Privacy Policy of the USSS

Thank you for visiting the Secret Service website and reviewing our privacy policy! Our privacy policy is plain and simple. We collect NO personal information like names or addresses when you visit our website. If you choose to provide that information to us, it is used only to fulfill your request for information. We do collect some technical information when you visit to make your visit seamless. The section below explains how we handle and collect technical information when you visit our website.

Information Collected and Stored Automatically

When you browse, read pages, or download information on the Secret Service's website, we automatically gather and store certain technical information about your visit. This information is never used to identify who you are. The information we collect and store about your visit is listed below:

• The Internet domain (e.g., "xcompany.com" if you use a private Internet access account, or "yourschool.edu" if you connect from a university's domain) and IP address (a number that is automatically assigned to your computer whenever you are surfing the Web) from which you access our website;
• The type of browser (e.g., Netscape, Internet Explorer) and operating system (Windows, Unix) used to access our site;
• The date and time you access our site;
• The pages you visit; and
• If you linked to the Secret Service website from another website, the address of that website.

This information is used only to assist us in making the site more useful for you. With this data we learn about the number of visitors to our site and the types of technology our visitors use. We never track or record personal information about individuals and their visits.

Cookies

The Secret Service website does not use "cookies."

If You Send Us Personal Information

If you choose to provide us with personal information (e.g., by filling out a Contact Us form with personal information and submitting it to us through the website), we use that information to respond to your message and to provide you the information you have requested. We share the information you give us with another government agency only if your inquiry relates to that agency, or as otherwise required by law. We never create individual profiles or disseminate your personal information to any private organizations. The Secret Service never collects information for commercial marketing.

If you choose to register for access to any of the secure sections of the eInformation Network, we collect limited personally identifiable information (PII) via an account request form. We collect the following information:

• Name
• Business/Organization Affiliation
• Business Address
• Business Telephone Number
• Business E-Mail Address

The principal purpose of the account request form is to collect the limited PII needed to determine if you qualify as an authorized user, collect computer configuration information for security concerns, and verify your identity as an authorized US Secret Service eInformation user.

All or part of your completed account request form may be disclosed outside the U.S. Secret Service to federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies charged with the responsibility of investigating a violation or potential violation of the law and to your agency or organization to periodically verify that you continue to qualify for access to a U.S. Secret Service limited access site.

Disclosure of requested PII is voluntary. Failure to provide the requested information may result in the denial of your application. This information is stored in an electronic database and used for authentication purposes when accessing “secure” applications from this web site.

Site Security

For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this government computer system employs commercial software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage.
Except for authorized law enforcement investigations, no other attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits. Raw data logs are used for no other purposes and are scheduled for regular destruction in accordance with National Archives and Records Administration guidelines.
Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this service are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act.

Secret Service Linking Policy

The Secret Service links to many websites created and maintained by other public and/or private organizations. The Secret Service provides these links as a service to our users. When users link to an outside website, they are leaving the Secret Service site and are subject to the privacy and security policies of the owners/sponsors of the outside website(s).

Prohibitions

The Secret Service will not link to any website that exhibits hate, bias, or discrimination. Furthermore, we reserve the right to deny or remove any link that contains misleading information or unsubstantiated claims, or is determined to be in conflict Secret Service mission or policies.

Disclaimer of Endorsement

The information posted on the Secret Service website includes hypertext links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and/or private organizations. The Secret Service provides these links and pointers solely for our users' information and convenience. When users select a link to an outside website, they are leaving the Secret Service site and are subject to the privacy and security policies of the owners/sponsors of the outside website. The Secret Service does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of information contained on a linked website.

The Secret Service does not endorse the organizations sponsoring linked websites, and we do not endorse the views they express or the products/services they offer.

The Secret Service does not and cannot authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in linked websites. Users must request such authorization from the sponsor of the linked website.

The Secret Service is not responsible for transmissions users receive from linked websites.

The Secret Service does not guarantee that outside websites comply with the requirements of Section 508 (Accessibility Requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act.