Understanding our privacy and data-handling policies

We believe that personal privacy, security and liberty are like a bar stool -- all three legs have to be of equal length and strength if you want to have a seat at the bar and drink comfortably. This is the principle that guides our data-handling policies and procedures.

Our basic privacy policy is that we NEVER share your data with anyone.

That being said, we think it's important that we are transparent about how we handle your data and that you understand our policies and procedures with regard to your data.

About your email address

When you register, the only personally identifying information that we require is your email address so that we can uniquely indentify you and communicate with you. Your email address is encrypted in our database and is NEVER shared with anyone. After you have validated your email address, the only email you are required to receive from us is your monthly account statement. You may opt in to receive email alerts, but only if you specifically indicate that you would like to receive them and you can opt out of email alerts at any time. If you have any questions or concerns about your email address, please feel free to contact us or message us dsmg_support.

About your user name

At the time you register, you also select a user name. Your user name is a unique indentifier of your choosing and is the only thing that publicly identifies you on the site. You may change your user name at any time on your account management page. Your user name is entirely up to you as long as it is unique in our system and is not offensive or misrepresentative (e.g. someone else's name). Your user name also enables others to send you direct messages. You can use your username to obscure your identity to others on the site as long as you are doing so honestly. Or you can use your user name to reveal your identity on the site, such as using your real name as your user name.

About message content

The text of all messages are stored encrypted in our database.

About your dynamic profile

We believe that your profile data is valuable and you are entitled to realize that value. We also believe that it is valuable to the extent that you are in control of your data.

Your dynamic profile is what enables you to receive targeted public messages. At no time does the sender of a public message know who is receiving the message. The sender only knows that the message is being sent to a profile, which may be very broad or very specific. However, if you reply to a public message you will be revealing your username as one of the recipients, thus revealing something about your profile.

Your profile is dynamic, meaning that you can change it as your circumstances change. Your profile is composed of your home ZIP code, your year of birth, and a series of simple yes/no questions. You may at any time answer N/A (no answer) to any question. To prevent manipulation of the profile, you will not be able to change an answer for 30 days. However, you can always change an answer to N/A. You should always answer questions honestly and feel free to answer N/A to questions you don't feel comfortable answering.

About linking

Senders of messages may include links to web pages outside of MemoTrader. Once you leave the MemoTrader site, you are no longer covered by our policies and procedures. You should also be aware that links may contain tracking codes. This is a standard practice that is used to measure response rates and gather traffic data and the vast majority of the time it is harmlesss. However you should be aware that the sender of a message can use tracking codes to associate your visit to their web page with the message they sent. They won't know who you are unless you contact them in some manner. Just be aware that if you contact them, they may associate you with the message they sent on MemoTrader.

About cookies

Cookies are small data files that are placed by web sites in your browser. We use unique cookie files to indentify you when you are logged in. We do not place any third-party cookies. Cookies remain in your browser after you leave the site, so that you don't have to sign in every time you visit the site. When you sign out, all our cookies are deleted from your browser.