• setting policies and procedures for carefully handling your information;
• limiting employee access to sensitive information;
• protecting against unauthorized access to customer data using data encryption, authentication, and virus detection technology;
• requiring service providers who do business with Countrywide to comply with privacy laws;
• auditing company security practices;
• monitoring our websites through recognized online privacy and security organizations such as Cybertrust Corporation; and
• conducting background checks on all employees and providing privacy training.

• Encryption and authentication technology
• Website design that blocks or limits online display of customer information when not necessary to the transaction
• IDs and passwords to protect customer information

For more details on Internet security, please see our "About Internet Security" section

1. Continue receiving valuable and convenient product and service offers
   You can enjoy the benefits of valuable product and service offerings without taking any action.
2. Opt out of information sharing outside the Countrywide family of companies
   This choice would stop us from sharing non-public personal information with our carefully screened business partners. This may limit our ability to inform you of valuable and convenient products and services from partner companies.
3. Opt out of information sharing within the Countrywide family of companies
   This choice would stop us from sharing non-public personal information within the Countrywide family of companies. This may limit our ability to offer conveniences such as a tailored savings quote on homeowners insurance, a custom financial investment plan, and other financial service offers.

We honor our customers’ privacy choices across the family of companies. For loans to multiple borrowers, we will apply an opt out by any borrower to all borrowers on the loan. If you opt out, we will continue to share non-public personal information with our service providers (such as the vendor who prepares our monthly statements), with third parties as required or permitted by law (such as credit reporting agencies or regulators), and share transaction and experience information (such as your loan balance or payment history) within the Countrywide family of companies.

During the application process, you will receive a privacy notice that includes a toll-free telephone number to call if you want to opt-out. Please have your account and billing information available when you call. If you have any questions about our privacy policy, please send an e-mail message to privacypolicy@countrywide.com.

In today’s dynamic market, opting out may mean missing timely information about products and services that help you accomplish your homeownership and other financial goals. It's something to think about carefully. We don’t want you to miss out on any opportunities.

Countrywide websites may contain links to other companies not in the Countrywide family for your convenience and information. If you access those links, you will leave the Countrywide website. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any company before submitting your personal information.

There are two grades of internet security: International-grade encryption uses a 40-bit random number negotiated between your browser and the web-server. This means that only one out of about 1,000,000,000,000 possible decoding keys can be used to decipher your data. Domestic-grade encryption uses a 128-bit key, so that the number of possible keys is vastly larger. The Countrywide site uses the highest grade of encryption supported by your browser and your internet connection.

Third party advertisers are subject to their own privacy policies. Currently, we use web beacons provided by Doubleclick, Yahoo!, Google and MSN. If you prefer that Doubleclick does not record your information by means of these web beacons on our website, please click here: http://www.networkadvertising.org/consumer/opt_out.asp. If you prefer that Yahoo! not record information by means of these Beacons on our website, visit Yahoo! at http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us/beacons/details.html to opt out. To prevent other advertising companies from placing cookies on your computer, you may adjust the privacy settings for your browser to block or filter cookies, or visit each website individually and opt-out.

Your shared secrets should never be revealed in response to unsolicited e-mails. Criminals attempt to obtain individual’s personal identifying information and use that information illegally such as to open and/or use credit cards, obtain phone or utility accounts, obtain loans, work, open bank accounts and/or pass fraudulent checks using a technique called ("phishing"). Criminals may also attempt to obtain that information over the phone posing as a survey taker, telemarketer or other unsolicited caller ("pretexting").

We suggest you do not use shared secrets across multiple domains (e.g. websites). If you use the same logon and password while shopping or surfing online as you use for your bank, if one of the online merchant sites is compromised, your user ID and password could then be used to access your bank information. Not all website apply the same level of security to their database. The use of a single logon ID and password across multiple sites is only as secure at the least secure site.

• Destroy papers you throw out. Shred or completely destroy any documents that contain personal information before discarding them in the trash. This includes information about you, your family, your home, or your accounts such as credit card solicitations, pre-approved credit offers, convenience checks contained in your statements, bills, cancelled checks, loan offerings, ATM or credit card receipts, insurance or tax information. Just as important are receipts from ATM’s or self-service devices such as gasoline pumps. Don’t just leave them behind or throw them in the trash. Criminals only need a few pieces of information about you to get credit in your name and access your existing accounts.
• Be careful who you give your information to over the telephone. Do not give out personal information such as your social security number, credit card or bank account numbers, or loan numbers over the phone to anyone who has called you without first confirming who you are speaking to, why they need the information and that they are who they claim to be.
• Guard your PINs. Never give out your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Memorize your PINs and never write them on your cards or carry them in your wallet.
• Report lost or stolen credit cards, checks or identification immediately.
• Store your personal information securely. Keep it where it is not easily available in the event of a burglary or other unauthorized access.
• Be cautious online. Make sure it is safe when you are asked to provide information at websites or with online merchants you do not have an existing relationship with. Always confirm that you are in a secure session before entering personal information online (see How Do I Know if Security is Operating?).
• Check your credit reports. Review your credit report regularly to identify any inquiries or accounts that you are not aware of and did not apply for.
• Protect your mailbox. If your residential mailbox is not secure, don’t put outgoing mail in the box and promptly pick up incoming mail or obtain a secure postal mailbox.
• Safeguard your checks. Never print your personal information such as a Social Security Number or driver’s license number on your checks.

• Contact the three major credit bureaus

  Equifax 1-800-525-6285 www.equifax.com

  Experian 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com

  TransUnion 1-800-680-7289 www.transunion.com

  Ask them to send you a copy of your credit report and instruct them to place a fraud alert on your record. Once you receive the report, review it carefully. Contact any creditors listed that you did not apply for credit with and inform them that you have been a victim of identity theft. Instruct them to close the account, send you copies of the application and any transactions, and to promptly clear your credit record.
• Contact your local police or sheriff’s department and file an identity theft complaint.
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or via their hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).