Safe use of this site

WARNING: HOW AN ABUSER CAN DISCOVER YOUR INTERNET ACTIVITIES

Email
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.

History/ cache file
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 information you have viewed recently on the Internet.

You can clear your history or empty your cache file in your browser’s settings:

Internet Explorer

• Pull down View menu
• Select Internet Options
• On General page, under Temporary Internet Files, click on Delete Files
• On History click on Clear History

 Firefox

• Open the 'Tools’ menu
• Click 'Options’
• In the window that opens select 'Advanced' (right hand most icon)
• 4 tabs will appear below the icon bar, select the second one (labelled 'Network')
• Click the 'Clear Now' button (on the right, second button down)

Netscape

• Pull down the Edit menu
• Select Preferences
• Click on Navigator and 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
  

AOL

• Pull down Members menu
• Select Preferences
• Click on www icon
• Select Advanced, Purge Cache

Additionally, make sure that the Use Inline Autocomplete is NOT checked. This function will complete a partial web address while typing a location in the address bar at the top of the browser.

If you are using Internet Explorer, this box can be found on the MS Internet Explorer Page:

• Click on the View icon at the top
• Select Internet Options – Advanced tab
• About halfway down there is a Use Autocomplete box that can be unchecked

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.