Privacy Policy

Since the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) became effective on May 25, 2018, there has been a lot written about privacy and protection of private information. As a retired information security professional, I am aware of the issues and support GDPR. Therefore, I am updating my privacy policy like everyone else is doing.

The bottom line is that I am not collecting any data. I am not selling any data. I only moderate comments to prevent SPAM. Otherwise, you can read and post comments and not worry about what will happen to your information. The rest of this is necessary because others want to sell your information to the highest bidder while the rest of us believe in privacy!

Summary

  1. The Coin Collectors Blog does not collect Personally Identifiable Information (PII) when you visit the site either as an anonymous user or while logged in as a wordpress.com user.
  2. If you post a comment, your name, email and the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the computer that posted the comment is recorded. Comments are moderated to prevent spam and the information is fed into an anti-spam tool to help.
  3. If you send an email, fill out the contact form, or request help using a comment, the address you provide is only used for that correspondence. It is not used for anything else.
  4. The Coin Collectors Blog uses several Google tools as part of the producing the user experience (UX) for the blog. These tools are configured to capture the least amount of information possible. Google does do some tracking but I do not participate in any of the tracking services.
  5. The Coin Collectors Blog uses Automattic’s Jetpack to add features to the blog. Automattic is the company behind the wordpress.com website and Jetpack is a plugin that extends functionality to sites built using WordPress but not on Automattic’s features.

Coin Collectors Blog Official Privacy Policy

This privacy policy has been compiled to better serve those who are concerned with how their “Personally Identifiable Information” (PII) is being used by the Coin Collectors Blog and its blog host. PII is information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person, or to identify an individual in context. Please read our privacy policy carefully to get a clear understanding of how we collect, use, protect or otherwise handle your PII in accordance with the Coin Collectors Blog.

What personal information does the Coin Collectors Blog collect?

In normal operations, the Coin Collectors Blog does not collect personal information other than what is necessary to measure performance. This information may include connection details including your Internet Protocol (IP) address and identification of links may have clicked by IP address. This information is used only to monitor performance and know what interests readers.

When is PII collected?

Identifiable information is collected when you post a comment or send email using the contact form.

How does the Coin Collectors Blog use the information

All information that is collected for tracking and performance Information collected for tracking and performance is stored in a private database and accessible in the aggregate using when reading reports. These reports are not published or distributed to any third party.

Handling of Comments

The Coin Collectors Blog uses Auttomatic’s Jetpack to extend comment handling capabilities. Jetpack uses the commenter’s name, email address, and site URL (if provided via the comment form), timestamp, and IP address. Additionally, a jetpack.wordpress.com IFrame receives the following data: WordPress.com blog ID attached to the site, ID of the post on which the comment is being submitted, commenter’s local user ID (if available), commenter’s local username (if available), commenter’s site URL (if available), MD5 hash of the commenter’s email address (if available), and the comment content.

The Coin Collectors Blog uses Akismet, also owned by Automattic, the commenter’s name, email address, site URL, IP address, and user agent are sent to Automattic’s servers for the sole purpose of spam checking.

The comment author’s name, email address, and site URL (if provided during the comment submission) are stored in cookies and with the comment information in the support database.

How is your information protected?

The Coin Collectors Blog uses a third-party service to scan for vulnerabilities and ensure that software used behind the website is up to date. Scans and other security measures are set to my standard which is far more effective that things like the Payment Card Industry’s (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS).

The Coin Collectors Blog only provides articles and information. You will never be asked for credit card, financial data, physical addresses, or other PII.

The Coin Collectors Blog is hosted by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) who maintains the systems where the database of articles are located. The ISP has an active continuous monitoring program. The third-party spam monitor and weekly newsletter service maintains the information about those services separately from the Coin Collectors Blog.

Currently, the Coin Collectors Blog does not use a certificate to encrypt communications. That may change in the near future.

Use of cookies

The Coin Collectors Blog does use cookies. Cookies are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your computer’s hard drive through your Web browser (if you allow) that enables the site’s or service provider’s systems to recognize your browser and capture and remember certain information. The Coin Collectors Blog uses cookies to help me compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that I can offer better site experiences and tools in the future. The Coin Collectors Blog uses trusted third-party services that track this information on our behalf.

