U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

USCGAUX Drum Point Flotilla Privacy Policy

What Information We Collect

Our WordPress blog routinely collects information about origin and site navigation of website visitors. To collect this data, the site may use “session cookies”. A “session cookie” is stored in temporary memory and is not retained after the user browser is closed. This information is used only to enhance the user experience and is not linked to any personal identifying information.

We do not collect any identifying or personal data on site users unless that information is submitted as part of a request for service or information, such as requesting a vessel safety check.

Unlike a static HTML site, the WordPress blog and associated security plugins detect, block, and  record the IP addresses of malicious attempts to attack the blog software using SQL injection and other known methods of attacks used by hackers use to gain access to PHP scripts. WordPress retains these addresses as well as using other IP blacklists furnished by other WordPress users and organizations like Project Honey Pot at projecthoneypot.org.

Website visits are reviewed through the use of the WordPress Stats and WASSUP plugins to monitor the popularity of various articles and pages as well as for the  security purposes mentioned above.  These plugins record the pages visited by a particular IP address as well as the time of the visit and the referring domain. Visits by search engine bots are also recorded.

Who Is Collecting The Information

The only people receiving information submitted by users are Auxiliary Flotilla Staff Officers, in particular, our web master, vessel examiners, personnel officer, public affairs or other officers, and flotilla command staff. If a visitor submits additional identifying information (as noted above), that information is available only to the Auxiliary staff who are involved in implementing the requested activity.

How We Use The Information

Information about website use patterns are used by the web team and other appropriate Auxiliary staff to modify and enhance the website. Identifying individual information (such as name, e-mail, and address) is used only as requested by the visitor. Unless a user actually registers by name and email address on the website we know nothing about you except your computer network IP address and the pages you visited.

With Whom Will The Information Be Shared

Our organization does not sell, share or release any information about website users to any third parties, unless requested to do so by that user. Personal information about individual website users, as submitted as part of a service or information request, will not be shared for other than the stated purpose in any way without specific consent from the user. However, we may disclose information when legally compelled to do so. This would include, as an example, attempts to hack into the website.

We are compelled to take action against any attempt to hack into this site and will provide law enforcement all IP identifying information and submitted data strings.

Consumer Choices

Personal information about website users is collected only as part of a request for service. If information is required in order to provide a service, the website user will be informed as to which information is optional and which is essential for receipt of the service. Users have the option of asking that personal information be removed from our site once the service has been completed. Users also have the choice of ending any subscription or request for information by submitting a cancellation request to the webmaster via the Contact Us page. At this time we offer no newsletter or subscription email service.

If users do not wish to have any “cookies” attached to their browser, they may disable cookies through their own Internet browser or Internet service company.

Use of Cookies

See CG-5421. Cookies are only used for the enhancement of the user’s website experience. The cookie information on your own computer may allow you log on without entering a username or password. You control the cookie.  Cookies may be used by common RSS newsreaders and again the cookie is on the user’s machine. No identifying data is stored at this site, about you, unless YOU create an account and want us to know who you are.

WordPress blogs are in use world-wide as Web 2.0 content-management systems. The purpose of the blog is to make getting information about the flotilla and the Auxillary out to you quickly.

Email Security

Email links or forms are provided as a means to contact Auxiliary members for additional information or to make comments. The sender’s return email address is used to respond to comments and questions and may be made available to other members of the Auxiliary for the same purpose. Because normal e-mail is not encrypted, the possibility exists that unauthorized individuals may intercept an e-mail message. We are not responsible for the privacy of e-mail messages or submitted forms.

Links

This web site contains links to external web sites not administered by the Drum Point Flotilla or the United States Coast Guard. If you decide to utilize any of the external links, you will be directed to a site, which is not covered by our privacy policy. We recommend that you to read the privacy statements of these sites since their policies may differ from ours.

Links to non-Coast Guard entities are not under the control of the United States Coast Guard or the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, and are provided for the convenience of our readers. Links to unaffiliated sites do not, in any way, constitute an endorsement of the linked pages or any commercial or private issues or products presented there. We cannot make any warranty or representation concerning the content of these sites, or secondary sites from the pages to which they link.

Users are encouraged to review the privacy policy of each linked site, as our organization is not responsible for the privacy policies or procedures of other sites. Users are also encouraged to read our Link Policy for more information.

Search Engines, Spiders,  Crawlers, and Bots

DrumPoint.org permits legitimate search engines to crawl the website. Our boating safety content tis then available to more people in Calvert County across many Internet services. The only restrictions placed on bots and search engines are that  each  follow the rules bots and engines must follow. e.g. use of robots.txt and using a correct header formats etc. Our security software evaluates each bot as it connects to the site.

The most frequent causes for denial of access are:

1. “Required header “ACCEPT” missing” (Common omission even for legitimate search engines.)

2. if the IP address is found on the ProjectHoneyPot.org Blacklist (http:BL)

3. if there is a “Prohibited header “Proxy-Connection” present

4. hacking attempts, attempting sql injection attacks, accessing prohibited areas and so on.

5. blocked by request in robots.txt

6. User Agent missing in header

7. Header ‘Connection’ contains invalid values

8.  Web browser attempted to send a trackback

9. Bot not fully compliant with RFC 2965

10.  Assuming a false identity.

In general terms, if we can’t see some identification in your header, if you have nefarious intentions, or you scan our pages to sell information about our content,  your bot is blocked. This action is taken to protect the security of our site and the privacy of our members. Security measures reduce the incidence of comment spamming, scraping, email harvesting, and hacking attempts. Typically our security blocks some one-hundred-fifty or more bad bots and browsers per week. Many of these bots and spammers waste our bandwidth by continuing to attempt access the site week after week.

Unfortunately some legitimate search engines are blocked because their headers are not in compliance with accepted Internet standards.  We regret that we have no control over sites that are blocked because for this reason.  Engineers at these sites should become familiar with WordPress and the various security tools used for protection against bots. It is the search engine’s responsibility to make the necessary corrections. We cannot lower our guard.

If you believe that you are blocked by our security software for no apparent reason you may contact us using the Contact Form at the main menu.

Our thanks to the Coast Guard Auxiliary website for the basic format of this policy modified for use by the Drum Point Flotilla: http://www.cgaux.org/privacy.html

Copyright (c) Drum Point Flotilla 23-06