If you think your activities are being monitored, they probably are. You don’t need to be a computer programmer or have special skills to monitor someone’s computer and Internet activities.
You can delete your computer history (Click Here for information on how to do this) however it is not possible to delete or clear all the “footprints" of your computer or online activities. However, it may be dangerous to change your computer behaviors such as deleting your Internet history if that is not your regular habit. It might be safer to use a computer in a public library, at a trusted friend’s house, or an Internet Café.
Email and Instant/Text Messaging (IM) are not safe or confidential ways to talk to someone about the danger or abuse in your life. If possible, please call a hotline instead. If you use email or IM, please use a safer computer and an account your abuser does not know about.
If computers and technology are a profession or a hobby for the abuser/stalker, trust your instincts. If you think he/she may be monitoring or tracking you, call the Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline or the police.
If you suspect that anyone abusive can access your email or instant messaging (IM), consider creating additional email/IM accounts on a safer computer. Set up a free account using gmail or hotmail, and use a non-identifying name & account information. (example: bluecat@email.com and not YourRealName@email.com)
Check your mobile phone settings. If you are using a mobile phone provided by the abusive person, consider turning it off when not in use and try not to use a shared or family mobile phone when making or receiving private calls as the bill might reveal your plans to the perpetrator. Also many phones let you to “lock” the keys so a phone won’t automatically answer or call if it is bumped. When on, check the phone settings; if your phone has an optional location service which you may want to switch off.
If anyone abusive knows or could guess your passwords, change
them quickly and frequently. Think about any password protected accounts
- online banking, voicemail, instant messaging, etc.
If you
don’t want others to overhear your conversations, turn baby monitors off
when not in use and use a traditional corded phone for sensitive
conversations.
Get a private mailbox and don’t give out your real address.
Search
for your name in quotation marks on Google: “Full Name”. Check phone
directory pages as unlisted numbers might be listed if you gave your
number to anyone.
The
information above was adapted from Technology Safety Planning with
Survivors: Tips to discuss if someone you know is in danger (2005), by
the Safety Net: National Safe & Strategic Technology Project at the
National Network to End Domestic Violence http://www.nnedv.org/ (USA).
