Privacy Policy

Your privacy means a great deal to us and we respect your right to visit this site and remain anonymous.  For that reason, and others, we don’t require that you create an account here.  In fact, you cannot create an account here.  That said, this Website is published via the WordPress content management system and there are inherent capabilities that may impact your privacy.

Commenting on This Website

As an example, you could have a Gravatar and a WordPress profile that you access when you leave comments on other people’s blogs.  If we allow you to leave comments, your WordPress profile may be used.  Furthermore, your IP address and email address are recorded.  The WordPress software uses this information to identify comment spammers.  You may also receive notifications from this or other self-hosted WordPress Websites about replies to comments you leave.

We normally disable comments on our articles but may elect to enable them from time to time.

We do not use any information left in the comments or on comment forms to compile lists of email addresses.  We will not contact you directly.

Web Server Log Files

The Web server, by its very fundamental design, collects information about your visit to this Website.  The information may include your IP address, your Web browser, your operating system, the page you requested, and similar data.  Although we do have some control over what data the server collects, this is normal and we do not use any software to analyze the data in an effort to identify you or follow you.

Despite the requirements of Europe’s General Data Privacy Regulation, there is no feasible way we can give you access to the data collected in the server log file.  Nor is there any feasible way we can purge it at your request.  Furthermore, an IP address may be shared by many people; and one person may use many different IP addresses.  We don’t use software to determine who is visiting this site and therefore we do not process your IP address for individual identification.

The server log data is aggregated on a daily basis for reporting purposes.  The reports do not in any way provide details about individuals or their visits.  Server log files are automatically purged within 30-90 days.

Third-Party Software and Cookies

We may install third-party software to collect analytics data.  These secondary analytics log files are maintained by the other services, such as Google Analytics (as an example).  We do not have control over the log files those services maintain and we have only limited control over how long they may retain the data.

These analytics programs, and some advertising services, may set cookies in your browsers.  A cookie is a small note that your browser makes to help it “remember” its last interaction with a Website or service (such as an advertising network).  The server that creates the cookie may request information from your browser to help it maintain a persistent state of communication with your browser.  We do not use any software to intercept or read the server-side information about these states or cookies.

WordPress, by its design, may create cookies in your browser.  Normally these cookies help your browser remain “logged in” to a Website.  Since you do not have an account with this site, the cookie created by WordPress for this site will contain minimal information.  You have the ability, in your browser’s settings, to delete any cookies and history associated with your visit to this Website.

This Website Uses HTTPS Encryption

Despite what you may have read on the Internet, HTTPS does not guarantee your connection to a Website remains private.  Although we update our HTTPS authentication certificate regularly, your connection can be compromised in any of the following ways:

• You unintentionally install malware on your computer
• You use a free Wi-Fi service that is compromised
• You use a Virtual Private Network (they can intercept everything you do on the Web)
• You visit this site from work (your employer may intercept everything you do)
• This Website could be hacked (we monitor it regularly)
• Your VPN or corporate network could be hacked
• A “passive” listening device interprets your keystrokes
• Your typing is recorded by a video camera

We do not guarantee that your connection to our site is private and by visiting this site you agree to indemnify and hold us harmless in the event that your connection is compromised.  HTTPS does not guarantee your privacy with any Website and it is your responsibility to ensure that your connection to the Internet is safe, secure, and private.