SoftBay values protection of our users’ privacy and security at the highest priority. Our Privacy Policy delineates the types of information that we gather about you and how it is used.

This Policy applies to SoftBay.com Web Site (“site”). It does not apply to other companies' or organizations' web sites to which we link. The websites that we link to are governed by their respective privacy policies that you should review carefully if you want to use access their resources.

We gather certain generic information with respect to customers' use of our web site, such as the number of unique visitors, the frequency with which they visit, and the areas on the web site that they favor. This data is only used in aggregated form-that is, we look at the data on a collective basis, in summary form, rather than on an individual basis. This data helps us determine the extent to which our customers use certain parts of our web site, which, in turn, enables us to make it as appealing as possible. We may also provide statistical "ratings" about how our customers collectively use our web site to advertisers, sponsors, and other companies with which we do business ("Business Partners"). We do this so they, too, can understand how often people use their areas of the site in order for them to provide you with the best possible experience. These statistical ratings do not contain any personally identifiable information about you or any of our users.

We use a technology called "cookies" on our web site. Cookies are pieces of information or data sent to your browser from a web server and stored on your computer's hard drive for record-keeping purposes. We use cookies to make your visit to our web site easier. For example, cookies allow us to recognize you when you re-enter our web site so that you will not have to sign-in each time you visit. Cookies also allow us to count the number of unique and return visitors who use our site. Most browsers are initially set up to accept cookies. If you prefer, you can reset your browser to notify you when you've received a cookie or, alternatively, to refuse to accept cookies. It is important to note that you may not be able to use certain features on our web site if you choose not to accept cookies. Cookies can also enable us to track and target the interests of our users to enhance their experience on our site.

We collect and analyze traffic on our web site by keeping track of the IP addresses of our visitors. IP addresses are unique numeric identifiers that are assigned to each computer browser accessing the Internet. An IP address, by itself, cannot identify you personally. However, when combined with other information provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), your IP address can be used to identify the computer originating a message.

We send to all of our users our exclusive Newsletter, which alerts you to new features, content, and services available on our site. From time to time, we will also send you invitations to enhance your SoftBay membership, offers for new products and services from SoftBay, or special offers from our affiliates and sponsors. These communications are sent to you directly by SoftBay. We do not share your personally identifiable information with any third parties in connection with the Newsletter.

SoftBay also offers you the opportunity to receive money-saving offers, discounts, and promotions from our Business Partners. These communications may come from SoftBay or directly from the Partners themselves. We may also share with them certain demographic, geographic, preference, and other personally identifiable information we have gathered about you. This will help them in directing to you offers that are more likely to be of interest.

You can always decline the Newsletter by un-checking the opt-out box on the membership or registration pages on our site. If you are already receiving the Newsletter and you want to unsubscribe, you can simply follow the "unsubscribe" links at the bottom of each edition.

SoftBay reserves the right to communicate with you from time to time about important administrative, policy, legal, credit card, and billing matters, which will affect your use of our web sites, including without limitation any alleged violations of our Terms of Use. These communications are mandatory.

If you subscribe to services on SoftBay, you will be required to provide us with certain personal information, including your name, e-mail address, credit card number, expiration date, and billing address to pay for those services.

If you have provided us your consent, we will use the information we have collected about you in five ways:

    • To send personalized, targeted information that we think our users will find          relevant, either from SoftBay or directly from its Business Partners;
     •  To include targeted advertising within such messages;
     •  To contact the user for feedback and surveys; and
     •  To send the user other information about SoftBay.

From time to time, you may be given the opportunity to order products and services directly on the SoftBay site, the Newsletters, or in other communications you may receive from SoftBay. These orders are typically fulfilled by SoftBay's Business Partners directly. To process your order, SoftBay may provide these Partners with your name, street address, e-mail address, phone number, and credit card information. SoftBay will limit the types of information shared to the minimum necessary to efficiently process your order. However, in accepting these offers, you become a customer of the Business Partner and therefore subject to its privacy policy. SoftBay will alert users whenever a Business Partner will be fulfilling an order for products or services ordered on our site. We encourage you to review these companies' privacy policies and only do business with those who adhere to personal information practices with which you are comfortable.

