About Automatic Sign In

You will remain signed in to My NCBI if you check the checkbox labeled Keep me signed in unless I sign out. Your My NCBI account will then remain active even if you close your browser or restart your computer. You should not check the box when using a public computer, because your account will remain active and usable by anyone who later uses that computer.

You may always sign out of My NCBI by clicking the "Sign Out" link on the left side of the page.

A checked Keep me signed in unless I sign out checkbox saves your My NCBI preferences on your computer in a persistent cookie file. This cookie is safe and optional, and is used only to save your user preferences - not to track your identity, site usage, or searches. If you do not check the Keep me signed in unless I sign out checkbox, My NCBI will not create a persistent cookie.

An official statement about the persistent browser cookie from the National Library of Medicine follows:

The default is not to set a persistent cookie when signing in to My NCBI. However, if a user chooses to remain signed in unless they sign out, the cookie is stored on the user's machine and allows the user's web browser to retain user preferences, such as LinkOut displays and default document delivery services.

The cookie contains only the information provided by the individual user in specifying their preferences; it does not contain any information pertaining to the user's searches or navigation through the site. Use of the cookie is optional and is not required to access or utilize My NCBI. Users may opt out of the persistent cookie selection in their My NCBI settings and the system will not create one.

NLM has received prior approval by the Secretary, DHHS for the use of this persistent cookie. NLM provides clear and conspicuous notice through its privacy page privacy page about the use of cookies and other automated means of collecting and storing information and privacy safeguards.