You can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or you can choose to turn off all cookies. You do this through your browser settings. Since browsers are a little different, look at your browser’s Help Menu to learn the correct way to modify your cookie settings. If you turn cookies off, some features may be disabled or not function properly.

A cookie warning message was added to the site after an inquiry by someone in Europe. There has been no change in these policies.

Third-party disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your Personally Identifiable Information.

Third-party links

Most blog posts will link to other websites for references or more information. These third-party sites have separate and independent privacy policies. We, therefore, have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked sites. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of our site and welcome any feedback about these sites.

Google

Although the Coin Collectors Blog does not use Google advertising products including AdSense but we may do so in the future. Google reCAPTCHA is used on the contact form to make sure that whomever is sending email is really a human being. Like all Google products, its use is governed by Google’s Privacy Policy. For more information about Google’s intent please visit https://support.google.com/adwordspolicy/answer/1316548?hl=en

California Online Privacy Protection Act

CalOPPA is the first state law in the nation to require commercial websites and online services to post a privacy policy. The law’s reach stretches well beyond California to require any person or company in the United States (and conceivably the world) that operates websites collecting Personally Identifiable Information from California consumers to post a conspicuous privacy policy on its website stating exactly the information being collected and those individuals or companies with whom it is being shared. See more at: http://consumercal.org/california-online-privacy-protection-act-caloppa/

According to CalOPPA, we agree to the following:

  • Users can visit our site anonymously.
  • Once this privacy policy is created, we will add a link to it on our home page or as a minimum, on the first significant page after entering our website.
  • Our Privacy Policy link includes the word “Privacy” and can easily be found on the page specified above.
  • You will be notified of any Privacy Policy changes: On our Privacy Policy Page
  • Can change your personal information: By emailing us

How does the Coin Collectors Blog handle Do Not Track signals?

We honor Do Not Track signals and Do Not Track, plant cookies, or use advertising when a Do Not Track (DNT) browser mechanism is in place.

Does the Coin Collectors Blog allow third-party behavioral tracking?

It is important to note that we allow third-party behavioral tracking for performance measuring.

COPPA (Children Online Privacy Protection Act)

When it comes to the collection of personal information from children under the age of 13 years old, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) puts parents in control. The Federal Trade Commission, United States’ consumer protection agency, enforces the COPPA Rule, which spells out what operators of websites and online services must do to protect children’s privacy and safety online.

The Coin Collectors Blog does not specifically target any content to children under the age of 13 years old. However, content is written to allow parents the option of being able to share information with their children.

Fair Information Practices

The Fair Information Practices Principles form the backbone of privacy law in the United States and the concepts they include have played a significant role in the development of data protection laws around the globe. Understanding the Fair Information Practice Principles and how they should be implemented is critical to comply with the various privacy laws that protect personal information.

In order to be in line with Fair Information Practices, should a data breach occur, we will notify you via email within one (1) business day. We also agree to the Individual Redress Principle which requires that individuals have the right to legally pursue enforceable rights against data collectors and processors who fail to adhere to the law. This principle requires not only that individuals have enforceable rights against data users, but also that individuals have recourse to courts or government agencies to investigate and/or prosecute non-compliance by data processors.

CAN SPAM Act

The CAN-SPAM Act is a law that sets the rules for commercial email, establishes requirements for commercial messages, gives recipients the right to have emails stopped from being sent to them, and spells out tough penalties for violations.

We collect your email address in order to:

  • Send information, respond to inquiries, and/or other requests or questions

To be in accordance with CANSPAM, we agree to the following:

  • Not use false or misleading subjects or email addresses.
  • Identify the message as an advertisement in some reasonable way.
  • Include the physical address of our business or site headquarters.
  • Monitor third-party email marketing services for compliance, if one is used.
  • Honor opt-out/unsubscribe requests quickly.
  • Allow users to unsubscribe by using the link at the bottom of each email.

If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, you can email us at
info@coinsblog.ws
and we will promptly remove you from ALL correspondence.

Contacting Us

If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy, you may contact us using the information below.

Coin Collectors Blog
c/o Having-Fun, Inc.
P.O. Box 10123
Gaithersburg, MD 20898
USA

info@coinsblog.ws
or use the Contact Form.
Last updated on January 11, 2018.

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