Notwithstanding the above policies, we reserve the right to disclose your personal information to appropriate third-parties if we are required to do so by law or we believe that such action is necessary:

     •   To comply with legal process such as a search warrant, subpoena or court          order;
     •   To protect the company's rights and property;
     •   To investigate reports of users sending material using a false e-mail address           or users sending harassing, threatening, or abusive messages;
     •   To protect against misuse or unauthorized use of our web site and/or the           SoftBay service; or
     •   During emergencies, such as when we believe someone's physical safety is          at risk.

At any time, you can change choices you have previously made as to the use of your personal information. Every communication SoftBay sends you will contain a clearly worded "Opt-Out" or "Unsubscribe" link allowing you to withdraw your permission for future mailings. Alternatively, you can send a blank e-mail to privacy@softbay.com and type "Remove" in the subject field. This system is automated and must be contacted from the email address you wish to have removed. Permission changes will be honored as soon as possible after receipt. Please allow five to seven days for processing. Permission changes will however not affect any information which you provided to us and which we previously shared with our Business Partners.

If you are a registered member, you have the ability to review and correct your personally identifiable information at any time. Simply sign into the site and click the "My Profile" link on the header of every page. There, you can change your address information, e-mail type, sign-in, and e-mail permissions. You can revise, add, delete, or completely cancel all alerts by following the links to "Reminders" at the top of each page.

In the event that SoftBay and/or its units or subsidiaries are ever sold, acquired, merged, liquidated, reorganized, or otherwise transferred, we reserve the right to transfer our user databases together with any personally identifiable information contained therein, to a third-party acquiring SoftBay's assets. In the event we do so, we will place a prominent notice of the sale on the homepage of our site, with links to information as to how you can change your privacy preferences.

When you place orders for purchased products or access your payment information, we use an advanced encryption technology known as Secure Socket Layer (SSL) to protect the storage and transfer of your data from unauthorized parties. While on a secure page, such as our registration form, a lock or key icon appears on the bottom of your web browser.

In addition to our online security efforts, we take steps to protect your personal data offline, as well. All of your information, not just the sensitive information mentioned above, is restricted in our offices. Employees are granted access on a need-to-know basis (for example, our billing clerk or a customer service representative). Furthermore, ALL employees are kept up-to-date on our security and privacy practices. Finally, the servers on which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment, behind a locked cage.

SoftBay's main servers are operated from a dedicated Internet hosting facility with state-of-the-art physical security features, including smoke detection and fire suppression systems, motion sensors, and 24x7 secured access, as well as video camera surveillance and security breach alarms. If you have any questions about the security at our website, you can send an email to Customer Service.

SoftBay will occasionally update this Privacy Policy in response to changing business circumstances and legal developments. When SoftBay posts changes to this Policy, you will see the word "updated" next to the Privacy Policy link on the front page of SoftBay Sites. If there are material changes to this Policy or in how SoftBay uses your personally identifiable information, SoftBay will prominently post such changes prior to implementing the change. SoftBay encourages you to periodically review this Policy to be informed of how we are protecting your information.

Even the best policy can't protect your online privacy and security in all circumstances. Unscrupulous advertisers, hackers, and scam artists are constantly searching the Internet looking for new targets. Your best protection is to understand the limits to privacy on the Internet and use common sense in all of your on-line activities.

Be aware that e-mail is an inherently insecure form of communication. Remember that third parties are sometimes able to illegally intercept your unencrypted messages. Anytime you visit a chat room or post a message to an on-line bulletin board, your e-mail address can be accessed by advertisers looking to compile lists for unsolicited commercial e-mail (also known as spam). Be sure that you only disclose your e-mail address in circumstances in which it is safe to do so. Beware of scams in which persons unknown to you request your screen name, password, or credit card information. Make sure you verify the identity of anyone asking for personal information. Always monitor your children's on-line activities and educate them as to the rules for safe Internet use. For more information,click here for the Internet Education Foundation's Online Safety Guide for Kids.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at SoftBay Customer Support.