AHA Privacy and Cookie FAQ

What are cookies? Cookies are small computer files that a web server sends to your browser. They store information about you that the server may need in the future. Whenever you request a page from a particular server (e.g. www.historians.org), any cookies that your browser has from that server only, will be returned to that server. Cookies can be used for multiple purposes.

Why does the AHA use cookies? The AHA uses cookies for two main purposes. First, we like to track the number of unique users who visit the site, and patterns of usage. This helps us know how well we are reaching the profession, and how, in general, people are using the web site. We use this information to try and improve the overall usability of the web site.
Second, when you login to the AHA's member services section, you enter your personal login information. Once you enter this information, the web server sends back session cookies with the information that you just entered (see below for an explanation of session cookies). Whenever you request a page that is in the member's area, your browser will automatically send the server the cookie/password that will allow you to receive the page. Without a cookie you cannot receive pages from the member's section.

The AHA also uses cookies to try and track the total number of users to visit the site. These cookies will remain on your browser, if you permit them.

What are session cookies? Session cookies are cookies that remain in your browser only as long as it is open. That is, when you close your browser, they disappear. They are never written to your hard drive. They can have no effect on your computer, or its operation in any way. They are only ever sent back to the AHA web server, and are used only to track your login to member services.

What happens if a browser is set to reject cookies? When a user name and password are correctly entered the server will send back the "Welcome to the Member's Section," page with links to various member services. It will also send back some cookes with a copy of the login information. However, if the browser did not accept the cookies at the first login, the user will be returned to the login page, and asked to login again. This may seem like an endless loop, but, in fact without the use of cookies, the server has no way to know anything about the user's request.

Newer browsers give the user the ability to distinguish between session cookies, and permanent cookies. If you don't wish to receive permanent cookies, you can choose to accept session cookies. You can also specify that you be prompted to accept or reject the cookie.

What happens to cookies? Although some cookies will persist on your browser indefinitely, the cookies that the AHA uses to track your password information will be deleted when you close your browser. If you use a computer in a public area, be sure to close the browser, and all instances of the browser window, when you are finished in order to protect your password. (The server will not permit multiple simultaneous logins.)

How to modify your cookie settings:

  • Netscape 4 Click "Edit," then "Preferences," then "Advanced." On the lower part of the window you will see the "Cookies" box. Choose either the "Accept all cookies" or "Accept only cookies that are sent back to the originating server" option, and click "OK". (If desired, check the "Warn me before accepting cookies" option for greater control over accepting cookies.)
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 Click "View," then "Internet Options," then the "Advanced" tab, under the "Cookies" heading select either "Always accept cookies" or "Prompt before accepting cookies" options. Warning: If you disable your cookies in Netscape it will destroy all cookies currently on your browser which may result in some personalized settings being lost at any site you have visited.
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 Click "Tools," then "Internet Options," then the "Security" tab, and "Custom Level" button. Scroll down to "Cookies." Select the level that most suits your needs or desires.
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 Click "Tools," then "Internet Options," then the "Privacy" tab. Set privacy level to "Medium High" or lower. Click "apply," then "OK."
  • Mozilla Firefox 1. Click "Tools," then " Options," then the "Privacy" tab on the left. Check the box that says "Allow sites to set cookies." Click "OK."

Tip: If you choose the "Warn me" or "Prompt before accepting" options, you can see who is setting cookies on your browser. The purpose of the cookie, or the personal information that it contains are often obvious from information that the browser supplies about the cookie.

AHA Statement on Internet Privacy
The AHA does not use any data collected from the web site for any purpose other than what is stated on the form that collects the information. This information is not used for any other marketing campaigns, or sold to anyone for any reason. The only exception is the "New Member form." Postal mailing addresses collected from new members joining either from the web site, or through other means, are on occasion sold to carefully screened clients, usually publishers, and only when the new member has agreed to do this on the new member form. Furthermore, publishers usually purchase mailing lists based on a member's stated research or teaching criteria, thus reducing the quantity of inappropriate unsolicited mailings.

AHA membership information. The information contained in the Online Membership Directory is for the use of AHA members only for professional, academic, and non commercial purposes by AHA members only. Each member's information is listed in the directory only after she or he has given explicit consent. The Online Directory is purposely designed to make it difficult for any member to download large quantities of member data for inappropriate uses. The AHA does not sell, or share with any other organization member's e-mail addresses under any circumstances. The AHA sells mailing address information only with the member's explicit consent, and only to carefully screened organizations or publishers. Furthermore information is usually sold on the basis of given research specializations, so that many mailings are targeted towards an individual member's professional interests.

Last Updated: May 9, 2007