Helpful Advice to hide your Internet behaviour from your partners.

If you are living in circumstances of domestic violence, it is probable that you will be accessing this information whilst at home on a family computer and when the partner involved is not present.

It is important that you recognise the danger of your partner being able to easily identify this fact and the fact that you have visited a domestic violence related web site.

We have included some useful tips which will help you hide your surfing habits from your partner.

How does an abuser discover which sites you have visited and track your internet activities?

E-mail:
There are two forms of email, PC based and Web mail.

PC based is one where you utilise a program such as Outlook Express and by connecting to an external web server you download your messages to your local machine. To prevent an abuser from discovering contents of your email delete the email from your email application after reading. Note: Email initially is sent to a Trash File within the application, you need to empty that trash file also, otherwise the email can be recovered and read.

To connect to an email server you will require a unique username and password, ensure you never write this down anywhere or disclose it to your abuser. If they have access to these details your emails can be downloaded from the web server without your knowledge or consent. With this in mind, never request your PC to remember your passwords as this will allow the abuser to access your email account.

Web Mail is email which is read through your browser, one of the most widely known is Hotmail. Access to your account can only be obtained by using unique details when initially set up. Again it is important not to disclose your login details or to have the computer automatically remember them. Web Mail is an excellent way to hide your email activity as you can manage your email account from anywhere with an internet connection. Library, Friends or Neighbours House, Internet Cafe, by simply accessing the site through a browser you can send, receive and read emails.

NOTE: Even if you feel your abuser does not know your access details, make sure that when you select a password it is not one that is easily discovered or guessed. Don't use your children's names, dates of birth etc.

If an abuser sends you threatening or harassing e-mail messages, they may be printed and saved as evidence of this abuse. If you are using web mail or an email application which you know to be safe, keep the original emails filed in your email application.

Recently Accessed File List / History / Internet cache file:
If an abuser knows how to read your computer's history or cache file (automatically saved web pages and graphics), they 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.

Netscape:
Pull down Edit menu, select Preferences. Click on Navigator on 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".

Internet Explorer:
Pull down Tools menu, select Internet Options. On General page, under Temporary Internet Files , click on "Delete Files". Under History click on "Clear History."

AOL:
Pull down Members menu, select Preferences. Click on WWW icon. Then select Advanced. Purge Cache.

Recently Accessed File Record can be deleted by placing your mouse on the lower panel, in a blank area adjacent to the Start button. Click properties, advanced and clear. This process will differ slightly for different operating systems but is accessed via the properties menu of the lower panel.

Tips:

Computer Recycling Bin is identical in function to your house waste paper bin. If you throw something in to it, it can still be recovered unless disposed of properly. Whenever you have deleted a document that you do not wish to be seen by others, when you send it to your computer recycling bin, make sure you then empty your recycle bin. Do this by clicking with your right hand mouse button on the recycle bin and select empty recycling bin.

Application Document List: Most applications retain in their memory a list of documents recently accessed. If you feel that you have securely hidden your files within your system, the recently accessed information within programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel will enable the abuser to simply click on them and those documents will be easily opened.

Cookies Explained: Cookies are small files sent from a web site you visit which helps the web site record the general nature of your activity. they allow the site to personalise content based on the users selection. Cookies can be identified easily and usually contain the domain address of the sending web site. NOTE: No cookies are sent by this site, however if we did they would probably be labelled something similar to yourname@middlesbroughrefuge.org.txt You can locate your cookies within your system C drive / documents and settings for the relevant user and within both the Temporary Internet File or the folder marked cookies. They can be deleted by selecting the file and pressing the delete key.

This information may not completely hide your tracks. The safest way to find information on the internet, would be at a local library, a friend's house, or at work.

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