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Cover Your Digital Tracks

Your abuser may be monitoring your internet and social media activity.

As you take steps to manage your abusive situation or find a way out, it’s important to access support networks and information, and connect with others, as safely as possible.

Here are tips to keep you safer online.

Internet

  • Use private browsing, which keeps no record of your activity or account information. Find out how to do this on your browser.
  • Erase your Cache (where your computer stores copies of files you’ve looked at with your browser). Find out how to do this on your browser.
  • Erase your History List (a list of the addresses you’ve visited on your browser). Find out how to do this on your browser.
  • Having nothing on your Cache or History could arouse suspicion, so it’s a good idea to visit a few safe sites (e.g., news, lifestyle blog, recipe website) after deleting these.
Important! Your abuser may be using spyware to monitor your computer, cellphone or any other devices connected to your wifi network. It may be safer to access resources on devices owned by others and away from your home, such as through a public library computer, your workplace computer or phone, or a trusted friend’s computer or phone.

Social media

  • Use strong passwords and change them regularly. Don’t save them in your web browser — if you do, anyone could access your account.
  • Only accept friend requests from people you know and trust after you have verified that they have sent a request.
  • Be skeptical of messages you receive, particularly if the language or content is suspicious or out of character, as a friend may have been hacked.
  • Don’t share sensitive or personal information.
  • Consider whether photos give clues to your location before posting.
  • Check your privacy settings to understand visibility and blocking features.
  • Don’t leave accounts logged in on any devices.
Important! If your abuser has made you share your social media passwords, treat your accounts as unsafe spaces. They could see if you follow, like, share, DM or otherwise engage with or access abuse support organizations or resources. They could also see if you reach out to anyone for help or share evidence of the abuse.

Email and instant messaging

  • Use strong passwords and change them regularly. Don’t save them in your web browser — if you do, anyone could access your account.
  • Make sure you delete any emails you wouldn’t want your abuser to see (including outgoing ones). After deleting emails or files, always check your recycling bin and recently deleted files to make sure everything has been fully deleted.
  • Print any threatening messages you receive as evidence of criminal activity. 
  • Learn how to delete conversation history and your copy of messages you’ve sent on any instant messaging apps you use. Find out how to do this on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Apple’s Message app.
  • When saving evidence of any abuse, don’t save it to your cloud storage if your abuser has or could have your password. You could use an external hard drive or USB stick instead, or ask a trusted friend to keep the evidence for you if you are not able to store it digitally yourself.