Privacy Policy
Terms of Use

The US-CERT privacy policy governs this web site and our activities - and yours - when you visit this site. We do not collect personal information such as names or addresses when you visit the site. However, if you choose to subscribe ("opt in") to one of our information products by submitting your email address, we will retain and use your email address solely to send you the information product(s) you request, and for no other purpose, except as provided in this agreement (see Site Security, below) or explicitly agreed to by you. If you choose to provide other personal information such as your name and address, that information will only be used to fulfill your request for information.

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 web site.

• 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 are surfing the web) from which you access our web site;

• The type of browser (e.g., Netscape, Internet Explorer) and operating system (Windows, Unix) used to access our site;
  • The date and time you access our site;
  • The pages you visit; and
  • If you linked to this web site from another web site, the address of that web site.

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 and information our visitors use. We never track or record information about individuals and their visits.

We only share the information you give us with another government agency if your inquiry relates to that agency, or as otherwise required by law. We do not create individual profiles or give your information to private sector organizations for marketing or other purposes. US-CERT does not collect information for commercial marketing.

• 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.

• Except for authorized law enforcement investigations, no other attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits.

• 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.

Prohibitions The US-CERT web site will not link to any web site that exhibits hate, bias, or discrimination. Furthermore, we reserve the right to deny or remove any link that contains misleading information or unsubstantiated claims, or is determined to be in conflict with the Department of Homeland Security's mission or policies.

Disclaimer of Endorsement The information posted on the US-CERT web site includes hypertext links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and/or private organizations. This web site provides these links and pointers solely for our users' information and convenience. When users select a link to an outside web site, they are leaving this web site and are subject to the privacy and security policies of the owners/sponsors of the outside web site.

• US-CERT does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of information contained on a linked web site.

• US-CERT does not endorse the organizations sponsoring linked web sites and we do not endorse the views they express or the products/services they offer.

• US-CERT does not and cannot authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in linked web sites. Users must request such authorization from the sponsor of the linked web site.

• US-CERT is not responsible for transmissions users receive from linked web sites.

• US-CERT does not guarantee that outside web sites comply with the requirements of Section 508 (Accessibility Requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act.

You may link to the US-CERT web site by using "US-CERT" as a text hyperlink. If you wish to use an image of the US-CERT word mark, send email to webmaster@us-cert.gov and include the URL of the web site where you plan to place the link.

You are permitted to reproduce and distribute documents on this web site in whole or in part, without changing the text you use, provided that you include the copyright statement or "produced by" statement and use the document for noncommercial or internal purposes. For commercial use or translations, send your email request to webmaster@us-cert.gov.

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