What is Abuse?

Cover Your Tracks

How an abuser can discover your internet activities

E-MAIL: 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, print and save them as evidence of abuse. Additionally, the messages may constitute a federal offense. For more information on this issue, contact your local United States Attorney’s Office.

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.*

Netscape:

Pull down 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 Netscape: Pull down Options menu. Select Network Options, Select Cache. Click on “Clear Disk Cache”.

Internet Explorer:

Pull down Tools menu; select Internet Options. On the General tab, under Temporary Internet Files; click on “Delete Files”. Under History, click on “Clear History”.

AOL:

Pull down 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 would be at a local library, a friend’s house or at work.