In line with all Web hosts, the system automatically records your browser type and version number and numerical IP address along with statistics concerning each page you visit.
If you came to this site directly from a hyperlink from another, that URL, often along with any search parameters are normally automatically uploaded by your browser. This are accessed for the purpose of determining how users discovered this site and thus assist in setting future policy on publication via search engines etc.
No other information, such as complete e-mail addresses, pins, passwords, financial information, cookies stored by other web sites etc can and are being determined or stored on the ISP.
Any information collected automatically on this site is not shared with any third parties or will directly influence any action or communication with users (which needs an email address anyway).
Your screen resolution is determined in order to optimise the screen for lower resolutions such as 640x480.
Contrary to popular belief, cookies are NOT dangerous. They only store information available on you (ie site statistics) or that you enter. They store this on your computer. Only the web site that stores them can retrieve them. They are stored mainly for your good, but can be useful to determine how the site is being used. Cookies allow the system to store information on your own computer between visits.
They are used for a number of purposes:
To allow communication between web pages to facilitate the repeated use of forms and the retention of user data between such use. A server generated session ID does this.
To statistically measure the use of the site.
To record user choices, eg any favourite moves in a favourites list, and gold registration information to save the user typing it in each time: an encrypted email address and a registration key.
To target information to the correct users.
The following are currently used:
| test | This checks to see if cookies can be written when you first come to the site. |
| screen | This saves your screen type so the server can alter the layout for those still using 640x480 resolution. |
| This is used for membership validation. It is scrambled using a one-type key so cannot be recognised. | |
| pass_key | This is your passkey and saved for validation each time you visit the site. |
| validate | This is your security word and saved for validation each time you visit the site. |
| UserVisits | This records how many times you have visited the site and is useful to know how many people come back. |
| UserNo | This is your user number for the day. This is not a unique ID. |
| lasturl | If you came directly from a link, this is recorded here to help determine a marketing strategy. |
| LastDate | This records the last time you came to the site and helps avoid any messages being sent that are not appropriate to you. |
| UserV | This is a version number or the cookie, so that if the cookie structure is changed, you can be updated. |
Any emails sent by users as feedback or for registration will not be given to any third party and may only occasionally be used if there is any significant information that users might benefit from about this site.
Registration details, ie email address and pass-key are not held on the server. They are stored on your computer as a "cookie" in encrypted format using a one-time-key. Each time you visit the site, they are sent in this encrypted format for validation. A copy of the email you receive containing your pass-code is sent to me in case you have problems. You email address will not be given out to ANY third party.
Information entered by users in the discussion group is naturally available to all visitors of the site. Such information may be removed if it is deemed to be unsuitable or contravenes any law. Regular purging of the discussions may occur when considered appropriate or after site version upgrades.
If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or any abuse of the discussion group, you can contact me from the feedback page.