.
• User and partner information.
• Other information explicitly marked as confidential.

10.2 Confidentiality Period

Confidentiality obligations shall take effect from the date Affiliate Members obtain the information and shall remain in force for 3 years after the termination of the affiliate relationship.

11. Terms Modification, Dispute Resolution, and Governing Law

11.1 Terms Modification

AethoVPN may modify these Terms according to business or legal changes and notify Affiliate Members through the following means:

• Email notification.
• Publication on AethoVPN’s official website.

Material changes will be notified 30 days in advance. Affiliate Members who continue participating in the Affiliate Program after the notification period shall be deemed to have accepted the modified Terms. Affiliate Members who disagree with modifications may apply to withdraw from the Affiliate Program within the notification period, and AethoVPN will settle confirmed commissions in accordance with the applicable rules.

11.2 Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

11.2.1 Filing a Dispute

Affiliate Members must file disputes to AethoVPN in writing within 60 days of the dispute’s occurrence. Disputes concerning commission calculations and withdrawals must be filed within 30 days after the relevant commission data is generated. Account termination disputes must be filed within 15 days of receiving the termination notification. Disputes filed after these deadlines will not be accepted unless there is reasonable cause.

11.2.2 Resolution Procedures

After dispute filing, the parties shall first attempt to resolve it through amicable negotiation. Should negotiation fail, either party may apply for third-party mediation within 60 days. If mediation proves unsuccessful, the dispute shall be submitted to courts with exclusive jurisdiction in the British Virgin Islands, unless otherwise required by mandatory law in the Affiliate Member’s country or region.

11.2.3 Burden of Proof

The party that files the dispute shall bear the burden of producing sufficient evidence to support its claim. AethoVPN’s system record data shall have primary evidentiary weight.

11.3 Governing Law

• These Terms and all rights and obligations arising from or related to the Affiliate Program shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, except where mandatory laws in the Affiliate Member's country or region apply.
• Affiliate Members acknowledge and agree that dispute resolution provisions shall have equal force and effect with core terms such as commissions, penalty provisions for violations, and the validity of such provisions shall not be affected by the method of dispute resolution.

12. Contact Information and Technical Support

• For technical support, promotional materials, account management assistance, commission settlement inquiries, etc., please contact AethoVPN via email at support@aethovpn.com.
• For key account services or business partnerships, AethoVPN offers customized collaboration solutions tailored to large-scale promotional channels.
• For urgent matters, please include the word "Urgent" in the email subject line and we will prioritize handling.

13. Other Terms

13.1 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is deemed invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.

13.2 Entire Agreement

These Terms constitute the entire legal agreement between AethoVPN and Affiliate Members with respect to affiliate marketing cooperation, effective as of the date when the Affiliate Members successfully join the program, and supersede all prior oral or written agreements between the parties.

13.3 Final Interpretation Rights

To the extent permitted by law, AethoVPN reserves the final right to interpret these Terms.

Thank you for your interest in the AethoVPN Affiliate Marketing Program. We look forward to establishing a long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation with you!