This privacy document covers all Cyberweb Solutions, hereby referred to as CWS, websites, hereby referred to as web properties. This policy is written in easy to understand simple language. If you have questions please contact us.
CWS will update this information when necessary as changes to web properties occur.
Last update: 20-July-2024
Who is collecting information from me?
CWS is based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America. Do you need to contact us?
What personal information will CWS collect from me?
This will depend on how you interact with a CWS web property.
* Visiting a web property
When visiting a web property general information will be collected such as your IP address, system information supplied by your web browser, and which pages were viewed. System information includes your screen size, operating system, language, web browser, and other generic information about your device.
IP address: This is necessary to correctly send the information requested back to you and not another visitor. Plus CWS systems will store IP addresses for a few months in case a breach is discovered. This will aid CWS in discovering the source as well as cooperate with law enforcement. Also IP addresses and system information may be used in blocking efforts for repeat offenders in both automated and manually configured systems.
System information: CWS collects this information to better design its web properties. For example if it is discovered most people are using a certain screen size CWS will be able to respond and provide a better user/visitor experience. CWS collects this information via web logs as well as deploys some third party services: Google Analytics, Quantcast, and Woopra.
Pages viewed: CWS systems will note which pages you viewed so that adjustments may be made to provide for better user/visitor experiences.
* Buying (ordering) from a web property
When buying (ordering) from one of CWS web properties additional information will be requested that you must manually provide. This is common information to complete an online transaction such as your name, physical mailing address, email address, and payment information. Obviously the item(s)/service(s) ordered will be collected too. In addition CWS will logged your IP address and at times your system information.
Name, physical mailing address, email, and payment information: This information is required to process and fulfill the requested transaction. Also CWS uses data like your physical address and some payment information to combat online fraud.
IP address and system information: This is collected to combat online fraud and assist law enforcement in such cases along with aid in possible legal action. Plus such information may be used to block access to CWS systems.
* Signing up for an account
Some CWS web properties offer services that require an online account to receive full benefits. An account may be free of charge, require a subscription (of various lengths), offer paid upgrades, or be a mixture. In all cases a visitor will see the information requested and thus the choice to provide or not provide such data is up to each individual visitor.
It should be noted additional information will be automatically gathered as described in “Visiting a web property“. Also when logging into an online account the “Cookies and Sessions” terms will apply. Finally for accounts that require payment the “Buying (ordering) from a web property” terms will apply.
* Online contact methods
Web forms: This method will require your name, email address, subject, and reason for contact. This information is required to address your concerns and respond appropriately. In addition CWS collects your IP address and basic system information for security and client experience enhancements. At present CWS online web forms do not store information in a data base but rather go straight to email.
Email: If you email CWS directly then your email address, from name, subject, message, and standard information transmitted in the email protocol will be collected and logged by CWS systems.
Other: CWS will alter this section should additional methods of online contact be deployed. (ie: Web property chat boxes)
Cookies and Sessions
Many of CWS systems deploy cookies to allow for a better visitor experience. In some cases the cookies refer to sessions that have been tailored to your requests. While you are free to reject cookies you may find your visit less than desirable.
However cookies are required when logging into CWS systems that require an username and password. Therefore if you reject cookies you won’t be able to interact with those systems. Once you have completed your visit you may safely delete those cookies but you’ll have to log back in on your next visit.
CWS from time-to-time enters into partnership arrangements where it sends traffic to third party web properties using cookie technology. These cookies will be generated by a third party system and not CWS web properties.
It should also be noted that some CWS systems save session data for access, security, and legal reasons. This includes both short and long term storage of such data. In all cases long term session data is only stored when accessing an online account that requires an username and password.
- Access: CWS systems must be able to determine the correct visitor (receiver) to properly serve the requested data.
- Security: CWS must protect a visitor and CWS systems from other visitors and abusers. If CWS systems are unable to correctly track and verify a visitor’s session is the authorized and legitimate receiver of the requested information then digital security and data protection for a visitor is broken. CWS systems may also use such information in tracking repeat account abusers then taking action to protect other visitors and thus keep data security integrity.
- Legal: CWS may log sessions long term to comply with legal requirements and/or use such data to prevent abuse to CWS systems from repeat offenders.
Definitions:
- Short term: Session data stored for under one month which could be as short as a few minutes.
- Long term: Session data stored for over one month.
Can a visitor remove his/her information from CWS systems?
In some cases information may be removed from CWS systems.
Email lists: An individual may unsubscribe from a list at anytime using the provided link.
Shopping systems: An individual may remove some information from the shopping system however invoices and method of payment will be stored to protect CWS against fraud and legal issues.
Web server and emails: Over time most web server logs and emails are purged to save space. However CWS is unable to guarantee specific times.
