A Web site's privacy policy tells you what kind of information the Web site collects, to whom it gives that information, and how it uses the information. Personally identifiable information is information that can be used to identify or contact you, such as your name, e-mail address, home or work address, or telephone number. However, a Web site only has access to the personally identifiable information that you provide, or to the choices you make while visiting a Web site. For example, a Web site cannot determine your e-mail name unless you provide it. A Web site cannot gain access to other information on your computer. If a Web site collects personally identifiable information, it may store the information in a cookie, a small file that it saves on your computer.
Many Web sites provide privacy statements as written documents that you can view on the Internet. Web sites also might provide a Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P) privacy policy. If a Web site has a P3P privacy policy, Internet Explorer can display it. Internet Explorer also might be able to compare your privacy settings to a representation of the P3P privacy policy, and determine whether or not to allow the Web site to save cookies on your computer.
For more information about cookies or the security and privacy features in Internet Explorer, click Related Topics.