ABSTRACT

Information Collection and Use

Information Collection
Ascendant-Online is the sole owner of the information collected on www.ascendant-online.net. Ascendant-Online collects information from our users at several different points throughout the sign up process for the purpose of activating and tracking interactive services such as the photogallery, blogs and forum systems..

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Ascendant-Online is not responsible for information collected from third party sites that the user may visit from using ascendant-online.net or reading the information contained within.  Please see each respective site's privacy policy to learn more about that site's regulations. 

Information Use

Profile
We store information that we collect through cookies & log files. No personally identifiably information, such as name, emailor phone number, is recorded or stored without the user's explicit consent. We do not share your profile with other third parties.

Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s computer tied to information about the user. We use both session ID cookies and persistent cookies. For the session ID cookie, once users close the browser, the cookie simply terminates. A persistent cookie is a small text file stored on the user’s hard drive for an extended period of time. Persistent cookies can be removed by following Internet browser help file directions. Information on cookies can be found here: http://www.microsoft.com/info/cookies.htm.

Some of our business partners may use cookies on our site (for example, advertisers). However, we have no access to or control over these cookies, once we have given permission for them to set cookies for advertising. If, however, you feel a cookie is misbehaving (coming from a site that is neither ascendant-online.net, nor the advertiser's, then please contact us using the link at the bottom of this page.

Third Party Advertising
Any ads appearing on this Web site and its content therein are delivered to users by Ascendant-Online’s server and other relevant advertising partners, such as Google. Information about users’ visit to this site, such as number of times they have viewed an ad (but not user name, address, or other personal information), is used to serve ads to users on this site.

This privacy statement covers the use of cookies by ascendant-online.net only and does not cover the use of cookies by any third-party advertisers.

Log Files
Like most standard Web site servers we use log files. This includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use.

Clear Gifs (Web Beacons/Web Bugs)
Many third party advertising partner employ a software technology called clear gifs (a.k.a. Web Beacons/Web Bugs), that some claim help better manage content on their site by informing them what content is effective. Clear gifs are tiny graphics with a unique identifier, similar in function to cookies, and are used to track the online movements of Web users. The main difference between the two is that clear gifs are invisible on the page and are much smaller, about the size of the period at the end of this sentence.

WE WILL NEVER KNOWINGLY USE CLEAR GIFS OR ACCEPT ADVERTISERS WHO DO
If you discover a clear gif or other mal/spy/grayware on this site please let us know IMMEDIATELY so the appropriate legal action can be taken.

Communications from the Site

Service Announcements
On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Sharing

Legal Disclaimer

Please be aware that the IP addresses, etc., that are contained in the log files can be linked to personally identifiable information. This information is will never be collected for any reason other than this sites security, such as providing information to Law Enforcement Officials after site cracking attempts,

or,

though we make every effort to preserve user privacy, we may need to disclose personal information when required by law wherein we have a good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a current judicial proceeding that is not of our own initiation, a court order, or legal process served on our Web site.

Aggregate Information (non-personally identifiable)
We do not share aggregated demographic information with our partners and advertisers. 

Business Transitions
In the event Ascendant-Online goes through a business transition, such as a merger, being acquired by another company, or selling a portion of its assets, users’ personal information will, in most instances, be part of the assets transferred. Users will be notified via email prior to a change of ownership or control of their personal information. If as a result of the business transition, the users’ personally identifiable information will be used in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection they will be given choice consistent with our notification of changes section.

Links

This Web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every Web site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Web site.

Surveys
From time-to-time our site requests information from users via poll surveys or contests. Participation in these surveys or contests is completely voluntary and the user therefore has a choice whether or not to disclose this information. The requested information typically includes contact information (such as name and shipping address), and demographic information (such as zip code). Contact information will be shared with the contest sponsors] to notify the winners and award prizes. Some survey information will be used for purposes of monitoring or improving the use and satisfaction of this site, others may be strictly for entertainment purposes. Users’ personally identifiable information is not shared with third parties unless we give prior notice and choice.

Security
This Web site takes every precaution to protect our users’ information. When users submit sensitive information via the Web site, their information is protected both online and off-line to the maximum extent possible with todays technology. Your password and submissions are sent encrypted via SSL, preventing man-in-the-middle ID theft.

Notification of Changes
If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes to this privacy statement, the homepage, and other places we deem appropriate so our users are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it. We will use information in accordance with the privacy policy under which the information was collected.

If, however, we are going to use users’ personally identifiable information in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection we will notify users via email. Users will have a choice as to whether or not we use their information in this different manner. However, if users have opted out of all communication with the site, or deleted/deactivated their account, then they will not be contacted, nor will their personal information be used in this new manner. In addition, if we make any material changes in our privacy practices that do not affect user information already stored in our database, we will post a prominent notice on our Web site notifying users of the change. In some cases where we post a notice we will also email users, who have opted to receive communications from us, notifying them of the changes in our privacy practices.

Contact Information
If users have any questions about the security or privacy, users can can contact us via a secure and convenient web form.