Backups: CWS maintains backups and will do its best to remove information where possible. However it should be noted that it takes time for backups to cycle and information removed from primary systems will not immediately be reflected on backup systems.
Other: It should be noted CWS is unable to remove information from systems not under its control such as ISP logs to CWS web properties and other third party systems.
How will CWS use the information collected?
This depends on the information provided to CWS. If you simply visit CWS web properties the information gathered by CWS logs will be used in the following manner:
- Where is web traffic coming from?
- What parts of CWS web properties are popular (what visitors viewing)?
- What keywords are being used in search engines to find CWS web properties?
- If possible why are people leaving CWS web properties?
- Other traffic related questions.
- Combating online fraud and abuse to CWS web properties such as SPAM, intrusion attempts, DDOS, etc.
These are standard questions all internet companies ask when reviewing their logs. Your information will be used along with all other visitors, to CWS web properties, to determine traffic patterns.
Information collected during attempted security breaches may be used to locate the violator and if necessary turned over to law enforcement officials for prosecution. In addition, CWS may use such information for lawsuits against violators and/or to protect CWS from lawsuits.
What about information I enter/upload when using CWS services?
CWS reserves the right to review any material at any time, on CWS systems, to ensure a visitor is not violating any laws or terms of services. CWS does reserve the right to remove anything from CWS systems at any time with or without notice. Please review the CWS Terms of Service (TOS). Also failure by CWS to review content on its systems does not remove the right to take action at any time once violations have been discovered.
Who else will have access to the information collected by CWS?
Individuals within CWS and consultants for CWS have access to different levels of information. Only high level officials, server administrators, and database administrators have broad access, which is unavoidable due to the nature of their jobs. In all cases they understand the level of sensitivity and are fully aware of punishment for abusing such privileges.
The information collected will NOT be sold or revealed to third parties, unless ordered by a court of law with legal jurisdiction over such information. However, at times, CWS may use generic information for marketing or other purposes. An example of this generic information would be informing a partner a CWS web property had 50,000 unique hits last month. CWS would not reveal any specific visitor information but collective sums. Nor would any third parties be allowed to browse CWS systems or records other than when third party services are deployed. (ie: Google Analytics is run and maintained by Google thus some Google staff has access to that data). However CWS doesn’t willingly grant access to any specific parties.
Is it possible to choose which information is collected, how it is used and who will see it?
Our visitors do have some control over what information will be collected. This includes personal names, addresses, credit card numbers, usernames, and passwords. However certain information is automatically collected such as IP address, web browser and OS, screen resolution, screen color, time of visit, where user is visiting from and where visitor goes after visiting CWS web properties.
A visitor can control how certain information is used like addresses, credit cards, usernames and passwords. CWS does not pass out usernames, passwords, addresses, or credit card information. It is however up to the visitor to protect his/her username and password. If a visitor provides his/her login information to an unresponsible party and that party causes damage or does harm with the information in the visitor’s account CWS can not be held accountable.The only parties who will see the visitor’s information are authorized personal of CWS, the visitor, and any one else the visitor grants access to his/her account(s). CWS believes in protecting its visitors’ trust and privacy.
How is sensitive information like credit card numbers and addresses protected?
CWS protects sensitive personal information using SSL now TLS technology. CWS encourages visitors to only submit their personal data only after they have verified their browser is in SSL encryption mode. Please remember when viewing a protected URL you should see https instead of http (Note the s). All CWS web properties are configured to only load using https, but CWS still encourages visitors to verify.
In addition CWS deploys the following technologies:
- Credit card encryption/tokens,
- Firewalls,
- SSH2 with key based encryption,
- White lists,
- Fail2Ban,
- Password managers,
- Software updates,
- Purpose build systems (not running extra services),
- and other industry security practices.
CWS fully understands digital security is a journey and not a destination.
How can a visitor update his/her information?
In some cases it is possible to update certain information provided to CWS. This includes shopping systems by logging into one’s account and email announcement systems by using the provided link.
External Vendors
CWS does deploy some third party services that collect their own visitor information. These include bookmarking/sharing services, web analytics (ie: Google Analytics, Quantcast, Woopra), payment systems (ie: Paypal, Stripe), and shipping services (ie: USPS, UPS, Fedex). Those systems are governed by their own privacy policies. However they do NOT have access to CWS servers.
CWS offers products on external systems such as Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. Those platforms are governed by their own privacy policies.
Finally CWS deploys Google ads on some of web properties which will place Google’s DART cookie onto your computer. Google, is a third party vendor, and uses this DART cookie to serve targeted ads that you may find of interest. If you do not wish to have this cookie placed on your computer you may opt out by clicking here.
Questions? Please visit the contact us page.