Stay safe

The tips below will show you how to browse this site without anyone else knowing.

Before you start...

If you use one of the popular web browsers below, here’s how to set up a “private” session that leaves no history of any kind on your computer.

Other browsers – including ones on smart phones – will have options to do the same.

Chrome

Click the 3 vertical dots on the top right and select “New Incognito Window”.

Safari

Click File | New Private Window in the menu bar.

Firefox

Click the 3 horizontal lines on the top right and select “New Private Window”.

Covering your tracks...

If you have already browsed this site without using a “private” session (see above) and are worried about someone knowing then the tips below will show you how to cover your tracks.

Internet browsers like Google’s “Chrome” or Apple’s “Safari” will save certain information as you visit websites.

This includes images from websites visited, information entered into search engines and a trail (‘history’) that reveals the sites you have visited.

Please follow the instructions below to minimize the chances of someone finding out that you have visited this website.

If you know what browser you are using, then skip to the relevant instructions below.

If you do not know the type of browser you are using:

  • click on Help on the toolbar at the top of the browser screen
  • a drop-down menu will appear with a mention of the browser you are using

Chrome

  • Open Chrome
  • At the top right, click the 3 vertical lines
  • Click History and then History
  • On the left, click Clear browsing data
  • From the drop-down menu, select how much history you want to delete
  • To clear everything, select All time.
  • Tick the boxes for the data that you want Chrome to clear, including ‘browsing history’.

Safari

  • Open Safari
  • Click Safari | Clear History in the Safari menu bar
  • Select how much you’d like to clear

Firefox

  • Click on the 3 horizontal bars button  on the top right of the Firefox window  to open the menu panel
  • Click History 
  • Clear Recent History….
  • Select how much history you want to clear

Email

  • If an abuser sends you threatening or harassing email messages, they may be printed and saved as evidence of this abuse.
  • Any email you have previously sent will be stored in Sent Items.
  • If you started an email but didn’t finish it, it might be in your Drafts folder. If you reply to any email, the original message will probably be in the body of the message – print and delete the email if you don’t want anyone to see your original message.
  • When you delete an item in any email program (Outlook Express, Outlook, etc.) it does not really delete the item – it moves the item to a folder called Deleted Items. You have to delete the items in deleted items separately. Right click on items within the Deleted Items folder to delete individual items.

Toolbars

  • Toolbars such as Google, AOL and Yahoo keep a record of the search words you have typed into the toolbar search box.
  • In order to erase all the search words you have typed in, you will need to check the individual instructions for each type of toolbar.
  • For example, for the Google toolbar all you need to do is click on the Google icon, and choose “Clear Search History”.

General Security

  • If you do not use a password to log on to your computer, someone else will be able to access your email and track your internet usage.

  • The safest way to find information on the internet, would be at a local library, a friend’s house, or at work.

  • All of the above 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.

  • A lot of the information above was taken from The Women’s Aid website. You can find out more about staying safe online by clicking on logo below.