At PC World, we understand that privacy is important, and we've created this policy to give you information about how we collect and use personal information. Our policy is divided into three main sections: Section 1 describes how we collect and use data from users of the PC World Web site. Section 2 describes how we collect and use data from subscribers to the print and electronic editions of PC World magazine. And because PC World is owned by International Data Group (IDG) and is part of the IDG Publishing Network of technology publications, Section 3 presents the privacy policy for the IDG Publishing Network.
We reevaluate this policy on an ongoing basis, and we value your feedback. If you have questions or concerns regarding our privacy policy, we ask that you contact us at:
Customer Service
PC World Communications, Inc.
501 Second Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
e-mail: webmaster@pcworld.com
Please note that this privacy policy may change from time to time. We will post the new policy on this page, and, if the changes allow us to use personally identifying information in ways that are different from the ways specified at the time the information was originally collected, our Web site will contain a special notice about the changes. Each version of this privacy policy will be identified by its effective date, which you can find at the bottom of the page.
PC World collects data, including personally identifying information, from people who use the PC World Web site. This section of our privacy policy explains how we collect and use this data. Please note that PC World subscriber data is maintained separately from data gathered from our online users. This means that users of the PC World Web site who also subscribe to PC World magazine, in either print or electronic form, should read both this section and Section 2 (PC World Subscriber Privacy Policy) in order to have a full understanding of our privacy practices.
When you visit the PC World Web site, PC World collects several forms of usage data, including:
Browsers or third-party software can allow you to block the use of cookies while you surf our site. Or you can use third-party anonymizer services to mask information in your cookies or even general data such as your IP address. In such cases you would not be able to take advantage of most of the personalization services offered on the PC World Web site.
The aggregated information we collect is used for a number of purposes including the following:
Many portions of the PC World site can be used without registering or giving us any personal information such as (but not limited to) your name and e-mail address. However, PC World does collect personally identifying information regarding our online users, including in the following ways:
The personal information we collect may be used in a number of ways, including the following:
PC World may share aggregated, nonpersonal information, such as Web site traffic figures, with third parties. This aggregated information does not identify you individually. We may share personal information with your consent or in order to provide products or services you have requested. In addition, by using the site you agree that we may also share personal information in any of the following circumstances:
In addition, you should be aware that when you disclose personal information such as your name or e-mail address in a forum, blog comment, or other area that is publicly accessible by others, that information can be collected and used by others. PC World and its parent and affiliate companies are not responsible for any information that you provide in the above areas.
Postal addresses will be used to promote PC World and IDG companie's products and services, and may be rented and/or licensed to selected outside firms for promotional purposes. Offers for which the postal address data is rented and/or licensed for use are screened and the users are required to target their offers carefully.
When you provide your e-mail address to us, you agree to receive e-mail from PC World, its sibling IDG companies, and the IDG Publishing Network; however, you can unsubscribe from these e-mails at any time simply by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the e-mail. We allow you to opt out of receiving e-mail regarding third-party offers, both when e-mail information is collected and with each use of your address. If you do not opt out at the time your e-mail address is collected, or do not respond to the questions concerning how we may use your e-mail address, your address may be used for third-party offers. Offers for which the e-mail address is rented and/or licensed for use are screened and the users are required to target their offers carefully.
In addition, you may change your preferences regarding use of personal data by sending an e-mail to webmaster@pcworld.com.
If PC World or any of its products is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of some or all of its assets, all personally identifying information and other data will be transferred to the new owner.
PC World collects personally identifying information and data from people who subscribe to PC World magazine, whether in print or via an electronic edition. This section of our privacy policy explains how we collect and use subscriber information. Please note that PC World subscriber data is maintained separately from data gathered from our online users. This means that subscribers who also use the PC World Web site should read both this section and Section 1 (PC World Online Privacy Policy) in order to have a full understanding of our privacy practices.
