There is a wealth of direct and indirect information about Internet users available to any Web site they visit. For example, online registration of software can send the configuration and content information of your personal computer to the registering entity. In addition, your Internet Service Provider keeps logs of the sites you visit for a limited period of time. This activity is seldom monitored. However, they are required to produce these logs for legal authorities, if requested.
Most sites keep track of visitor frequency and duration in order to help customize their content.
Most Web sites keep track of how their visitors use their site. For example, frequency of visits, duration and selected links all may be tracked in order to provide users with the content they most wish to access. The Internet sites that provide the highest levels of personal privacy all publish an explicit privacy policy. Sites that do not have a clear, concise privacy policy should be considered suspect. Sites without clear, concise privacy policies should be considered suspect.