Effective 12/01/2001
Sporian Microsystems, Inc. ("Sporian") has created this privacy policy in order to demonstrate and make transparent our commitment to privacy and security in operating our web site, located at http://www.sporian.com (the Site). The policy discloses our information gathering, utilization, and dissemination practices for the Site.

Type of Information Used
Sporian uses personally identifiable information that you provide to us in the forum, business card, and other areas of the Site in which users voluntarily provide content submissions or suggestions or otherwise participate in interactive online activities, including those activities described below. Sporian also monitors user traffic patterns and site usage and may collect and store user population, traffic patterns and related Site information to assist us in developing the content, design, and layout of the Site.

The use of personal information by Sporian includes, but is not limited to, the following:

If you choose to post messages in our discussion forums or other message areas or leave feedback for other users, we will use such information about you as you choose to disclose.
If you send us personal correspondence, such as emails or letters, or if other users or third parties send us correspondence about your activities or postings on the Site, we may collect and store such information, but we will not make it available publicly.
In some cases, we may receive information about you from our partners, affiliates or other users of the Site. We will not rely on this information without confirmation from you.

Use of Information
Sporian does not sell or otherwise provide or disclose any information received from you to any third parties for sales, marketing or promotional purposes. If Sporian decides in the future to change this policy, it will obtain your permission or should you opt not to participate, will honor your request for privacy prior to taking any action up to and including the selling of any of your information.

Sporian uses your personally identifiable information to better serve its participants, primarily to provide you with a customized experience on the Site.

We may offer third party services on the Site. If you choose to use these optional services, we may, with your prior written or email permission, provide some of your personally identifiable information to the third party offering such services. If you do not wish to have any information disclosed to such third parties, you should not use such services. Because we do not control the privacy practices of these third parties, you should evaluate their practices before deciding to use their services. Sporian will clearly warn participants at the appropriate location on the site of the possibility that such information may be provided to third parties.

In the forum, you are identified by your handle. Unless you want your identity on the site to be known, you should choose a handle that will not make it easy for other users to identify you. You should also consider changing your handle periodically. Even with these precautions, your handle may be used by other users or third parties to identify you and your email address and to track your activities throughout the Site.

Sporian may also access or disclose your personally identifiable information when we believe in good faith that the law requires it.

Except as otherwise expressly discussed in this Privacy Policy, this document only addresses the use and disclosure of information we collect from you. To the extent that you disclose your information to other parties, different rules may apply to their use or disclosure of the personal information you disclose to them. To the extent that we use third party advertisers, suppliers or service providers, they adhere to their own privacy customs and policies. Since Sporian does not control the privacy policies of any third party, you are subject to the privacy practices and policies of such third party, and Sporian accepts no responsibility or liability for privacy or other issues related to the collection or use of your information by such third parties.

Cookies
"Cookies" are small text files that are stored by your browser on your computer's hard drive. We use cookies to personalize your experience on the Site. We also use cookies to create aggregate Site information that tells us about the effectiveness and popularity of various areas of the Site. Advertising networks that serve ads onto the Site may also use their own cookies. Most Web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually change your browser settings to prevent it. However, if you choose to disable our cookies, you may not be able to use certain features of the Site.

Changing Personal Information
You should promptly update your personal information if it changes. Please be aware that, once posted, you may not be able to change or remove any public postings made in our chat rooms or other message areas on the Site.

Modifications to the Policy
Sporian may modify, add, or remove portions of the Privacy Policy at any time by updating this Web page. We will use reasonable commercial efforts to contact you if there is a material change, but please check back to this area of the Site periodically to look for changes in the Privacy Policy. Any modifications made to the Privacy Policy will become effective immediately upon posting and your continued use of this Site following these changes will constitute your consent to the Privacy Policy, as changed. Please keep in mind that the use of our web site is optional and you may stop using the site if the Privacy Policy becomes unacceptable to you. We will endeavor to manage and maintain the desires of participants; therefore we would be happy to respond to any questions or comments you may have regarding our Privacy Policy. Please email your inquiries to: info@sporian.com.

Security
Sporian uses Secure Shell (SSH) technology to encrypt technical and administrative interactions and communication. We also take measures to control and restrict administrative and physical access. Unfortunately, due to the existing regulatory environment, we cannot guarantee that all of your private communications and other personally identifiable information will never be disclosed in ways not otherwise described in this Privacy Policy. For example, we may be forced to disclose information to the government or third parties under certain circumstances, or third parties may unlawfully intercept or access transmissions or private communications. Therefore, although we use industry standard practices to protect your privacy, we do not promise, and you should not expect, that your personally identifiable information or private communications will remain private.

All email messages delivered to Sporian mail servers are scanned for viruses. In spite of this vigilance, it is still possible for viruses to be introduced to your computer from the Sporian Site and Sporian e-mail. Sporian strongly suggests that users obtain and maintain their own virus protection. If you suspect that a file obtained from Sporian contains a virus, please contact us immediately and indicate the name of the suspected file.

Sporian utilizes and provides intrusion incident information to the Distributed Intrusion Detection System. Click the banner below to see if your system has been implicated and possibly carries a virus.