Computer Safety
The computer can be a controlling tool for abusers and stalkers to track someone. Many people innocently use the computer to find help and information. After using the computer, if you have not gone into the settings and erased your "tracks" the computer will have a history of what you have looked at, that anyone can later view. Below we have links to to show you step-by-step instructions on how to erase your computer's history. To use these links, you will need to know the version of Windows your computer uses.
Special thank yous to Louis, Jeff, Jack, Josh, Eastside Domestic Violence Program and New Beginnings.
Your computer keeps a record of internet sites you visit. If an abusive partner uses your computer, you may be increasing your danger by visiting sites about domestic violence. If you are worried about your safety and unsure of your ability to delete records of your internet usage, we strongly advise you not to use any computer that is also used by the person abusing you. The safest practice is to use a computer at a public library, at work, or at the home of a friend you trust.
Here are suggestions to try to delete your computer's record of internet sites you have viewed:
Warning: We cannot provide precise instructions for all types of computers and all versions of browsers. Furthermore, even if these suggestions work, an experienced computer user may be able to find other evidence of your usage.
To Remove Traces From You Computer Select From the Following:
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E-mail: No e-mail message is confidential! There are many ways your e-mail can be accessed without your consent or knowledge. E-mail messages are sent using many servers located world-wide and their contents can be accessed by someone who really wants to do so. Also, if an abuser can access your e-mail stored locally on your computer, that abuser could get access to your private correspondence or even attempt to impersonate you. Try to choose login names and passwords an abuser cannot guess.
A much safer way is to use a Web-based e-mail service. Many Web sites offer free Web-based e-mail which allows you to access your e-mail from any computer that has Internet access, and no information is stored locally on your computer. Some good Web-based e-mail services are Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, and GMail.
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Editing Documents: Be sure not to store documents that you don't want seen on a computer that your abuser has access to (use services that store your documents online, like ibackup or Hyperoffice instead). If you use a computer to edit confidential documents be sure to:
* Clear Document History on applications like Microsoft Word and Excel. These applications keep a history of the most recent documents opened. You can see them at the bottom of the File menu. The easiest way to clear this history is to open several innocuous documents so that the confidential document names are pushed off the menu. Another way to do this is to click on the "Tools" menu, click on "Options" or "Preferences", click on the "General" tab of the dialog box that comes up, then click the "Clear History" button.
* Delete your document history (see above).
* Empty your Recycle/Trash bin.
