IP Addresses
When a client connects and starts an internet session, the client's computer automatically assigns a unique number based on the location and place they are connecting from, known as an IP Address.
IP Addresses assist us in the following ways:
- Without an IP Address, our website is not able to deliver its content as it would not be able to find the client's computer on the internet.
- Every new connection to the internet generates a new IP Address. As such, IP Addresses are not inherently capable of individual identification.
- An IP Address does, however, contain information regarding the location of a client's computer on the internet, namely country or region and the ISP used to connect.
- Each time a client visits our website, their computer sends a message to us requesting the appropriate content. This message encloses a client's IP Address as a form of “return address” so our website may find their computer in order to send it the requested content.
Our website will automatically log all such messages:
- When we log a client's IP Address, the data collected is grouped with other logged IP Addresses in order to provide us with statistics on the geographic location of clients to our website, how long they stay on our website, which are the most viewed pages, and other pertinent data for statistical and informational reasons.
- Log files also contain information relating to a client's browser type, ISP, operating system, date/time stamp, clickstream data and files, pages, information, and data viewed on our website.
- Collecting this type of information allows us to generate aggregate information for the purposes of maintaining our website and providing our services, including overall trends and activities online (such as the number of unique visitors, pages accessed most frequently, or search terms entered).
- This information also allows us to administer all our services, diagnose any potential server problems, analyze visitor trends and statistics, and generally help us provide a better internet experience.
Cookies
A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that is stored on a client's browser or the hard drive if agreed to.
Cookies assist us as follows:
- Cookies contain information that is transferred to a client's computer’s hard drive.
- A cookie enables our website to remember clients that have already visited it.
- Without a cookie, every time a new web page is opened, our server where that page is stored will have no data to refer to, thereby treating this visitation as a completely new one.
- Cookies allow our servers to remember custom preferences such as language preference and allow for the completion of tasks without having to re-enter information when browsing.
We may use cookies such as, but not limited to:
- Necessary Cookies
These cookies are required for the generic operation of our website. Typically, they include cookies that enable clients to log into secure areas of our website and make use of various additional functions. - Analytical/Performance Cookies
Such cookies allow us to recognize and count the number of visitors who visit our website and to see how visitors move around our website. This helps improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that clients are finding what they are looking for easily. - Functionality Cookies
These cookies are used to recognize clients when they return to our website. This allows the relaying of personalized content for each client, along with saved preferences (for example, choice of language or region). - Targeting Cookies
These cookies record a client's visit to the website, the pages visited, and the links followed. Such information is used to make our website, content, and advertising displayed more relevant to each client's particular interests. We reserve the right to share this information with third parties for marketing and advertising purposes. - Session Cookies
These cookies contain encrypted information to allow our system to uniquely identify each client while they are logged in. Session cookies exist only during an active online session. - Third Party Cookies
These cookies allow our website to interact with different websites, social media pages, affiliates, partners, content providers, etc. Third parties (including advertising networks and providers of external services) may use their own cookies, which we have zero control and liability over. These cookies are likely to be analytical, performance, or targeting cookies.
A client may block cookies by activating the appropriate setting on their browser. Please note however, that if all cookies are blocked, a client may not be able to access all or parts of our website and/or services. Additionally, some or all parts of our website, and additional services may not function properly.
