Protect Yourself Now
Your Computer and Internet Activities Could Be Detected...
It is possible to read a history of the websites you visit and your presence on this website. If you are in danger, please try to use a safer computer that someone abusive does not have direct access, or even remote access to via hacking. You can clear your history or empty your cache file in your browser’s settings however the safer choice is to use a computer at a public library, at a trusted friend or family member’s home, Computer Technology Center, or an internet café. You do not need to have special skills to monitor someone’s computer activities. Anyone can monitor computer activities and there are many ways to do so.
If you are researching safety plans, do somewhere you will not be at risk of detection. For example, if you are looking to relocate anywhere, do not search classifieds for jobs or apartments or bus tickets at a home computer.
E-mail is not a safe or confidential way to talk to someone about the danger or abuse. Instead, please contact the crisis number utilizing a phone that is a landline or traditional “corded” phones - something other than cell phones or cordless phones since they are less private. Landline or traditional phones that require the user sit and stay put to talk are the safest phones to use since other types of phone usage are less private. A benefit to landlines: any calls to 9-1-1 will be immediately detected and traced whether the caller speaks or not. The risk of the line being dropped before a trace is made is very low.
Never share your e-mail passwords. However, if you believe your abuser may already know your password, consider whether changing it would arouse suspicion and cause more danger. Passwords should be difficult to figure out. Avoid using birthdays, street addresses, nicknames or anything known about you. Consider having more than one e-mail account in case your situation forces you to close one down. Be sure friends and family do not share your new e-mail addresses.
Never register your personal information such as your actual address or phone number when you sign up for an online service or web e-mail accounts such as Yahoo or Hotmail.
If you are in a violent relationship and need help to leave the abuser, it is better to call a domestic violence hotline from a landline telephone and to avoid e-mail contact with our agency if at all possible.
The following instructions are for clearing the trail of evidence you leave behind when using your computer for internet access, however it does not necessarily completely hide or erase your activity history. Remember, the best choice is to use a safe computer...
Internet Explorer:
Pull down Tools menu, select Internet Options. On General page, under Temporary Internet Files click on “Delete Files.” Under History, click on “Clear History.”
Netscape:
Pull down Edit menu, select Preferences. Click on Navigator, choose “Clean History.” Click on Advanced, then select Cache. Click on “Clear Disk Cache.”
AOL:
Pull down Members menu, select Preferences. Click on WWW icon. Then select Advanced. Purge Cache.
Additionally:
Make sure that the “Use Inline Autocomplete” box is NOT checked. This function will complete a partial web address while typing a location in the address bar at the top of the browser. If you are using Internet Explorer, this box can be found on the MS Internet Explorer Page by clicking on the “View” icon at the top, then “Internet Options,” and then the “Advanced” tab. About halfway down there is a “Use Autocomplete” box that can be checked and unchecked by clicking it.
If you believe your abuser will notice the cleared history, then you can create new history once you have cleared these activities. You can then re-select the “autocomplete” option if this is a preference that would be noticed missing. Take the time, if you have it, to create a history that would not provoke suspicion.
