Safety on the Internet

Warning:

The following actions may not prevent an abuser/offender from obtaining your e-mail and Internet activity or information. The safest way to find information on the Internet is to use a safe computer outside the home, such as a computer at a local library, friend’s home, or workplace. 

In order to increase your Internet safety at home, change your password on your computer or e-mail account frequently using a combination of letters and numbers which may not be easy to guess.

How an abuser/offender can obtain your Internet activity history:

E-mail:

• If an abuser/offender has access to your e-mail account, s/he may be able to read your incoming and outgoing mail. Change your password frequently to ensure that only you have access to this account.
• If you receive threatening or harassing e-mails, they may constitute a criminal offence. Ensure that you keep paper copies of all correspondence which feels threatening or harassing in nature.

History/Cache File:

• If an abuser/offender knows how to read your computer’s history or cache file (automatically saves web page addresses and graphic that you view), s/he may be able to find out what information you have viewed recently on your computer.
• You can clear your history/cache file in your browsers settings (however this may not completely hide your tracks, as many browser types have features that display recently viewed web page addresses).

Netscape

• On newer versions of Netscape 
  • Pull down 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 Tools menu
• Select Internet Options
• Under Temporary Internet Files, click Delete Files
• If asked, check the box to delete all offline content. 
• Optional additional security step
  • Click on Settings
  • Click on View Files
  • Manually highlight all the files (cookies) shown, then hit Delete on your keyboard
  • Close that window, then on the general page under History
  • Click on Clear History

AOL

• Pull down Members menu
• Select Preferences
• Click on the ‘WWW’ icon
• Then select Advanced
• Purge the cache

Additionally, you can ensure that the “Use Inline AutoComplete” function is inoperable. This function will complete a partial web address typed into the address bar at the top of the browser.

In Internet Explorer, this box can be found by clicking on Tools, then Internet Options, then the Advanced tab. Ensure that the box labelled “Use Inline AutoComplete” box is NOT checked to ensure additional Internet safety.