Hide your visit

An abuser may be able to discover what sites you have visited on the Internet or to read your email. Please read the following suggestions to help reduce this risk when using the Internet.

Please note – this advice may not completely hide your tracks: the safest way to find information on the Internet is to use the facilities at your local library, an Internet café, a friend's house, or at work.

History or cache

The 'history' in your computer's web browser (such as Internet Explorer or Netscape) shows a list of sites on the Internet that have recently been visited. The 'cache' is your computer's automatic store of all the web pages and graphics that have been looked at. If an abuser knows how to access this information, they will be able to see what you have been looking at on the Internet.

You can clear your history or empty your cache file in your browser's settings by following these instructions:

Internet Explorer 6

• Go to 'Tools' menu
• Select 'Internet Options'
• On the 'General' page, under 'Temporary Internet Files', click on 'Delete Files'
• Then, under 'History', click on 'Clear History'.

Internet Explorer 7

• Go to 'Tools' menu
• Select 'Delete Browsing History'
• click on 'Delete All'

Firefox

• Go to 'Tools' menu
• select 'Clear Private Data
• click on 'Clear Private Data Now'

Safari

• Go to the 'Safari' menu
• Select 'Empty Cache'
  or hold down the Option and Command keys and press E.

AOL

• Go to 'Members' menu
• Select 'Preferences'
• Select 'WWW' icon
• Select 'Advanced', then click on 'Purge Cache'

Email

If an abuser has access to your computer, they may be able to read your email – both the messages you send and those you receive. If your email account is password-protected, make sure you choose a password that can't be easily guessed. Do not write your password down.

If you are using a web-based email service (such as Hotmail), do not select the option to remember your username or password. If available, tick the box that says you are using a public computer instead.

If you are sent threatening e-mail messages by an abuser, print and save them – they may be used as evidence.