Staying Safe
UPDATED November 7, 2007
Please note that computer use can be monitored by an abuser and is impossible to completely clear. If you are in danger, please use a safe computer that your abuser cannot access, and call your local hotline and/or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.
You will find additional information on technology safety at http://www.nnedv.org/internetsafety.html.
This page includes general information about Internet security. You will find the following information on this page.
An overview of Internet security
There are ways that an abuser can access your email and also find out where you have been on the internet. It is impossible to to hide all your tracks. There are hundreds of ways that computers record everything you do on the Internet.
If you are in danger, please try to use a safer computer that someone abusive does not have access to. You can go to a public terminal at a library, community center, or domestic violence organization. There is a national directory of community technology centers at www.ctcnet.org.
You can find additional information on internet security at http://www.nnedv.org/resources/internetsafety/. You can also find further information and assistance on cyberstalking from The National Center for Victims of Crime here:
www.ncvc.org/src/main.aspx?dbID=DB_Cyberstalking814.
You may also want to contact the experts in Internet security at The Safety Net Project at The National Network to End Domestic Violence (www.nnedv.org).
Safety when using email
Can my abuser access my email account?
Maybe -- there are a number of ways your abuser could have access to your email account.
If you share an email account with your abuser, he will be able to read any of the emails in your account.
If you use a program like gmail or yahoo, your email may come right back up when someone opens your browser unless you properly log out of it. Just closing your browser is not enough - you must log out.
If you use Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, or a similar program to check your email, anybody who has access to your computer can read your email.
If you check your email on the internet, your abuser may have access to your email account if he knows your email address and password. Also, some people have their computers set up to save their email address and password for them. If your computer has your email address and password saved, anyone with access to your computer can read your email.
Also, most computers now have a function called "AutoComplete". When AutoComplete is on, as soon as you begin to type something -- a Web site in Internet Explorer, for instance, a credit card into an online form, or several other items -- a little box will appear, listing things you've typed in before. If AutoComplete is on, your abuser could access your email account.
If you're not sure if your abuser has access to your email account, for your safety, act like he does have access.
What steps should I take even if I think my abuser does not have access to my email account?
If you believe your email account is secure, make sure you have a password your abuser will not be able to guess. Pick a password that does not contain obvious information, like your name, birthday, social security number, pet's name, since people you know could guess your password. It may also be a good idea to change your password often. For many email programs, you can change your password by clicking on OPTIONS then on CHANGE PASSWORD. If you need more information, go to your email account, then click on HELP for further instructions.
Do not write your password down. Do not set your computer to save your username (email address) and password. Your computer may ask you if you want to save your password after you enter it. Make sure to click on "no".
When you are finished using your email, always log out or sign out. If you do not hit "log out" or "sign out", your email account may still be open, even if you close the window.
You may also want to follow the steps in What if I think my abuser can access my email account? in case your abuser has access to your email account without your knowledge.
What if I think my abuser can access my email account?
If an abuser has access to your email account or computer, he or she may be able to read the email you send and receive, even if you delete it.
You may also want to set up an alternate email account that your abuser doesn't know about. There are a number of Web-based free e-mail services that you can use. When signing up for a new email account, do not use any of your real information if you wish to remain private and anonymous. There are many, many free web-based email providers. Here are a few:
*Fastmail: www.fastmail.fm/
* Hotmail: www.hotmail.com
*Hushmail: www.hushmail.com
* Mail City: http://mail.lycos.com/
* Yahoo!Mail: http://mail.yahoo.com
Keep in mind that your abuser may still be able to read your email if you do not properly log out or if you choose a password s/he can guess or find.
The safest way to use a new email address is from a computer that your abuser does not have any access to. And do not open any attachments sent from your abuser.
How do I know I am sending email from my account when I click on a link?
As you are browsing the internet, you may come across an email address that you can click on-- something that looks like this: info@domain123.com.
If you share a computer with your abuser and click on an email link, you may be sending the email from your abuser's email address. This could put you in danger, since whoever you wrote to might write try to write you back -- but will be writing to your abuser's email address instead.
It is safer to copy the email address and paste it directly into a new message in your email account.
What if I receive threatening or harassing emails?
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 a state or federal offense. You can report any threatening or harassing emails to the District Attorney in your county or your local United States Attorney's Office.
Please also see our page including information about cyber-stalking: What is Stalking?
Safety when browsing the internet
Can an abuser see what websites I have visited?
Yes. There are a number of different ways your abuser can tell what websites you have visited.
* Your computer automatically saves a list of pages that you have visited in your history and cache files.
* Your computer may save copies of some of the pages you have visited in a temp file.
* Some websites save cookies to your computer, which can show your abuser some of the sites you have visited.
* If it has AutoComplete, your computer may save things you have typed into your web browser.
*Your abuser may have installed spyware on your computer which may keep track of where you have been on the internet and who you have sent email to.
It is impossible to completely hide your tracks -- especially if your abuser knows a lot about computers, since there are other ways internet activity can be tracked. Many browser types have features that display recently visited sites. The safest way to find information on the Internet is at a computer that your abuser cannot access. Try a local domestic violence organization, a local library, a community center, a friend's house, or at work.
