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src="/web/20081204185051im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Benefits.shtml" title="Benefits and Grants">Benefits and Grants</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081204185051im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Consumer_Safety.shtml" title="Consumer Guides">Consumer Guides</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081204185051im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" 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Community</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081204185051im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Health.shtml" title="Health and Nutrition">Health and Nutrition</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081204185051im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/History.shtml" title="History, Arts, and Culture">History, Arts, and Culture</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081204185051im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Education_Training.shtml" title="Jobs and Education">Jobs and Education</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081204185051im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Money_Taxes.shtml" title="Money and Taxes">Money and Taxes</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081204185051im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety.shtml" title="Public Safety and Law">Public Safety and Law</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081204185051im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Reference_Shelf.shtml" title="Reference and General Government">Reference and General Government</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081204185051im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Science.shtml" title="Science and Technology">Science and Technology</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081204185051im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Travel.shtml" title="Travel and Recreation">Travel and Recreation</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081204185051im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Voting.shtml" title="Voting and Elections">Voting and Elections</a></td></tr></table></div> </div>   <div id="content"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td> <a id="skip_content" name="skip_content"></a> <div id="bread"> <a href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/index.shtml" title="Home">Home</a> > <span><a name="vgn-privacy-and-security-vgn"></a>Privacy and Security</span> </div> <h1>Privacy and Security</h1> <p>Official information and services from the U.S. government</p> <p><span lang="es" xml:lang="es"><a href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/gobiernousa/Privacidad_Seguridad.shtml?toggleTo=en_Privacy_&_Security"><img alt="Pol铆tica de privacidad: Vea esta tema en espa帽ol" border="0" height="22" hspace="5" src="/web/20081204185051im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/english_Toggle.gif" width="143"/></a></span></p> <div><p class="article">Thanks for visiting the USA.gov website and reviewing our privacy policy. Our privacy policy is plain and simple. We collect NO personal information, like names or addresses, when you visit our website. If you choose to provide that information to us, it's only used to fulfill your request for information.</p><p class="article">We do collect some technical information when you visit to make your visit seamless. The section below explains how we handle and collect technical information when you visit our website.</p><br class="article"/><h3 class="article">Information Collected and Stored Automatically</h3><p class="article">When you browse, read pages, or download information on USA.gov, we automatically gather and store certain technical information about your visit. This information never identifies who you are. The information we collect and store about your visit is listed below:</p><div class="arrow_List"><ul><li><span>The Internet domain (for example, "xcompany.com" if you use a private Internet access account, or "yourschool.edu" if you connect from a university's domain) and IP address (an IP address is a number that is automatically assigned to your computer whenever you're surfing the web) from which you access our website;<br/><br/></span></li><li><span>The type of browser (such as Firefox, Netscape, or Internet Explorer) and operating system (Windows, Unix) used to access our site;<br/><br/></span></li><li><span>The date and time you access our site;<br/><br/></span></li><li><span>The pages you visit; and,<br/><br/></span></li><li><span>If you linked to the USA.gov website from another website, the address of that website.</span></li></ul></div><p class="article">This information is only used to help us make the site more useful for you. With this data, we learn about the number of visitors to our site and the types of technology our visitors use. We never track or record information about individuals and their visits.</p><div class="backToTop"><a href="#top" title="Back to Top">Back to Top</a></div><br class="article"/><h3 class="article">Cookies</h3><p class="article">When you visit some websites, their web servers generate pieces of information known as cookies. Some cookies collect personal information to recognize your computer in the future. This is not the case at USA.gov, where we only use non-persistent cookies or "per-session cookies." These cookies do not collect personal information on users and they are erased as soon as you leave our website.</p><p class="article">Per-session cookies serve technical purposes, like providing seamless navigation through USA.gov. These cookies do not permanently record data and they are not stored on your computer's hard drive. USA.gov's cookies are stored in memory and are only available during an active browser session. Again, once you close your browser, the cookie disappears.</p><br class="article"/><h3 class="article">If You Send Us Personal Information</h3><p class="article">We do not collect personal information for any purpose other than to respond to you (for example, to respond to your questions or provide subscriptions you have chosen). If you choose to provide us with personal information—like filling out a Contact Us form, with an e-mail address and zip code, and submitting it to us through the website—we use that information to respond to your message, and to help get you the information you've requested. We only share the information you give us with another government agency if your question relates to that agency, or as otherwise required by law. USA.gov never collects information or creates individual profiles for commercial marketing.