This is how I handle information I learn about you from your visit to my website. The information I receive depends on what you do when you visit my site.

If you visit my site to browse, or to read or download information:

I collect and store: the name of the domain and host from which you access the Internet (for example, aol.com or rutgers.edu); the Internet protocol (IP) address of the computer you are using; the browser software you use and your operating system; the date and time you access our site; and the Internet address of the website from which you linked directly to my site.

I use this information to measure the number of visitors to the different sections of my site, and to help me make my site more useful.

I use "cookies" on this site.

If you choose to identify yourself by sending me an email or when using my secure online forms :

I use personally-identifying information from consumers in various ways to further my consumer protection and competition activities.

In other limited circumstances, I may be required by law to disclose the information you submit. If you use one of my online forms, the information you provide is up to you. If you do not provide your name or other information, it may be impossible for me to refer, respond to, or investigate your complaint or request.

If you want to get information about you that may be in my records:

The Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974 provide you certain rights to get information about you that is in my records.

Here's what you should know about the security of the information you provide to me:

I use secure socket layer (SSL) encryption to protect the transmission of information you submit to me or my credit card third-party billing when you use my secure online forms.

If you send me an email, you should know that email is not necessarily secure against interception. So, if your communication includes sensitive information like your bank account, charge card, or social security number, contact us by postal mail or telephone rather than email.

Cookies:

A "cookie" is a small text file that a website can place on your computer's hard drive in order, for example, to collect information about your activities on the site or to make it possible for you to use an online "shopping cart" to keep track of items you wish to purchase. The cookie transmits this information back to the Web site's computer which, generally speaking, is the only computer that can read it. Most consumers do not know that "cookies" are being placed on their computers when they visit websites. If you want to know when this happens, or to prevent it from happening, you can set your browser to warn you when a website attempts to place a "cookie" on your computer.