We collect personally identifying information regarding subscribers in three main ways:
When you subscribe to PC World, you must provide your postal address (for print subscribers) or e-mail address (for electronic edition subscribers), and you may choose to provide us with additional personal information, such as your telephone or fax number, and with demographic information, all of which becomes part of your subscription record. The data in your subscription record is used in a number of ways, including the following:
PC World may share aggregated, nonpersonal information, such as total magazine circulation or circulation in a particular state or zip code, with third parties. This aggregated information does not identify you individually. We may share personal information with your consent or in order to provide products or services you have requested. We may also share personal information in any of the following circumstances:
Postal addresses will be used to promote PC World and IDG companies' products and services, and may be rented and/or licensed to selected outside firms for promotional purposes. Offers for which the postal address data is rented and/or licensed for use are screened and the users are required to target their offers carefully.
When you provide your e-mail address to us, you agree to receive promotional e-mail from PC World, its sibling IDG companies, and the IDG Publishing Network; however, you can unsubscribe from these e-mails at any time simply by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the e-mail. We allow you to opt out of receiving e-mail regarding third-party offers, both when e-mail information is collected and with each use of your address. If you do not opt out at the time your e-mail address is collected, or do not respond to the questions concerning how we may use your e-mail address, your address may be used for third-party offers. Offers for which the e-mail address is rented and/or licensed for use are screened and the users are required to target their offers carefully.
Subscribers who do not want their personal information used for third-party promotions may write and ask to be removed from such promotion lists. Requests should be sent to:
PC World
Attn: Subscriber Services
P.O. Box 37571
Boone, IA 50037-0571
If PC World or any of its products is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of some or all of its assets, all personally identifying information and other data will be transferred to the new owner.
PC World is part of the IDG Publishing Network, a group of Web sites for the IDG family of technology publications. The policy below governs the use of personally identifying information collected by the IDG Publishing Network from registered members of sites that are part of the IDG Publishing Network and from subscribers to IDG publications. For information on PC World's privacy practices, please see Section 1 (PC World Online Privacy Policy) and Section 2 (PC World Subscriber Privacy Policy).
Below is the current policy regarding the usage of personally identifying information and data collected by the IDG Publishing Network. We reevaluate this policy on an ongoing basis based on feedback from readers. The IDG Publishing Network reserves the right to change its privacy policy. However, if there are any changes to the use of personally identifiable information and data that is different from that stated at the time of collection, we will notify you by posting a notice on www.idg.com.
The International Data Group, Inc. (IDG) family of on-line and print publications consists of hundreds of award-winning titles including PC World, Macworld, Computerworld, InfoWorld, CIO, CSO, Darwin, Game Pro, and Network World. The IDG Publishing Network is a growing collection of IDG Web sites that presently includes pcworld.com, macworld.com, maccentral.com, javaworld.com, playlistmag.com, cio.com, csoonline.com, computerworld.com, darwinmag.com, infoworld.com, and networkworld.com. A complete listing is available at www.idg.com.
To access restricted content on any IDG Publishing Network Web site, you must be a member of the IDG Publishing Network. To become a member of the IDG Publishing Network, you need to provide certain information about yourself. Any of the IDG Publishing Network sites may use this identifying information for internal analytical and business development purposes and to send you e-mail. However, other forms of communication, including postal mail, may be directed to you pursuant to the specific privacy policy of the site to which you provided the information, as may be updated from time to time.
You can opt out of receiving further e-mail by clicking the appropriate links that appear at the bottom of any e-mail you receive. If you do not want to receive other types of communication, including as applicable, postal mail, from the editor and publisher of the site to which you provided the information, please refer to the site's privacy policy for the procedure to follow.
The IDG Publishing Network is intended for individuals age 13 and over. Personal information may not be provided by anyone under 13 years of age. Further no one under 13 years old may participate in the forums or chat rooms or any other areas where public discussions may take place. In addition no one under the age of 18 may conduct any transactions for the purposes of purchasing or selling any items. Parents should be sure that their children are not conducting any of the above activities on the IDG Publishing Network.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the IDG Publishing Network or its use of information please send e-mail to IDGNetwork@idg.com or write to us at IDG Publishing Network, 3 Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109.
Last updated: May 3, 2006.