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WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

If you are in an abusive relationship and your abuser has access to your computer, it is important that you take precautionary steps to hide your internet activities.

Even if you follow the directions below your abuser may still be able to see what web sites you have been visiting or what emails you have been sending. If you know that your abuser has access to the computer that you use, the best safety measure to take is to use another computer. Most public libraries have computers you may use. Or use the computer of a friend or family member.
Covering Your Tracks
If you must use a computer your abuser can access, you can attempt to cover your tracks!

1. Use an email account your abuser cannot access. If an abuser has access to your email account, he may be able to read your incoming and outgoing mail. If you believe your account is secure, make sure you select a password he will not be able to guess.
2. Delete insecure information created by your web browser - Your web browser creates many files and saves certain information which can allow your abuser to discover your internet activities.
3. Threatening or harassing email messages. If you should receive these type of messages from your abuser, print the entire email and save as evidence of the abuse.
4. Clear Browser History. Your web browser keeps a record of every web site you visit. This is called "Browser History". If you have visited sites which your abuser may find suspicious, you should clear your browser history.
5. Clear The Browser Cache. In order to view a web page, the web browser will save a copy of the page to your computer. These copies can be found on your computer and may reveal which sites you have been visiting. If you have visited sites which your abuser may find suspicious, you should clear your browser cache.
6. Clear Browser Cookies. Some web sites will send data to your browser so the site can identify you the next time you visit. This is saved on your hard drive in the form of "cookie" files. For instance, if you shop at Amazon.com, they will store a cookie on your computer which will contain a user ID. Then, the next time you visit Amazon.com, they can read that ID and it will tell Amazon.com who you are. This allows Amazon.com to keep items in your shopping cart between visits, keep a list of items you viewed the last time you visited, etc. Not all sites will set a cookie, but some sites do. These cookies can be found on your computer and may reveal which sites you have been visiting. If you have visited sites which your abuser may find suspicious, you should clear your browser cookies.
7. Clear Web Form Data. A web form is a form that you fill out online using your web browser. For example, when you purchase something online, you fill out a form to give the online store your name, address, credit card number, etc. Web forms can also be search fields or login fields or any text box on a web page. Most current browsers include a feature which saves everything that you type into web forms. The web browser can then copy that information into other web forms so you do not have to re-type it. While this is a handy feature, it can be dangerous because if, for example, you do an internet search by typing "domestic violence shelters" into a search field, your abuser may later see what you typed. If you type anything into a web page which your abuser may find suspicious, you should clear your web form data.

To ensure that your online activities are not discovered by your abuser, you must use a computer that your abuser cannot access.