The Internet is a great resource for finding information that can help you make decisions about your personal situation.  However it's important to realize that the record of your Internet activities does not disappear when you close your browser.  If you are concerned that the person abusing you may check up on your Internet activities, there are a few steps you can take to help you cover your tracks, including deleting cookies and clearing your browser history (your cache).

If the person who is abusing you is good on a computer it may not be safe for you to be visiting sites for abused women. Hide your Internet activities and visit Shelternet from a safer place - the public library, school, an internet cafe or your workplace.

Cookies are a way for web sites to track their visitors and their actions.  Sometimes this means that the site will “remember” you when you visit again.  For example, it may display your first name, which you entered on a previous visit.  This is done by storing small bits of information on your computer.  It is important to delete cookies when covering your tracks on the internet.  Methods for deleting cookies vary depending on the type of computer you are using.  To learn how to delete yours, read the instructions later in this section that match your computer system and browser.

Your computer’s cache (pronounced cash) will remember the most recent pages you have visited and store them for quick reloading.  Emptying your cache is one way to delete the history of sites you have visited from your computer.

We have instructions to help you hide your internet activities.  If you need help to identify your web browser, click the "Help" menu at the top of your brower and click the "About" option.

Once you have determined your computer and browser information, read the instructions below that match the kind of computer and browser you have.  If you are unsure about these instructions or your partner is internet savvy, it may be safest to use the Internet in a public space, such as the library, school or Internet cafe.

Information courtesy of Shelternet.

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Here’s how to clear your tracks (some info may be outdated):

If you are using Internet Explorer:

1. From the "Tools" menu at the top of the screen, click “Internet Options”
2. Click the “General” tab in the small pop-up screen that appears.
3. From the Temporary Internet Files section, click the button “Delete (Temporary) Files”
4. Then, from the History section, click the button “Clear History”
5. Finally, click “OK”

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If you are using Firefox:

1. From the "Tools" menu at the top of the screen, click “Clear Private Data” (pop up appears).
2. Check all checkboxes
3. Click “Clear Private Data Now ”

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If you are using Netscape:

1. From the Edit menu at the top of the screen, click “Preferences” (pop up appears).
2. From the History section, click “Clear History”
3. Click “OK”

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If you are using AOL:

1. Click the “My AOL” icon on the toolbar
2. Select “Preferences”
3. Click the “WWW” button
4. From the pop-up menu, click the “Delete Files” in the Temporary Internet Files section.
5. In the History section of the same pop-up menu, click “Clear History”

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