Cover Your Internet Tracks
Contents
Computer use such as e-mail and Internet use can provide quick access to important information for sexual assault survivors. However, if you are concerned an offender may be tracking your computer activities, here are some safety tips to try to maintain your privacy and increase your safety. There are also computer programs available to do all of this for you.
Below is a list of terminology used in this article and the definition of the term.
Browser: A computer program used to view web pages (eg. Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, etc.)
Cache: An area of your hard drive that stores the web pages you viewed. This allows for the pages to be loaded quicker if you decide to view them again.
Cookie: A small text file that is saved on your computer, which allows websites to save your preferences.
E-mail: Short for Electronic mail, which is mail sent over the Internet.
Internet: A vast network of interconnected computer systems which permit users to communicate and share information.
History: A list of web pages you have recently viewed. These are easily accessible by clicking the Forward and Back button your browser.
Web pages: A document or resource of information that is suitable for the Internet and can be accessed through a web browser.
When you use a computer for Internet activity, use a computer your offender with not have access to.
Local libraries, community centres, women's shelters and rape crisis centres usually have computers for free public use of the Internet. Using a friend's computer or, if possible, one at work (unless this is where you are experiencing abuse and harassment). If you have no choice but to use your offender's computer, a computer you share, or a computer that they have set up for you, see beflow for some ways to Cover Your Tracks.
After using a computer in a public place, be sure to clear your Internet history to give yourself a little privacy. Be aware that unless the computer terminal is in a secluded locations, other may see what appears on the computer screen.
There are two ways to access e-mail — using a "web-based" e-mail program or using a e-mail program located on your computer.
A "web-based e-mail program means that you check your e-mail through a website which requires a login and password every time you open your e-mail. There are free options for web-email: Gmail.com, Hotmail.com, and Yahoo.com.
An example of the other way of accessing e-mail is by an e-mail program that is located on your computer. Some examples of this type of e-mail program are: Eudora, Mac Mail, Microsoft Entourage, Microsoft Outlook, and Mozilla Thunderbird.If you are living with an abuser and can keep your password secret, it is generally safer to use a web-based email program.
Never send e-mail containing confidential information or information that may threaten your safety if your abuser reads it.
E-mails sent through programs that are not web0based get stored in your computer. There are ways you can delete them off your computer (see Covering Your Tracks: E-mail) but an abuser can install software that will record everything you type (your "keystrokes") so even web-based e-mail is not safe. Even if you are using a computer that your abuser has no access to, e-mail are stored by your "service provider" or "ISP" (the service that connects your computer to the Internet) or by the e-mail service (ie. G-mail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.). This information can be subpoenaed by lawyers or police.
E-mails can also be accidently sent to the wrong person, redirected (your receiver can send them on to someone else), or copied. Sometimes e-mails will simply not reach their destination, due to technical problems and may often be sent back to your inbox.
Take care with passwords. If you share a computer with your abuser or they may have access to it, always choose a password for your e-mail account that they will not be able to guess. E-mail programs that are set up on your computer (as opposed to web-based email), do not always require a password when a person sends out an e-mail. Your abuser may use this technical flaw to collect information about you from unsuspecting friends, relatives, or other advocates that you have sent e-mail to. Your abuser may send e-mail to these people and pretend that they are you and ask recipients to send the response to another e-mail address.
Bulletin Boards, Chats, Mailing Lists, Newsgroups, etc.
Anything you post to an online discussion forum is probably archived and will be available to the public through Internet searches. As with email, do not say it if you do not want a record of it.
Some chats have an "enable/disable log" setting. Select "disable" to prevent a log from being kept. However, remember that your abuser may have installed software on your computer that can record everything you type. Also, if your abuser suspects your use of a particular chat, mailing list, etc., they may join and "lurk" or participate in a disguised itentity.
- If you do not want a record of it, do not say it in an e-mail.
- Avoid using e-mail programs that are on your computer. Sign up for a free e-mail account through a web-based service instead. Ask a friend to provide the contact information this service will require before they issue you an account. You will be able to access this account from any computer that is hooked up to the Internet. Protect your password. Be aware that with some expertise, these accounts can be traced.
- If you must or already have sent an e-mail that may endanger you form a computer you share with your abuser:
- Delete the e-mail from the "Out" or "Sent" box of your e-mail program.
