Website Visitors

Like most website operators, HELIX collects non-personally-identifying information of the sort that web browsers and servers typically make available, such as the browser type, language preference, referring site, and the date and time of each visitor request. HELIX’s purpose in collecting non-personally identifying information is to better understand how HELIX’s visitors use its website. From time to time, HELIX may release non-personally-identifying information in the aggregate, e.g., by publishing a report on trends in the usage of its website.

HELIX also collects potentially personally-identifying information like Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. HELIX does not use such information to identify its visitors, however, and does not disclose such information, other than under the same circumstances that it uses and discloses personally-identifying information, as described below.

Gathering of Personally-Identifying Information

Certain visitors to HELIX’s websites choose to interact with HELIX in ways that require HELIX to gather personally-identifying information. The amount and type of information that HELIX gathers depends on the nature of the interaction. For example, we ask visitors who use our forums to provide a username and email address. In each case, HELIX collects such information only insofar as is necessary or appropriate to fulfill the purpose of the visitor’s interaction with HELIX. HELIX does not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below. And visitors can always refuse to supply personally-identifying information, with the caveat that it may prevent them from engaging in certain website-related activities.

Cookies

A cookie is a string of information that a website stores on a visitor’s computer, and that the visitor’s browser provides to the website each time the visitor returns. HELIX uses cookies to help HELIX identify and track visitors, their usage of HELIX website, and their website access preferences. HELIX visitors who do not wish to have cookies placed on their computers should set their browsers to refuse cookies before using HELIX’s websites, with the drawback that certain features of HELIX’s websites may not function properly without the aid of cookies.

Site specific cookie information and help in understanding, making choices about and managing cookies can be found within our cookie notice.

Protection of Certain Personally-Identifying Information

HELIX discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only to those of its employees, contractors, and affiliated organizations that (i) need to know that information in order to process it on HELIX’s behalf or to provide services available at HELIX’s websites, and (ii) that have agreed not to disclose it to others. Some of those employees, contractors and affiliated organizations may be located outside of your home country; by using HELIX’s websites, you consent to the transfer of such information to them. HELIX will not rent or sell potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information to anyone. Other than to its employees, contractors, and affiliated organizations, as described above, HELIX discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only when required to do so by law, or when HELIX believes in good faith that disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect the property or rights of HELIX, third parties, or the public at large. If you are a registered user of a HELIX website and have supplied your email address, HELIX may occasionally send you an email to tell you about new features, solicit your feedback, or just keep you up to date with what’s going on with HELIX and our products and services. We primarily use our blog to communicate this type of information, so we expect to keep this type of email to a minimum. If you send us a request (for example via a support email or via one of our feedback mechanisms), we reserve the right to publish it in order to help us clarify or respond to your request or to help us support other users. HELIX takes all measures reasonably necessary to protect against the unauthorized access, use, alteration, or destruction of potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information.

Aggregated Statistics

HELIX may collect statistics about the behavior of visitors to its websites. However, HELIX does not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below.

Privacy Policy Changes

Although most changes are likely to be minor, HELIX may change its Privacy Policy from time to time, and in HELIX’s sole discretion. HELIX encourages visitors to frequently check this page for any changes to its Privacy Policy. Your continued use of this site after any change in this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of such change.