From the National Network to End Domestic Violence
There
are hundreds of ways that computers record everything you do on the computer
and on the Internet.
If you are in danger, please:
- Call 911,
- Call 1-800-33-HAVEN, OR
- Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.
Email is not a safe or confidential way to talk to someone about the danger or abuse in your life. Please use a hotline instead.
Traditional “corded” phones are more private than cell phones or cordless phones.
If you are in danger,
please try to use a safer computer that someone abusive does not have direct
access, or even remote (hacking) access to.It might be safer to
use a computer in a public library, at a community technology center, or
at a trusted friend’s house.If
you think your activities are being monitored, they probably are. Abusive
people are often controlling and want to know your every move. You don’t
need to be a computer programmer or have special skills to monitor someone’s
computer activities – anyone can do it and there are many ways to monitor
computer usage.Computers can provide
a lot of information about what you look at on the Internet, the emails
you send, and other activities. It is not possible to delete or clear all
computer “footprints”.If
you think you may be monitored on your home computer, you might consider
no home Internet use or "safer" Internet surfing. Example: If you are
planning to flee to California, don't look at classified ads for jobs
and apartments, bus tickets, etc for California on a home computer or
any computer an abuser has physical or remote access to. Use a safer computer
to research an escape plan.