Please Be Aware:
- E-mail is not a safe or confidential way to talk to someone about the danger or abuse in your life, please call our hotline instead: 1 (888) 843-9262
- Traditional “corded” phones are more private than cell phones or cordless phones.
- If you think your activities are being monitored, they probably are. Abusers are often controlling and want to know your every move, and it has become increasingly easy for people without special skills to monitor someone’s computer activity. If you think you’re being monitored, consider not using the Internet at home or practicing “safer” searching. For example, if you plan to flee to California, don’t look for classified ads for jobs or apartments, bus tickets, or other related searches on any computer an abuser has access to.
- Closing a webpage or clearing your browsing history does not completely erase the fact that you viewed a page from your computer’s stored information. Web browsing history, including the pages you’ve clicked on, visited, or read, emails you sent, and other activities can be stored in multiple places in your computer or accessed with products or software that can be added to your computer.
- The safest place to view websites for help fleeing domestic violence or stalking is a public setting, such as a library or Internet Café, a community technology center (CTC) (National Directory), or a trusted friend’s house. If you are in danger, please try to use a safer computer that someone abusive does not have direct or remote (hacking) access to.
If you are in immediate danger, contact 911.
In Monmouth County, call 180’s 24-Hour Hotline at 1 (888) 843-9262
Outside of Monmouth County, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1 (800) 799-SAFE
Consider taking some of the following steps to keep yourself safe:
Clear Your Browser History
Google Chrome
Select 
button on top right corner
Select “Tools”
Select “Clear browsing data”
Or use your keypad and hit Crtl + Shift + Del
Firefox
Click on the Firefox Button at the top of the Firefox window
Select the Privacy Panel
Set “Firefox Will” to “Use custom settings for history”
Check the box “Clear history when Firefox closes”
Click the “Settings” button next to “Clear history when Firefox closes”
After selecting click “OK”
Click the 
button on the upper right hand corner
Click on “Search History”
Click the button again
Click on “Settings”
Click the “Delete All” button
Internet Explorer 7
Click the Tools button
Select “Delete Browsing History”
Select “Temporary Internet Files”, “Cookies”, “History”, “Forms” or “Passwords
Select “Delete Files”
OR Select “Delete All”
Click “Yes”
Internet Explorer 9
Click the Tools Button
Select “Safety”
Click “Delete browsing history”
Select each category you want to delete
Click “Delete Files”
Safari
Select the “History” menu
Select “Clear History”
Google Chrome
Select button on top right corner
Select “Tools”
Select “Delete cookies and other site and plug-in data”
Firefox
Select “Firefox” on the top left corner
Select “Preferences”
Open the “Privacy” tab
Click “Remove all cookies”
Internet Explorer 7
Click the Tools button
Select “Browsing History”
To delete all cookies click “Delete” and select “Delete all cookies”
Internet Explorer 9
Click the Tools button
Select “Saftey”
Select “Delete Browsing History”
Make sure “cookies” is checked
Click “Delete”
Safari
Click “Safari” on the top left corner
Select “Preferences”
Go to the “Security” tab
Select “Show Cookies”
Select “Remove all”
Click “Remove” after the confirmation message
Click “Done”
Available free accounts include:
Gmail: http://mail.google.com
Zoho: http://www.zoho.com/
icloud: https://www.icloud.com/
Outlook: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/
Windows Live Hotmail
Yahoo!: http://www.yahoo.com/
Shortmail (limited to 500 characters): https://shortmail.com/
Big String: http://download.cnet.com/Big-String/3000-2092_4-75761969.html
- Use separate e-mails for when you make online purchases, set-up online bill payments, register for e-mail updates from websites
- Use a main e-mail address for all your main contacts
- Contacts that you share with your abuser should not be given your new e-mail address
- Manage your e-mail accounts through a main portal: Import your contacts to one site.
