Warning - Cover Your Tracks On-line

How an Abuser can Discover your Internet Activities

Email

If an abuser has access to your email account, he or she may be able to read your incoming and outgoing mail. If you believe your account is secure, make sure you choose a password he or she will not be able to guess. 

If an abuser sends you threatening or harassing email messages, they may be printed and saved as evidence of this abuse. Additionally, the messages may constitute an offence. For more information on this issue, contact your local Police.

History / Cache File

If an abuser knows how to read your computer's history or cache file (automatically saved web pages and graphics), he or she 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 by following these instructions:

Netscape: Pulldown 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 Netcape: Pulldown Options menu. Select Network Options, Select Cache. Click on "Clear Disk Cache". 

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

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

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 if you suspect that you are being monitored, would be at a local library, a friend's house, or at work.