Thank you for visiting the Department of the Auditor General’s website. We are committed to maintaining your privacy. This policy addresses the collection and access to information that may be obtained through the use of our website. This policy covers the following topics:

• Information Collected
• Public Disclosure
• Cookies
• Link Policy
• Information Disclaimer

Information Collected

As part of standard internet practice, we may collect the following information when you visit our websites:

• Your domain name; for example, "xcompany.com" if you use a private internet access account, or "yourschool.edu", if you are connecting from a university domain;
• Your IP address; a number automatically assigned to your computer when you are using the internet;
• The type of browser and operating system used to access our site;
• The internet address of the website from which you linked directly to our website;
• The pages you visit within the Department’s website; and
• The links made to other websites through this website.

This information may be collected for statistical analysis using standard third-party software programs to create summary statistics. The statistics are used for the purpose of determining what information is of most and least interest to all visitors, and identifying system performance or problem areas. This information would not be collected for commercial marketing purposes. The Department will not sell information collected online.

Any personally identifiable information that you voluntarily provide will be collected. Personally identifiable information may include an email address or any other information you submit via a website when completing an application or form. The information collected, whether or not personally identifiable, is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and other graphic formats you send us.

Information is retained in accordance with existing laws and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s retention policies.

Public Disclosure

As a general rule, the Department does not disclose any personally identifiable information collected online except where you have given us permission, or where the information is public information under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Act 65 P.S. 66.1 et seq., or other applicable laws. Visitors should be aware that information collected by the Department on its websites may be subject to examination and inspection, if such information is a public record and not otherwise protected from disclosure.

Cookies

We may customize your browsing experience by using “cookies” to store a randomly generated identifying tag on your computer. (Cookies are simple text files stored by your web browser and they provide a method of distinguishing among visitors to the websites.) You can refuse the cookie or delete the cookie file from your computer at any time by using any one of a number of widely available methods. Cookies created on your computer by using our websites do not contain personally identifiable information and do not compromise your privacy or security.

Link Policies

The Department provides links to other governmental agencies in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. We also provide links to websites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products, or services of that website. Once you link to another website not maintained by the Department, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that website, including but not limited to its privacy policy.

Information Disclaimer

Information provided on the Department’s websites is intended to allow the public immediate access to public information. While all attempts are made to provide accurate, current, and reliable information, we recognize the possibility of human and/or mechanical error. Therefore, the Department of the Auditor General and its employees expressly deny any warranty of the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published by this system and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance upon the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Any person who relies upon such information obtained from this system does so at their own risk.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

The Department of the Auditor General may amend this policy from time to time. We will prominently display on this website any substantial change in the way we use your personal information.