Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence


	Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are in danger, please use a safer computer, call your local hotline, &/or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. If you are at a safer computer, click here to read more.

While same-sex battering mirrors heterosexual battering both in type and prevalence, its victims receive fewer protections.

Internet Safety!

Read this first: Email is not a safe or confidential way to talk to someone about the danger or abuse in your life, please call a local hotline instead, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. Plus, traditional "corded" phones are more private than cell phones or cordless phones.
There are hundreds of ways that computers record everything you do on the computer and on the Internet.
If you are in danger, please try to use a safer computer that someone abusive does not have direct access, or even remote (hacking) access to.
It might be safer to use a computer in a public library, at a Community Technology Center (CTC) www.ctcnet.org (national directory), at a trusted friend's house, or an Internet Caf�.
If you think your activities are being monitored, they probably are. Abusive people are often controlling and want to know your every move. You don't need to be a computer programmer or have special skills to monitor someone's computer activities - anyone can do it and there are many ways to monitor.
Computers can provide a lot of information about what you look at on the Internet, the emails you send, and other activities. It is not possible to delete or clear all computer "footprints".
If you think you may be monitored on your home computer, you might consider no home Internet use or "safer" Internet surfing. Example: If you are planning to flee to California, don't look at classified ads for jobs and apartments, bus tickets, etc for California on a home computer or any computer an abuser has physical or remote access to. Use a safer computer to research an escape plan.

Do not store passwords, as it makes it extremely easy for the abuser to access information.
If emails are sent, delete them from the send box and then delete the email from the deleted items box.
If harassing emails are received from abuser, save them as evidence.
Use a web-based email services, like Yahoo or Hotmail.
Choose passwords that are not easy to guess, such as a combination of letters and numbers.
Keep all personal files on a disk and make all files password accessible.
Empty "Recycle Bin" before shutting down the computer. The Recycle/Trash Bin holds all deleted files until it is manually emptied. Until it is manually emptied, the abuser will be able to see files, which have been deleted, since they have not permanently left the computer. Emptying the Recycle Bin permanently deletes all items.
Make sure the "Use Inline Autocomplete" box is NOT selected. The function will complete a partial web address, giving the abuser the entire address the victim has visited. If using Internet Explorer, this box can be found on the MS Internet Explorer page by clicking on the "View" icon at the top, then "Internet Options" and the "Advanced" tab. About halfway down, there is a "Use Autocomplete" box that can be checked and unchecked by clicking on it. Make sure it is unchecked.