Covering your tracks

The safest way to find information on the internet would be at a local library, a friend's house, or at work.
   

How can an abuser discover your internet activities?

   
Please take a few minutes to read the warning below and to take steps to increase your safety when using the internet.
   

E-mail:    

   
If an abuser has access to your email account, they may be able to read your incoming and outgoing mail.

If you believe your account is secure, make sure you choose a password that an abuser will not be able to guess. Always make sure you log out completely when you’ve finished reading your email. If your browser offers to remember your password, click no.

If an abuser sends you threatening or harassing e-mail messages, you can print and save these as evidence of this abuse.
   
       

History / cache file:    

If an abuser knows how to read your computer's history or cache file (automatically saved web pages and graphics), they may be able to see information you have viewed recently on the internet.

You can clear your history or empty your cache file in your browser's settings.    
       

Netscape:    

Pull down Edit menu, select Preferences. Click on Navigator on choose 'Clear History'. Click on Advanced then select Cache. Click on "Clear Disk Cache". On older versions of Netscape: Pull down Options menu. Select Network Options, Select Cache. Click on "Clear Disk Cache".      
       

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."    
       

AOL:    

Pull down Members menu, select Preferences. Click on WWW icon. Then select Advanced. Purge Cache.    

Mozilla Firefox:

Pull down Tools menu, select Clear Recent History. Select the amount of time you want to clear and click Clear Now. Pull down Tools menu, select Options. Click the Privacy icon, then Remove Individual Cookies. Click Remove All Cookies.

If you use a different web browser, look in the Help menu for how to clear your internet history before accessing any websites if you’re worried.

This information may not completely hide your tracks.

Many browser types have features that display recently visited sites. Also, if your abuser looks at the web history and finds it wiped, or discovers that his saved passwords are gone, he may become suspicious.

Remember: the safest way to make sure your abuser doesn’t see what you’ve accessed is to use a computer away from home – at the library, an internet café, work, or a friend’s house.