Below are some tips to keep you safe on the web.
Be Aware!
- Abusers are often controlling and want to monitor what you’re doing.
- You don’t have to be a computer programmer to track computer activities.
- All the actions on your computer can be tracked. There are lots of ways that computers record everything you do on them!
- Email is not a safe or confidential form of communication.
The best way to prevent your activities from being tracked is to use a safe computer.
- A safe computer is one that your abuser does not have access to. For example, you can use a computer at a public library, internet café, community technology center, or a trusted friend’s house.*
- You may want to clear your browser’s history. Click HERE to learn how to clear your tracks! If your computer has spyware, this method will not prevent your activities from being monitored.
- Sometimes, clearing your browser’s history can alert an abusive person that you are “hiding something.” If you want to browse the internet privately, click on the links below to learn how:
Take precautions to reduce your risk.
- NEVER share your password.
- Don’t share confidential or private information through IM or email.
- Make your password difficult to guess by incorporating both numbers and letters. Click here to access a random password generator.
- Create a new email account (don’t delete the old one because it might raise suspicions), and ask your friends and family not to share your new email address.
- Don’t register your personal information (such as your real address or phone number) when you sign up for web email accounts like gmail, Yahoo!, or hotmail.
Even the steps outlined here may not protect your internet privacy from an abuser. The most effective form of protection is to:
USE A COMPUTER THE ABUSIVE PERSON DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO!