Aggregate
Information
The statistical
information that may be collected by a Web site, or other source, but
is not personally identifiable. Examples of Aggregate Information include
but are not limited to demographics, domain names, and Web site traffic.
Authentication
Process that establishes positive ID of a user, device, or other entity
in a computer system. Reliable verification plays an important role in
ensuring privacy.
Browser
A navigational program run on a client's computer for viewing World Wide
Web pages. Examples include Netscape, and Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
Child
A child is identified, according to the U.S. Children's Online Privacy
Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA) is someone under the age of thirteen (13).
Cookie
A small text file of information that certain Web sites attach to a user's
hard drive while the user is browsing the Web site. A Cookie can contain
information such as user ID, user preferences, archive shopping cart information,
etc. Cookies can contain Personally Identifiable Information (as defined
below).
Domain
Name
The unique name that identifies a Web site. Example: "CMEInstitute," in the
Web address www.CMEInstitute.com.
E-mail/e-mail
Abbreviation for Electronic Mail. Messages, usually text, sent from one
person to another via computer. E-mail can also be sent automatically
to a large number of addresses (Mailing List).
Encryption
The process
by which data is converted into private code to ensure secure transmission.
Firewall
Specialized software and/or hardware designed to prohibit unauthorized
access to information on a computer network.
Home
Page
The first page of a Web site. Also, the Web site that automatically loads
each time you launch your Browser.
Host
Any computer on a network that is a repository for services available
to other computers on the network. It is quite common to have one host
machine provide several services such as WWW and USENET.
HTML
Abbreviation for Hypertext Markup Language. A defined set of codes that
comprise the World Wide Web's standard computer language.
Hyperlink
A connection between 2 anchors. Clicking on 1 anchor will take you to
the linked anchor. Can be within the same document/page or two totally
different documents.
Internet
The vast collection of interconnected networks that all use the TCP/IP
protocols and that evolved from the ARPANET of the late '60s and early
'70s. The Internet (since July 1995) connects roughly 60,000 independent
networks into a vast global internet.
Internet
Protocol (IP) Address
The numbers that are translated into a domain name (e.g., progressive.com).
The address is a string of four numbers separated by periods (such as
111.22.3.444) used to represent a computer or other device on the Internet.
Link
Another name for a hyperlink.
Log
Files
A record of activity that stores and displays information not explicitly
given by user. Examples of such information are date, time, IP address,
HTTP status, bytes sent, and bytes received.
Personally
Identifiable Information (PII)
Information that can be traced back to a specific individual user, e.g.,
name, postal address, e-mail address, telephone number, or Social Security
number. Personal user preferences tracked by a Web site via a "Cookie" (see definition above) is also considered personally identifiable when
linked to other Personally Identifiable Information provided by user on
line. (Compare With Aggregate Information.)
Privacy
Officer
Individual formally appointed by a designated approving authority to ensure
that the provisions of all applicable privacy and security directives
are implemented throughout the life cycle of an automated information
system network.
Privacy
Policy
The page or pages on a Web site that lay out its privacy policies, i.e.,
what personal information is collected by the site, how it will be used,
whom it will be shared with, and whether you have the option to exercise
control over how your information will be used.
Security
Policies
The set of laws, rules, and practices that regulate how an organization
manages, protects, and distributes sensitive information.
Third
Party
Any person/organization except who is party of the company or the company's
affiliate.
URL
Abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator, the global address of documents
and other resources on the World Wide Web. The first part of the address
indicates what protocol to use, and the second part specifies the IP Address
or the Domain Name where the resource is located.
Web
Beacon
A small image in an HTML page with all dimensions set to 1 pixel. Because
of its insignificant size, it is not visible; but it is used to pass certain
information anonymously to third-party sites. Mainly used by advertisers.
Can also be referred to as a Web Bug or an Invisible GIF.
Web
Bugs
A small image in an HTML page with all dimensions set to 1 pixel. Because
of its insignificant size, it is not visible; but it is used to pass certain
information anonymously to third-party sites. Mainly used by advertisers.
Can also be referred to as a Web Beacon or an Invisible GIF.
Webmaster
The person responsible for updating and maintaining a Web site for a company
or organization.
Web
Site
A collection of "pages" or files on the World Wide Web that are linked
together and maintained by a company, organization, or individual. Anyone
with a Web site may be considered a content provider or a publisher.