Safe use of this site
How can an abuser discover your internet activities?
Please take a few minutes to read the warning below and to take steps to increase your safety when using the internet and the Loughborough Women’s Aid website.
E-mail:
If an abuser has access to your e-mail account, they may be able to read your incoming and outgoing mail. If you believe your account is secure, make sure you choose a password that the abuser will not be able to guess.
If an abuser sends you threatening or harassing e-mail messages, they may be printed and used as evidence of this abuse.
History / cache file:
If an abuser knows how to read your computer’s history or cache file (automatically saved 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 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
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
AOL
- Pull down Members menu
- Select Preferences
- Click on www icon
- Select Advanced, Purge Cache
Many browsers are set up to remember form entries, which could be a problem if you use a search engine to find the site. For example, if someone searches for ‘domestic abuse’ on a search engine this entry is remembered by the browser. The next time somebody performs a search for a word beginning with the letter ‘d’ in that search engine, the words ‘domestic abuse’ will pop up as a suggested entry.
In internet explorer you can get around this by clicking on Tools and selecting
Internet Option, click on Content, select Auto Complete and finally, Clear forms.
Additionally, make sure that the Use Online Autocomplete is NOT checked. This function if left on 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, select Advanced tab and 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. The safest way to find information on the internet would be at a local library, a friend’s house or at work.