Safe use of this website
This information may not completely hide your tracks. Many browser types have features that display recently visited sites. Your partner may also be suspicious if you have taken steps to cover your tracks. The safest way to find information on the internet would be at a local library, a friend’s house or at work. You should also take care if your abuser has access to your email account.
History, cache file and autocomplete
If an abuser knows how to read your computer’s history or cache file (automatically saved web pages and graphics), he may be able to see the information you have viewed recently on the Internet.
You can clear your history or empty your cache file in your browser’s settings. It may also be helpful to turn off ‘inline autocomplete’ – this completes the name of a web page once you’ve started to type the first few letters if you’ve visited that site before.
Internet Explorer
Open the Tools menu
Select Internet Options
Select General tab – under Browsing History, click on Delete
You will then see a new window – make sure Temporary Internet Files and History are ticked
Firefox
Open the Tools menu
Select Clear recent history
You will then see a new window
In Time range to clear, click down arrow and select Everything
Click down arrow by Details and make sure Browsing and download history and Cache are ticked
Open the Tools menu
Select Options
Select the Privacy tab
Next to Firefox will: click on down arrow – select Use custom settings for history
Untick Remember search and form history
Google Chrome
Click on the down arrow next to the picture of a spanner
Select History – this will open in a new window
On the left of the window, click on Edit items
Click on Clear all browsing data
Close the window
Click on the down arrow next to the picture of a spanner
Select Options
Select the Personal Stuff tab
Next to Form autofill: click on Disable AutoFill
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 choose a password he will not be able to guess.
If you contact us via email, you could take the following precautions:
- go to your ‘sent emails’ folder
- delete the email
- go to your ‘deleted files’ or ‘trash’ folder and find the email
- delete from here
This will permanently delete any record of an email you have sent us
If an abuser sends you threatening or harassing email messages, they may be printed and saved as evidence of this abuse.