Rules and Policies |
Run Einstein@Home only on computers that you own, or for which you have obtained the owner's permission. Some companies and schools have policies that prohibit using their computers for projects such as Einstein@Home.
When you run Einstein@Home on your computer, it will use part of the computer's CPU power, disk space, and network bandwidth. You can control how much of your resources are used by Einstein@Home, and when it uses them.
The work done by your computer contributes to the goals of Einstein@Home, as described on its web site. The application programs may change from time to time.
Your account on Einstein@Home is identified by a name that you choose. This name may be shown on the Einstein@Home web site, along with a summary of the work your computer has done for Einstein@Home. If you want to be anonymous, choose a name that doesn't reveal your identity.
If you participate in Einstein@Home, information about your computer (such as its processor type, amount of memory, etc.) will be recorded by Einstein@Home and used to decide what type of work to assign to your computer. This information will also be shown on Einstein@Home's web site. Nothing that reveals your computer's location (e.g. its domain name or network address) will be shown.
To participate in Einstein@Home, you must give an address where you receive email. This address will not be shown on the Einstein@Home web site or shared with organizations. Einstein@Home may send you periodic newsletters; however, you can opt out at any time.
Any time you download a program through the Internet you are taking a chance: the program might have dangerous errors, or the download server might have been hacked. Einstein@Home has made efforts to minimize these risks. We have tested our applications carefully. Our servers are behind a firewall and are configured for high security. To ensure the integrity of program downloads, all executable files are digitally signed on a secure computer not connected to the Internet.
The applications run by Einstein@Home may cause some computers to overheat. If this happens, stop running Einstein@Home or use a utility program that limits CPU usage.
Einstein@Home was developed by Bruce Allen for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. BOINC was developed at the University of California.
Data supplied for analysis with Einstein@Home are not to be used for any other purpose without the consent of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC).
Other projects use the same platform, BOINC, as Einstein@Home. You may want to consider participating in one or more of these projects. By doing so, your computer will do useful work even when Einstein@Home has no work available for it.
These other projects are not associated with Einstein@Home, and we cannot vouch for their security practices or the nature of their research.
Join them at your own risk.