</p><p class="article">While you must provide an e-mail address and zip code for a localized response to any incoming questions or comments to USA.gov, we recommend that you NOT include any other personal information, especially Social Security numbers. The Social Security Administration offers additional <a class="main-article" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/external/external.jsp?url=http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html#giving" title="guidance">guidance</a> on sharing your Social Security number.</p><br class="article"/><h3 class="article">Site Security</h3><div class="arrow_List"><ul><li><span>For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this government computer system employs commercial software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage.<br/><br/></span></li><li><span>Except for authorized law enforcement investigations, no other attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits. Raw data logs are used for no other purposes and are scheduled for regular destruction in accordance with National Archives and Records Administration guidelines.<br/><br/></span></li><li><span>Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this service are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act.</span></li></ul></div><div class="backToTop"><a href="#top" title="Back to Top">Back to Top</a></div><br class="article"/><h3 class="article">USA.gov Linking Policy</h3><p class="article">USA.gov links to many websites created and maintained by other public and/or private organizations. USA.gov provides these links as a service to our users. When users link to an outside website, they are leaving the USA.gov site and are subject to the privacy and security policies of the owners/sponsors of the outside website(s). Be sure to review the USA.gov <a accesskey="l" class="main-article" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/About/Linking_Policy.shtml" title="Linking Policy">Linking Policy</a>.</p><br class="article"/><h3 class="article">Prohibitions</h3><p class="article">USA.gov will not link to any website that exhibits hate, bias, or discrimination. Furthermore, USA.gov reserves the right to deny or remove any link that contains misleading information or unsubstantiated claims, or is determined to be in conflict with USA.gov's mission or policies.</p><br class="article"/><h3 class="article">Disclaimer of Endorsement</h3><p class="article">The information posted on the USA.gov website includes hypertext links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and/or private organizations. USA.gov provides these links and pointers solely for our users' information and convenience. When users select a link to an outside website, they are leaving the USA.gov site and are subject to the privacy and security policies of the owners/sponsors of the outside website.</p><div class="arrow_List"><ul><li><span>The General Services Administration (GSA) and USA.gov <strong>do not</strong> control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of information contained on a linked website.<br/><br/></span></li><li><span>GSA and USA.gov <strong>do not</strong> endorse the organizations sponsoring linked websites and we <strong>do not</strong> endorse the views they express or the products/services they offer.<br/><br/></span></li><li><span>GSA and USA.gov <strong>cannot</strong> authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in linked websites. Users must request such authorization from the sponsor of the linked website.<br/><br/></span></li><li><span>GSA and USA.gov <strong>are not</strong> responsible for transmissions users receive from linked websites.<br/><br/></span></li><li><span>GSA and USA.gov <strong>do not</strong> guarantee that outside websites comply with Section 508 (accessibility requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act.</span></li></ul></div></div> </td></tr></table> </div>   <div id="right_Nav"> <table border="0" class="skip_links"> <tr><td><a id="skip_right" name="skip_right"></a></td></tr> </table>  <div><div id="util"><ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/feedback/EmailFriendForm.jsp?lts=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usa.gov%2FAbout%2FPrivacy_Security.shtml" title="E-mail this page">E-mail this page</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/Contact/E-mail_subscriptions.html" title="Receive updates by e-mail">Receive updates by e-mail</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/rss/index.shtml" title="USA.gov RSS feeds">USA.gov RSS feeds</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/rss/index.shtml" title="R S S feeds"><img alt="R S S feeds" border="0" height="16" src="/web/20081204185051im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/feed-icon-14x16.jpg" width="14"/></a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/About/tutorials/index.shtml" title="Tutorials: Find government info">Tutorials: Find government info</a></li></ul></div><script src="/web/20081204185051js_/http://www.usa.gov/js/en/pageUtilities.js" type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[ ]]></script></div>      </div>  </div> </div>   <div id="bottom_Nav"><a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/index.shtml" title="Home">Home</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/About.shtml" title="About Us">About Us</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/Contact_Us.shtml" title="Contact Us">Contact Us</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/Contact.shtml" title="Contact Government">Contact Government</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081204185051/http://origins.usa.gov/external/external.jsp?url=http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa_ict.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=KTOOiSBh" title="FAQs">FAQs</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/About/Important_Notices.shtml" title="Website Policies">Website Policies</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/About/Privacy_Security.shtml" title="Privacy">Privacy</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/feedback/SuggestLinkForm.jsp" title="Suggest-A-Link">Suggest-A-Link</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/About/FirstGov_Logos.shtml" title="Link to Us">Link to Us</a></div> <div id="last_Updated">Page Last Reviewed or Updated: April 16, 2007</div>   <div id="footer"> <span><div id="seal"><a href="/web/20081204185051/http://www.usa.gov/About/Great_Seal.shtml"><img alt="The Great Seal - 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