Computer Safety
An abuser's desire to control and hold power over their victim often extends into monitoring the victims' online and email communications. We advise extreme caution and suggest using a safe computer outside the home and deleting your browser history.

There are hundreds of ways that computers record everything you do on the computer and Internet. It’s also not possible to delete or clear all computer “footprints.” Plus, you don’t need to be a computer programmer or have special skills to monitor someone’s computer activities.

For these reasons we advise extreme caution and suggest that it might be safer to use a computer in a public library, at a community technology center, a trusted friend’s house, or an Internet Café.

We have added a “Quick Escape” button on each page of the web site for privacy, not to ensure safety from someone who might monitor your online and email activities. For example you might want to quickly close the site if you are working from a “safe” computer in the library and a friend stops by to chat.

Please, don’t depend on the “Quick Escape” button to delete “footprints” that can be traced by your abuser to the Program web site. Your abuser will know that you are reaching out for help and your actions may further compromise your safety.

Document Created By: CASA - Community Action Stops Abuse (2015).
Computer use can be monitored by your abuser and it is impossible to completely clear. Abusers who have computer knowledge may be able to track the web sites that you visit and the documents that you open on the computer. However, there are some basic steps you can take to keep your abuser from knowing what sites you have visited.

Basic Steps to Protect Yourself from Computer Monitoring*

Use a Safe Computer
If possible, use a safe computer (one that your abuser does not have access to) at a public library, a friend's house or at work. If you are sending an e-mail message asking for help, make sure you use an email account with a password that the abuser does not know.

If you cannot use a safe computer, then you can erase your Internet history, cache and cookies. See below for how to do this. 

What is Internet history?
Your Internet history is a list of the different URLs (or websites) you have visited. Erase your internet history so that nobody who uses your computer can see what web pages you visited or documents you viewed. See below on how to do this.

To see your history on a Mac, press Apple + H.
To see your history on a PC, press Control + H.

What is cache?
The cache is an area of the hard disc where web pages are stored when a page is downloaded from the Internet. It allows for recently viewed pages to be viewed more rapidly or even offline.

What are cookies?
Cookies are storage files that collect personal information that you have provided to particular vendors on the internet (e.g., your name, address, phone number, things you have ordered, etc.).

Erasing Internet History, Cache and Cookies

Browser/Computer Type: Internet Explorer 6.0 - 8.0 for the PC

Clearing the Cache
  1. Select Tools from the top menu, and click Internet Options.
  2. On the Internet Options window, click Delete Files button.
  3. If you are prompted for confirmation, click OK.

Clearing the History
  1. Select Tools from the top menu, and click Internet Options.  
  2. Click on the Clear History button. 
  3. When you have completed the changes you wish to make, click OK.

Erasing Cookies
  1.  After clearing your cache you can continue on to erase your cookies.
  2. On the Internet Options window, click Delete Cookies button. 
  3.  If you are prompted for confirmation, click OK. 
  4. Click OK to return to Internet Explorer.

Browser/Computer Type: Firefox for the PC

Clearing the Cache and History and Erasing Cookies
  1. Select Tools from the top menu, and Options from the drop down list.
  2. Click on the Privacy button in the left menu.
  3. To clear the list of sites that you have visited, select History and then click the Clear button.
  4. To clear your Cookies and Cache from the Privacy list, select both and then click the Clear button

Browser/Computer Type: Safari for the MAC

Clearing the Cache
  1. Click on the Safari menu.
  2. Clicke Empty Cache.
  3. When asked 'Are you sure you want to empty the cache?', click Empty.

Clearing the History
  1. Click on the Safari menu.
  2. Click on Reset Safari.

Erasing Cookies
  1. Click on the Safari menu.
  2. Click Preferences.
  3. From the Security dialog box, click Bookmarks.
  4. Click Show Cookies.
  5. Click Remove All.
  6. Click Done.

Browser/Computer Type: Firefox for the MAC

Clearing the Cache
  1. Click on Firefox from the top menu.
  2. Under Firefox, click on Preferences.
  3. Click on Privacy.
  4. Click on the tab labeled Cache.
  5. Click on Clear Cache Now button.

Clearing the History
  1. Click on Firefox from the top menu.
  2. Under Firefox, click on Preferences.
  3. Click on the Privacy icon.
  4. Click on the tab labeled History.
  5. Click on Clear Browsing History Now button.

Erasing Cookies
  1. Click on Firefox from the top menu.
  2. Under Firefox, click on Preferences.
  3. Click on Privacy icon. 
  4. Click on the tab labeled Cookies.
  5. Click on Clear Cookies Now button.


* Document Created By: Arkansas Legal Services Partnership.
Computer Safety (Part One)
File Size: 47 kb
File Type: pdf
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Computer Safety (Part Two)
File Size: 72 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
AOC Domestic Violence Program