Computer Safety

Computer use

If you think your abuser is monitoring your computer use, the safest bet is to access a computer at a friend’s house or at the library. If you do use a shared home computer, there are several steps you can take to help maintain your privacy:

• Use a Web-based program for e-mail. Programs such as Outlook Express, Netscape Mail and Eudora store sent and received e-mails on your computer. A Web-based e-mail service is safer. Most of these services — such Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo mail — offer free e-mail accounts.
• Store files on the Internet. You can store files online and access them from any computer. A few companies that offer this service are IBackup and HyperOffice. You can also store documents as attachments in e-mail programs.
• Change your password often. Choose passwords that would be impossible to guess. The safest passwords contain at least six characters, both numbers and letters. Avoid easily guessed numbers and sequences.
• Clear your Web-browser history. Browsers such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator keep a record of the Web pages and documents you have accessed. They also store graphics of images you look at. You can also use a program such as AbsoluteShield Internet Eraser or Speed Tracks Eraser to clear your Internet records.
• Clear your document history. Applications such as Word or Excel keep a record of edited documents. Don’t store or edit any documents you don’t want your abuser to see on a shared computer.

Also see Phone Safety

Source:  Mayo Clinic Women’s Health