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Our system automatically collects information about the pages that visitors
view on our Web site. We may use this aggregate information to understand how
our members as a group use the services we provide so that we can improve our
Web site. Furthermore, we may share such aggregate statistical information with
our partners, affiliates or other outside companies, but in doing so, it is not
our practice to disclose individual names or other personal information. Some
examples of how we aggregate such information are as follows:
Cookies: A cookie is a small amount of data that is
sent to your browser from a Web server and stored on your computer's hard
drive. Cookies are widely used on the Internet and have become an industry
standard. Cookies enable user registration, login and personalization, among
other things. Although a cookie cannot identify you personally, it can identify
your computer. Your browser is most likely set up to accept cookies
automatically. If you would like to disable this feature you may do so by
adjusting the options or preferences in your browser. However, by doing so, you
will lose some of the conveniences of our Web pages.
IP addresses: An IP address is a number that is
automatically assigned to your computer whenever you begin service with an
Internet Service Provider. We collect IP addresses for the purposes of system
administration and to audit the use of our site. Each time you log onto our
site and each time you request one of our pages, our server logs your IP
address. Although we log your session with us, we will not normally link your
IP address to anything that can enable us to identify you. However, we can and
will use IP addresses to identify a user when we feel it is necessary to
enforce compliance with our rules or terms of service or to protect our
service, site, users or others.
Computer information: We query your computer
automatically for information about the computer or operating system you are
using such as the baud rate of your modem or error messages you may have
received. We may do so in order to fit our services to your individual needs
and to diagnose problems you may be having with our Web site. We use a unique
identifier in the form of a user ID to give you access to special areas of our
Web site intended for registered users.
Geographic location: We may gather information about
your geographical location by determining where your computer is located. We do
this in order to provide either localized service or to provide faster service
by sending your server localized content.
Other information: We may require other information for
tracking or verifying compliance with our policies, abiding by federal, state
and local laws and for editorial and feedback solicitation purposes. In
addition, from time to time, we may use your information for unanticipated
uses, such as notification of new services, announcements and general
communications. If our information practices materially change at some time in
the future, we will post such changes to the site before we use your data for
these new purposes. If you are concerned about how your information is used,
please periodically check this privacy policy.
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