- Then delete it from the "Deleted Items" or "Trash".
- If you have received an e-mail that would endanger you if your abuse saw it:
- Delete the e-mail form your "In" or "Received" box.
- Then delete it from the "Deleted Items" or "Trash".
However, keep in mind:
- That someone with technical skills can recover this information from the hard drive of your computer.
- That certain software installed on your computer can document everything you type.
- That another copy of the e-mail is saved on your service provider.
- That a copy exists with the receiver or sender of the message.
A "browser" is a computer program that helps you see websites. Common website browers are: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mac Safari, and Mozilla Firefox. There are many other browser options available.
When you "surf" the web, your browser maintains a record of the websites you visit. If your abuser has access to your computer, they can track your movements by looking at these records. Information on where you go on the web is recorded in the Location Bar, Cookies, History and Temporary Internet Files or Cache of your browser. To cover your tracks, you will want to delete parts or all of the information in these locations.
Steps for deleting parts or all of the tracking information are listed below.
An abuser may become suspicious of an empty History, Location Bar or Cache. Erasing all the information from these locations will also erase all the sites your abuser has visited and they may wonder why they are no longer in the browser's memory. Therefore, you may want to try deleting only select items.
Note: To figure out what browser version is currently installed on your computer, you will usually find this under an "About *Insert Browser Name*" menu item within the browser's main menu.
Clearing Cache, Cookies & History Files in Google Chrome
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Click the "Tools" menu (ie. the wrench in the upper-right corner).
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Click "Clear browsing data…"
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Check the boxes for the types of information you wish to delete.
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Clear browsing history
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Clear download history
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Empty the cache
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Delete cookies
Clearing Cache, Cookies & History Files in Internet Explorer 8
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In the top navigational menu, click on "Tools".
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Click on "Internet Options".
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In the "General Options" tab under the "Browser History" section, click the "Delete..." button.
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Delete Temporary Internet files — In the "Delete Browsing History" dialogue box, check the "Temporary Internet files" box.
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Delete Cookies — In the same "Delete Browsing History" window, check the "Cookies" box.
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Delete History — In the same "Delete Browsing History" window, check the "History" box.
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Delete Form data — In the same "Delete Browsing History" window, check the "History" box.
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You may want to check the rest of the boxes, depending on whether or not you want to completely clear all traces of computer activity. Checking the "Passwords" button will clear all browser users saved passwords and may appear suspicious, if the computer is shared.
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To complete the Clearing of History, Cookies and Cache Files, click the "Delete" button at the bottom.
Clearing Cache, Cookies & History Files in Internet Explorer 7
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In the top navigational menu, click on "Tools".
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Click on "Internet Options".
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In the "General" tab under the "Browsing history" section, click on the "Delete..." button . This will bring up the "Delete Browsing History" dialogue box.
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Select the "Delete files..." button to delete Temporary Internet Files.
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Select the "Delete cookies..." button to delete Cookies.
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Select the "Delete history..." button to delete your browsing history.
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After you select delete, a box will appear asking you to confirm you would like to delete the files. Select "Yes" for each one.
Clearing Cache, Cookies & History Files in Internet Explorer 6
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In the top navigational menu, click on "Tools".
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Click on "Internet Options".
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In the "General Options" tab under the "Temporary Internet files" section, click on the "Delete Cookies..." button . This will clear your browser's cookies.
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In the same "Internet Options" dialogue box, click on the "Delete files..." button. This will clear your browser's cache.
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In the same "General Options" tab under the "History" section, click on the "Clear History" button. This will clear the pages you have recently visited.
Clearing Cache, Cookies & History Files in Mac Safari 4
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Mac Safari 4 now offers many options on clearing the content saved by your browser. Here are some of the options.
- Private Browsing
- In the top navigational menu, click on "Safari".
- Click on "Private Browsing...".
- When asked "Are yo sure you want to turn on private browsing?", click the "OK" button.
- Note: Make sure to turn off private browsing when you are done on the Internet.
- Resetting Safari
- In the top navigational menu, click on "Safari".
- Click on "Reset Safari...".
- Check all the boxes applicable.
- Click the "Reset" button.