If you are concerned for your safety, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-779-SAFE (7233) or (TTY) 1-800-787-3224.
You will find additional information on technology safety at http://www.nnedv.org/internetsafety.html.
This page includes general information about Internet security. You will find the following information on this page.
An overview of Internet security
There are ways that an abuser can access your email and also find out where you have been on the internet. It is impossible to to hide all your tracks. There are hundreds of ways that computers record everything you do on the Internet.
If you are in danger, please try to use a safer computer that someone abusive does not have access to. You can go to a public terminal at a library, community center, or domestic violence organization. There is a national directory of community technology centers at www.ctcnet.org.
You can find additional information on internet security at http://www.nnedv.org/resources/internetsafety/. You can also find further information and assistance on cyberstalking from The National Center for Victims of Crime here:
www.ncvc.org/src/main.aspx?dbID=DB_Cyberstalking814.
You may also want to contact the experts in Internet security at The Safety Net Project at The National Network to End Domestic Violence (www.nnedv.org).
Safety when using email
Can my abuser access my email account?
Maybe -- there are a number of ways your abuser could have access to your email account.
If you share an email account with your abuser, he will be able to read any of the emails in your account.
If you use a program like gmail or yahoo, your email may come right back up when someone opens your browser unless you properly log out of it. Just closing your browser is not enough - you must log out.
If you use Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, or a similar program to check your email, anybody who has access to your computer can read your email.
If you check your email on the internet, your abuser may have access to your email account if he knows your email address and password. Also, some people have their computers set up to save their email address and password for them. If your computer has your email address and password saved, anyone with access to your computer can read your email.
Also, most computers now have a function called "AutoComplete". When AutoComplete is on, as soon as you begin to type something -- a Web site in Internet Explorer, for instance, a credit card into an online form, or several other items -- a little box will appear, listing things you've typed in before. If AutoComplete is on, your abuser could access your email account.
If you're not sure if your abuser has access to your email account, for your safety, act like he does have access.
What steps should I take even if I think my abuser does not have access to my email account?
If you believe your email account is secure, make sure you have a password your abuser will not be able to guess. Pick a password that does not contain obvious information, like your name, birthday, social security number, pet's name, since people you know could guess your password. It may also be a good idea to change your password often. For many email programs, you can change your password by clicking on OPTIONS then on CHANGE PASSWORD. If you need more information, go to your email account, then click on HELP for further instructions.
Do not write your password down. Do not set your computer to save your username (email address) and password. Your computer may ask you if you want to save your password after you enter it. Make sure to click on "no".
When you are finished using your email, always log out or sign out. If you do not hit "log out" or "sign out", your email account may still be open, even if you close the window.
You may also want to follow the steps in What if I think my abuser can access my email account? in case your abuser has access to your email account without your knowledge.
What if I think my abuser can access my email account?
If an abuser has access to your email account or computer, he or she may be able to read the email you send and receive, even if you delete it.
You may also want to set up an alternate email account that your abuser doesn't know about. There are a number of Web-based free e-mail services that you can use. When signing up for a new email account, do not use any of your real information if you wish to remain private and anonymous. There are many, many free web-based email providers. Here are a few:
*Fastmail: www.fastmail.fm/
* Hotmail: www.hotmail.com
*Hushmail: www.hushmail.com
* Mail City: http://mail.lycos.com/
* Yahoo!Mail: http://mail.yahoo.com
Keep in mind that your abuser may still be able to read your email if you do not properly log out or if you choose a password s/he can guess or find.
The safest way to use a new email address is from a computer that your abuser does not have any access to. And do not open any attachments sent from your abuser.
How do I know I am sending email from my account when I click on a link?
As you are browsing the internet, you may come across an email address that you can click on-- something that looks like this: info@domain123.com.
If you share a computer with your abuser and click on an email link, you may be sending the email from your abuser's email address. This could put you in danger, since whoever you wrote to might write try to write you back -- but will be writing to your abuser's email address instead.
It is safer to copy the email address and paste it directly into a new message in your email account.
What if I receive threatening or harassing emails?
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 a state or federal offense. You can report any threatening or harassing emails to the District Attorney in your county or your local United States Attorney's Office.
Please also see our page including information about cyber-stalking: What is Stalking?
Safety when browsing the internet
Can an abuser see what websites I have visited?
Yes. There are a number of different ways your abuser can tell what websites you have visited.
* Your computer automatically saves a list of pages that you have visited in your history and cache files.
* Your computer may save copies of some of the pages you have visited in a temp file.
* Some websites save cookies to your computer, which can show your abuser some of the sites you have visited.
* If it has AutoComplete, your computer may save things you have typed into your web browser.
*Your abuser may have installed spyware on your computer which may keep track of where you have been on the internet and who you have sent email to.
It is impossible to completely hide your tracks -- especially if your abuser knows a lot about computers, since there are other ways internet activity can be tracked. Many browser types have features that display recently visited sites. The safest way to find information on the Internet is at a computer that your abuser cannot access. Try a local domestic violence organization, a local library, a community center, a friend's house, or at work.
If you are concerned for your safety, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-779-SAFE (7233) or (TTY) 1-800-787-3224.