I have created this privacy policy for the Mike-Pereira "dot com" (Website) in order to explain to visitors how I use the information I collect from those visiting my website, and to demonstrate my firm commitment to Internet privacy. Mike Pereira may modify this policy from time to time so you are encouraged to check this page when revisiting this Website.
 
The following discloses my information gathering and dissemination practices for this Website. The type and amount of information received depends on how you use the site.

Website Usage/Information Collection
When you visit the Website, my server automatically obtains information from you about the name of your Internet service provider, the browser and type of computer you are using, the website that referred you to us, the pages you request and the date and time of those requests. The server uses this information on an aggregate basis to generate statistics and measure site activity to improve the usefulness of the website to future visitors. For example, I use this information to track which pages are most popular among visitors as a whole. Mike Pereira does not track the pages you or any individual visitor may look at during a visit to the Website and I do not collect any other information without your knowledge and permission.  Mike Pereira does not collect or store personally identifiable information, such as your name, mailing address, e-mail address or phone number, unless you provide that information.

Collection of Personally Identifiable Information
The Website provides web forms so you may provide your contact information to engage in activities such as discussion forums, polls, and surveys as well as to place orders for products or services, to correspond with me, or to sign up for an Email list service I may offer from time to time.  Any information I collect, such as your name, mailing address, phone number, e-mail address, type of request you are making and any additional information you provide, is collected by my service provider(s) and stored on my personal computer. The information is used to fulfill your request and track aggregate information about usage of these features. Mike Pereira “dot com” makes every effort to ensure the secure collection and transmission of your sensitive information using industry accepted data collection and encryption methodologies, such as SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), and through partnerships with trusted third party providers.

Sharing of Personally Identifiable Information
When using the Website to purchase a document, a good or a service, credit card validation and processing is handled through a third party provider.  Any such provider or service is clearly identified.  The user, in using the service, understands that they are leaving the Website, and entering into the Website of the provider, and any information submitted is done so according to the terms and conditions laid out by the third party service provider.

Mike Pereira will not post your personal contact information, including e-mail address, street address and phone numbers, without your consent. Without such consent, I will withhold posting personal contact information for that individual.

Financial Information and Payments
Mike Pereira subscribes to a trusted (well recognized and established) third party secure server service for processing purchases and credit card validation.  Mike Pereira does not retain, share, store or use personally identifiable information for any secondary purposes.

Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user's hard drive containing information about the user. The Website uses a cookie for measuring aggregate web statistics, including number of monthly visitors, number of repeat visitors, most popular web pages and other information.  The Website will also use cookies to facilitate your online visit by maintaining data that you provide for online activities so that you will not need to resubmit certain information.  Mike Pereira does not use cookies to track what specific pages an individual site visitor views.

Opting Out of E-mail Lists
People who subscribe to e-mail lists via the website will receive periodic updates from me by Email.  You may opt out of receiving future information via e-mail by using the unsubscribe procedure specified on the e-mail message (if applicable) or by sending an Email message to me with your request to terminate future communication.  I will do my best to promptly remove you from all future mailings.

Outside Links
This Website contains hypertext links to other sites. The Website is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such Websites.  I encourage users to be aware when they leave my Website, and to read the privacy statements of each and every website that collects personally identifiable information. (If you are reading this then I assume you are the type of person who would do just such a thing!)  This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Website.

Security
This site has security measures in place to protect the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under my control.  Generally, security is up to my service provider and any third party contractors that provide services I host on my Website.  You will know you are on a secure page when the lock icon on the bottom of Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer become locked, as opposed to un-locked, or open, when you are just "surfing." All the information you provide through forms is stored securely off-line on a password-protected computer, or on encrypted CD-ROM back-up disks.

Every reasonable attempt is made at protecting user information.  As you may have learned from my writings, I am a privacy and security buff.  Being privacy conscious, I in turn respect the privacy rights of others.  Thus far, most people in my mailing lists are currently made up of my family and friends – I treat the personal information of anyone who entrusts it to me with the same care and security that I show to my own buddies!  That being said, I use third party services for both convenience, security, and to indemnify myself from possible liability.  While I try to subscribe to the best service providers – use your own judgment and caution – read the terms of service BEFORE signing away your credit card number.

I often advise people to be vigilant of their own privacy on the Internet.  Don’t be stupid and Email me your credit card number, that’s not secure.  Don’t post personally identifiable information, or legally libelous/incriminating/copyright material on any of my public discussion boards.  One can only go so far in protecting the stupid from harming themselves.

Finally, the servers that store sensitive information are kept in a secure environment, personal information is kept on my home computer, and is encrypted when it is backed up to CD.

Remember, if you send me an Email, you should know that Email is not secure against interception. So, if your communication includes sensitive information, and you would not be comfortable with that information being intercepted by someone and posted all over the internet, think before you say it or send it.

Corrections/Updating Personal Information
If your personal information changes (such as your Email address), or if you wish to have your information removed from my database, contact me and I will endeavor to provide a way to correct, update or remove that personal data provided to me.

Contact me if you experience technical problems with the operation of this Website.