- Individually Clearing Cache, Cookies & History
- Delete Cache — In the top navigational menu, click on "Safari". Click on "Empty Cache...". When asked "Are yo sure you want to empty the cache?", click the "Empty" button. This will clear your browser's cache.
- Delete Cookies — From the "Safari" menu, click "Preferences...". From the "Security" dialogue box, click "Security". Click the "Show Cookies" button. From the "Cookie" dialog box, click the "Remove All" button to delete all the cookies. From the "Are you sure you want to remove all cookies?" dialogue box, click the "Remove All" button. Click on the "Done" button to finish clearing cookies from your browser.
- Delete History — From the "History" menu, click "Clear History". From the "Are you sure you want to clear history?" dialogue box, click the "Clear" button. This will clear you browser's history.
- Private Browsing
Clearing Cache, Cookies & History Files in Mozilla Firefox 3
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In the top navigational menu, click on "Tools".
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Click on "Clear Private Data...".
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From the "Clear Private Data" dialogue box, make sure to check off "Browsing History", "Saved Form and Search History", "Cache", "Cookies", "Offline Website Data", and "Authenticate Sessions".
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Click the "Clear Private Data Now" button.
There are many sources on the Internet, if you need instructions for a specific Internet browser not shown above.
Cookies
"Cookies" are another item on your computer hard drive that will provide some record of your activities. Cookies are mini-tracking programs that may websites attach to anyone who visits. A cookie is placed on your computer hard drive and allows the sending website to track your activities as you visit their site.
A cookie on your computer can almost always be traced back to the website that first placed it. In fact, software exists that lets another computer check your computer's cookies. This means that an abuser can check the cookies on your computer even if they do not have physical access to your computer.
Most sites that provide safety information for women who are dealing with violence do not use cookies because they can endanger their users if abusers find the cookies and trace them. However, sometimes cookies ARE used. Therefore it's important to disable your cookies while you surf.
To disable your cookies:
Browser: Google Chrome
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Click on the "Tools" menu and select "Options"
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Click the "Under the Hood" tab and locate the "Privacy" section.
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In the "Cookie settings" drop-down menu choose "Block all cookies".
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Click on the Close button when you've finished.
Browser: Internet Explorer 8
- In the top navigational menu, click on "Tools".
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Click on "Internet Options".
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In the "Privacy" tab, move the slider to the top to "Block All Cookies".
Browser: Internet Explorer 7
- In the top navigational menu, click on "Tools".
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Click on "Internet Options".
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In the "Privacy" tab, set both "First-party Cookies" and "Third-party Cookies".
- Click the "OK" button.
Browser: Internet Explorer 6
- In the top navigational menu, click on "Tools".
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Click on "Internet Options".
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In the "Privacy" tab, click the "Advanced..." button.
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Check the box for "Override automatic cookie handling.
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Set both "First-party Cookies" and "Third-party Cookies" to "Block".
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Click the "OK" button.
Browser: Mac Safari 4
- In the top navigational menu, click on "Safari".
- Click on "Preferences...".
- On the "Security" tab, set "Accept cookies" to "Never".
- Close the "Preferences..." dialogue box to save settings.
Browser: Mozilla Firefox 3 (PC)
- In the top navigational menu, click on "Tools".
- Click on "Internet Options".
- In the "Privacy" tab, uncheck "Accept cookies from sites".
- Click the "OK" button.
For a more complete list of how to control cookies in various browsers, visit here.
Keystroke Loggers
"Keystroke Loggers" is a practive of logging the keys struck on a keyboard, typically in a covert manner so that the person using the keyboard is unaware that their actions are being monitored. The main two type of keylogging methods are hardware and software-based.
Detecting a keystroke logger is not easy. A program that detect malware (infections of Trojans, Viruses, Spyware, Adware, Worms, Bots, Keyloggers and Dialers) like a-squared may detect a keystroke logger that is installed.
- If you do not want to complicate your life with manually clearing temporary files (cache, cookies, and history), find a program to do it for you, such as, these free programs — CCleaner (PC) and OnyX (Mac).
- Many Browsers like Internet Exploror have options to automatically delete temporary files upon closing the browser. The option can be found in the Advanced tab under Tools > Internet Options menu item. Mozilla Firefox offers a "Clear Private Data" tool.
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