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Cover Your Tracks

Please read this safety warning before looking at our site.
If you're worried about someone knowing you have visited this website then please read this warning. It tells you how to take steps to increase your safety when using the internet.

If someone who is abusive to you has access to your computer, you may want to call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 027 1234 for information instead of visiting the website or emailing any organisation.


Information about your history / cache file in your computer:
It's possible for someone to know which websites you have visited by looking through your computer's history or cache file (automatically saved web pages and graphics). You can clear your history or empty your cache file in your browser's settings. Here's how you do it.


IMPORTANT: Please note that the information below may not completely cover your tracks. The safest way to find information on the internet is to do it from a safe place. This could be at a local library, a friend’s house, or at work.

Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on the Tools menu (along the top row of the browser).
  2. Select Internet Options from the drop down menu.
  3. You should now be on a tab that says General - if not, select General from the tabs along the top.
  4. Under the title Temporary Internet Files click on Delete Files.
  5. You can also check the box that says Delete all offline content.
  6. Then under History click on Clear History.
  7. Finally, click OK at the bottom.


Netscape:

  1. Click on the Edit menu (along the top row of the browser).
  2. Select Preferences from the drop down menu.
  3. Click on Navigator (this may be a tab or an option in a list on the left).
  4. Click on History.
  5. Then click on the Clear History button.
  6. Next click on Advanced (this may be another tab or option in the list on the left)
  7. Then select Cache.
  8. Finally click on Clear Disk Cache.
  9. Press OK to finish.


On older versions of Netscape:

  1. Click on the Options menu (along the top row of the browser).
  2. Select Network Options.
  3. Then select Cache.
  4. Finally click on Clear Disk Cache.
  5. Press OK to finish.


AOL:
Take the following steps to clear AOL's browser cache:

  1. Go to Start - Programs - AOL - AOL System Information.

  2. Click the Utilities tab at the top of the window.

  3. Click the Clear Browser Cache button. The Current Cache Size will change to 0 KB.
  4. Now close the AOL System Information window by clicking the X in the top right-hand corner of the window.
Connect to AOL to see if this has solved the problem.
If not, try the following alternative method.
If AOL System Information is not listed in the Programs menu:
  1. Sign on to AOL as normal.
  2. Go to AOL Keyword: Preferences.
  3. Click Internet Properties (WWW) - This will open the Internet Options window.
  4. Click Delete Files… and then click OK to delete your temporary Internet files.
  5. Now click OK to close the Internet Options window.


E-mail:
If anyone else has access to your e-mail account, they may be able to read your incoming and outgoing mail. If you believe your account is secure, make sure you choose a password that they will not be able to guess.


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