Gillette Abuse Refuge Foundation

SAFETY ALERT If you are afraid your internet and/or computer usage might be monitored, please use a safer computer SAFETY ALERT

P.O. Box 3110 - 910 East 3rd. Street Suite I
Gillette, WY 82717-3110
24 Hr. Crisis Line 307-686-8070
Phone: 307-686-8071 Fax: 307-686-8076
Monday thru Friday 8:30 - 4:30
E-mail: garf@vcn.com

INTERNET SAFETY

There are hundreds of ways that computers record everything you do on the computer or internet.

If you are in danger please try to use a safer computer that someone abusive does not have direct access to, or even remote (hacking) access.
It might be safer to use a computer in a public library, at a community technology center, at a trusted friends house or an Internet Cafe.
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. 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 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.
Email may not be a safe or confidential way to talk to someone about the danger or abuse in your life.
Traditional "corded" phones are more private than cell phones or cordless phones.

CLEANING UP YOUR TRACKS

Your computer saves a record of every website you visit. If you are being abused, you should delete these records so that your abuser does not know what sites you have visited. Read below for detailed instructions.

First, you need to determine which web browser you are using. A web browser is the program you are using right now to look at this page. Look at the top of the window to find out.

For example, if you are using Internet Explorer, it would say:

- Microsoft Internet Explorer"

To be sure, go to the Help menu then click on About <name of browser>

Once you have determined which browser you are using, read below to learn how to remove your history trail.

Internet Explorer

Click on the Tools menu, then on Internet Options.
Click on the Delete Cookies button (if it's not there, that's ok, skip this step)
Click on the Delete Files button (click ok when it asks you again)
Click on the Settings button
Click on the View Files button
Click on the Edit menu then click Select All
Hold down SHIFT and push the DELETE key (not backspace, the delete key is under the insert key). (Holding down shift and pushing delete permanently deletes the files without using the recycle bin)
Close that window, then click ok
Click on the Clear History button (click ok when it asks you again)
Hold down the CTRL (control) key and push H (this brings up the history window)
If you see a heading called Today, right-click on it and click Delete
Hold down CTRL and push H again (this closes the history window)
Close Internet Explorer, re-open it

Netscape

Click on the Edit menu
Click on Preferences
In the new window that opens, double click on Navigator
Click on History
Click the Clear History button
Click the Clear Location Bar button
Now, on the left side of the window, double-click Advanced
Click Cache
Click the Clear Memory Cache button
Click the Clear Disk Cache button
Click OK

AOL

Click on My AOL on the top of the screen
Click on Preferences
Click on the WWW button
Click on the Delete Cookies button (if it's not there, that's ok, skip this step)
Click on the Delete Files button (click ok when it asks you again)
Click on the Settings button
Click on the View Files button
Click on the Edit menu then click Select All
Hold down SHIFT and push the DELETE key (not backspace, the delete key is under the insert key). (Holding down shift and pushing delete permanently deletes the files without using the recycle bin)
Close that window, then click ok
Click on the Clear History button (click ok when it asks you again)
Click OK
Sign out, close AOL, then sign in again

Macintosh

Click on the Edit menu
Click on Preferences
Double click on Navigator on the left
Click on the Expire Now button
Click OK
Click OK again to save the changes

Opera

Click on File, then on Delete Private Data
Depending on which version of Opera you have, you may have some checkboxes.
If you have checkboxes, check them all then click OK
If you do not, just click Yes

Mozilla

Click on the Edit menu
Click on Preferences
In the new window that opens, double click on Navigator
Click on History
Click the Clear History button
Click the Clear Location Bar button
Now, on the left side of the window, double-click Advanced
Click Cache
Click the Clear Memory Cache button
Click the Clear Disk Cache button
Click OK