Self Hosted Project Philosophy

Privacy shouldn't require a computer science degree

Right now, real privacy requires expertise — server infrastructure, VPN protocols, operational security. A journalist exposing corruption shouldn't need a computer science degree to protect their sources. An activist documenting human rights abuses shouldn't have to become a Linux sysadmin to stay safe. Privacy is a fundamental right, not a technical achievement.

The tutorial trap

Most people eventually figure out the answer: rent your own server, configure your own VPN. They follow a tutorial. Something breaks. They don't know why. They give up and go back to a commercial VPN, knowing it's not really private, but at least it works.

With SHP, your VPN works immediately with secure defaults. In 10 minutes you have a working, private VPN server with full root access. We make it easy to start, but we don't lock you in — change protocols, relocate servers, configure custom routing when you need to.

Pragmatic ethics

Any privacy tool can be misused. The same applies to encryption, anonymous speech, and private communication — all fundamental rights despite potential abuse.

SHP is not a shield for criminal activity. Child abuse, terrorism, and copyright piracy are unacceptable and will result in immediate suspension. We comply with legitimate legal requests related to these issues.

But we won't compromise user privacy for convenience, won't build backdoors, and won't pretend that mass surveillance makes anyone safer.

Why it matters now

Mass VPN blocking is accelerating. The Great Firewall is constantly evolving and being adopted by new countries. DPI technology gets smarter.

Commercial providers get compromised or compelled, jurisdictions shift, and honeypots are everywhere.

The gap between "I need privacy" and "I can achieve privacy" is widening.

Commercial solutions require trusting someone's promises.

Real privacy requires verification, not trust.