Cookie policy

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What are cookies and why must my browser accept them?

How do I reset my browser to accept cookies?

What is a Flash Object?

How do I manage or delete Flash Objects from my computer?

Note: Check with your company's IT department before changing your computer's settings.

What are cookies and why must my browser accept them?

Cookies and other similar data files are tiny pieces of information that we ask your browser to store. Institutional.vanguard.com uses two types of these data files:

  • Session cookies. These data files are temporary cookies that are deleted when you shut down your browser, when you log off, or after your computer is inactive for 45 minutes. These cookies let us know that you have logged on, and they allow us to maintain your privacy as you move from page to page. They also act as timers, logging you off after prolonged inactivity to prevent unauthorized account access.
  • Permanent or persistent cookies/data files. These types of data files are stored on your hard drive and are read by your browser each time you visit our website. For example, they are used to remember which investments you entered in your Watch List and to help verify your identity when you access the secure area of the site.

Important notes:

  • We use data files such as cookies only when alternative means aren't practical or available.
  • We disclose all uses of these data files on this page.

We don't use these data files to gather demographic or personal information for marketing purposes. We won't share information in these data files or give others access to it except to help Vanguard better serve your investment needs. For example, we use cookies to support website enhancements that involve the participation of third-party vendors; in such cases, we restrict the use of cookies to protect your privacy. We may also use cookies and similar data files to verify authorized activity on your account.

We limit the size of our cookies to 4 kilobytes. (It would take about 20 million cookies to fill a 2-gigabyte hard drive.)

You may receive multiple cookies or similar data files during each visit to institutional.vanguard.com.

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How do I reset my browser to accept cookies?

Note: Check with your company's IT department before changing your computer's settings.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.x and higher for Windows

  • Click Tools from the Internet Explorer menu, and select Internet Options.
  • Click the Privacy tab.
  • Make sure you're not set to "Block all cookies."
  • Click the Edit button at the bottom of the window. (If you're using Windows XP Service Pack 2, click the Sites button instead.)
  • Type institutional.vanguard.com into the address box and click Allow. You should see institutional.vanguard.com listed as "always allow." Click OK at each window to close it.

America Online

America Online (AOL) 9 for Windows

  • Click the Settings button in your AOL toolbar.
  • Click Internet [Web] Options.
  • Click the Internet Explorer Settings link on the right. The Internet Options window will open.
  • If you see a Privacy tab, follow the cookies instructions for Internet Explorer 6.x for Windows. If you don't see a Privacy tab, you need to upgrade your America Online software. After the upgrade, come back and follow the Internet Explorer 6 instructions above.
  • Once you've changed the settings and closed the Internet Options window, you can close the various AOL windows by clicking the X in the top right corner of each window.

Google Chrome 3.x and 4.x for Windows

  • Click the wrench icon.
  • Click Options.
  • Select the Under the Hood tab.
  • Select Allow Cookies from the "Cookie Settings" dropdown menu.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox 3.x for Windows or Mac

  • Windows users: Click Tools in the browser toolbar, then select Options.
  • Mac OS X users: Click the Firefox menu, then select Preferences.
  • Click the Privacy category.
  • In the Cookies section, make sure the "Allow sites to set cookies" checkbox is checked.
  • Make sure the "Keep cookies" menu is set to "until they expire," and click OK or close the window.

Apple Safari

Safari for Mac OS X

  • Click the Safari menu, then choose Preferences.
  • Click the Security tab.
  • Make sure "Accept cookies" is set to "Always."
  • Close the window by clicking the red button in the top left corner.

Safari for Windows

  • Click the file menu, then choose Preferences.
  • Click the Security tab.
  • Make sure "Accept cookies" is set to "Always."
  • Close the window by clicking the red button in the top left corner.

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What is a Flash Object?

Macromedia Flash objects store data on your computer, similar to cookies. If you deleted all your cookies and you have Macromedia Flash installed, we can use Flash objects to recognize your computer. This allows us to identify you without you having to answer one of your security questions.

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How do I manage or delete Flash Objects from my computer?

Flash objects can be managed or deleted by adjusting the settings of the Flash software installed on your computer. You won't find a control panel for these settings on your computer, however. To make these changes, visit the Macromedia Flash Player Settings Manager.

The Website Privacy Settings tab allows you to control access to your computer's camera, microphone, and ability to store information on your system. Vanguard doesn't need to access your camera or microphone, but will need this permission in order to store information on your computer. To grant this access, click institutional.vanguard.com in the list of visited websites, then make sure to choose either "Always allow" (recommended) or "Always ask."

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