The Society for Industrial Microbiology (SIM) recognizes the security concerns of its members and provides the following policy regarding privacy. Further information about privacy rights can be found at the Federal Trade Commission Web site.

Your information is protected on the SIM Web site by your password. It is never wise to share your password with someone else.

The SIM Web site contains links to other Web sites. SIM has no control over and is not responsible for the privacy policies or content of such sites.

General Users

SIM does not collect any personal information from users browsing its Web site. Users of the public areas of SIM’s Web site browse anonymously.

Members, Conference Registrants, and Sponsors

To gain access to members-only resources and personal information on the SIM Web site, members and other users are asked to register with their login name and password. These data are submitted voluntarily. Similar information may be submitted to SIM through membership applications, conference or seminar registration, and publication orders.

Additionally, for some emails sent in HTML format by SIM to its members through its listservers and electronic newsletters, SIM will collect specific information regarding what the recipient does with that email. For those emails, SIM will monitor whether a recipient subsequently clicks through to links provided in the message. Other information collected through this tracking feature includes: email address of the user, date and time of the user's "click," a message number, name of the list from which the message was sent, tracking URL number and destination page. SIM only uses this information to enhance its products and distribution of those products to its members. This information is not sold or distributed in any other manner.

Generally, SIM uses data collected to improve its own Web content; to respond to visitors' interests, needs, and preferences; and, to develop new products and services.

SIM also makes member contact information available, through the Membership Directory, to other members using its Web site. In addition, SIM incorporates information that users provide into hard copies of the Membership Directory, which it provides to members and sells to requesters. On occasion, SIM may also provide limited data to third parties that offer products and services. These limited data include names, job titles, companies and business addresses, but do not include business phone numbers, business fax numbers, or e-mail addresses. Users may request that SIM refrain from disclosing to third parties the data it collects on the membership application form, conference registration form, or any other form on which they are providing information; an opt-out box will appear on each form on which a user provides information. Alternatively, users may contact SIM at 703-691-3357 to express their preferences if they determine later that they do not wish to have the information shared.

Cookies

SIM uses cookies only to facilitate automated activity, store and track passwords, determine appropriate solicitations, and review navigation patterns. Cookies are not used to disseminate significant information about users over the Internet or to analyze any information that users have knowingly or unknowingly provided. When a user registers, the system will ask whether the user approves of the attachment of a cookie. Users may instruct their Internet browsers to opt out of accepting a "persistent" cookie and rather accept only a "per-session" cookie, but will need to login each time they visit the site to enjoy the full benefits. If the user declines the attachment of any cookie, the user may not have access to the full benefits of the Web site. Registration enables the site to better determine members' interest areas and allows SIM to provide the most relevant site content.

Credit Card Account Information

SIM does not disclose credit card account information provided by its members and customers. When members and customers choose to pay using their credit cards, SIM submits the information needed to obtain payment to the appropriate clearinghouse.