http://www.mail.com/mail/mail-collector/499592-manage-multiple-accounts.html - If your professional e-mail reveals your name ask your tech administration to alter your ID and password
- Once your new e-mail address(es) is created make sure your full name is not listed when you bring up your account (i.e. From: Lauren Brajer; beachb*be6782)
- Always remember to log or sign out of your e-mail service
- NEVER open an attachment from the abuser; this will give the abuser the ability to use spyware to hack your computer
- Use at least 8 characters
- Use both upper and lowercase letters (PaSsWORd)
- Use at least one symbol (*<+=$@)
- Avoid using any personal information (name, date, location, number)
- Avoid using real words (it’s harder to guess a word not found in the dictionary)
- Remove vowels
- Change your passwords on a regular basis
- Never use personal information to answer a security question; make up an answer (i.e. Question: What’s your favorite color? Answer: Paris in the Winter)
- Do not write your password down
- Never have your computer “Remember your password”
Use your password to lock your PC or Mac
Leaving your computer open is like leaving your house unlocked!
Most computers can quickly be locked by using the keyboard
Windows: Hold the 
+L
Mac: Control + Shift + Eject OR Control + Shift + Power
Set up a Google alert for yourself so you know if you location or personal information is available to your abuser
Use a USB memory stick for important documentation back up; keep on your key ring or stored in a hidden place
Delete Old Accounts and Create a new account
Change your Privacy Settings
- Click the Button in the top right corner
- Select “Privacy Settings”
- Select your specified settings
Block your abuser and any mutual friends that might disclose your location(s)
- Click the Button in the top right corner
- Select “Privacy Settings”
- Select “Blocking” on the left side panel
- Add e-mail address for each category
Be sure to monitor your friends ability to disclose your location
- Click the Button in the top right corner
- Select “Privacy Settings”
- Select “Timeline and Tagging” on the left side panel
- Edit each category as necessary
●Be sure your mobile device is saved with the same settings as your computer
●Do not add your location or “Check-in” on Facebook mobile
●Do not use a picture of yourself as your profile picture
●Do not post pictures of your children as to be identified by your abuser
●Only “Friend” trusted acquaintances
●Ask your friends to block your abuser
●Only “Share” information that can be seen by your friends; if you are not careful your information will appear on a friends feed that might be visible to you abuser
●NEVER list your address, your full name, your phone number, your location, bank account information, full birth date or the names of your children
●Be selective with your public emotions and/or plans (i.e. if you are happy or sad, if you are dating, if you are travelling, eating out)
●Be selective in choosing events you “attend”; you will appear on a list that may be accessible to your abuser
●Always log-out after use
Delete old accounts and Create a new account
Change Privacy Settings
- Click on the icon on the right hand corner
- Select “Settings”
- Use a fake name
- Uncheck the box “Let other find me by my email address”
- Uncheck “Add a location to my tweets”
- Click “Delete all location information”
- Select “Protect my Tweets”
- Check “Always use HTTPS”
- Click “Save Changes”
- Always sign-out after use
- Delete all current accounts and create new ones
- Use secure passwords
- Use secure sites/payment methods (i.e. Paypal)
- Use different e-mail addresses for each account
- Use different shipping/billing addresses
- Never save your credit/debit account information on the site page
- Clear history as soon as you are finished shopping
The safest phone is Pay as You Go which does not require a contract: http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/gophone.html#fbid=SsJwoW1uRGf
If you are on an abusers contract
- Shut off your phone when it is not in use
- Do not make calls to anyone you do not want the abuser to see on the billing statement
- Clean your phone (i.e. remove unwated apps, delete old contacts, delete old pictures)
- If your battery dies quicker than usual check to make sure no one has hacked your phone
- Change your Passcode lock regularly
- Gather any evidence on your phone if you are leaving the abuser (i.e. forward messages to a friend or family member you trust to save them as evidence in court)
- Log off apps if they require a username and password
If you are on an individual plan
- Lock your phone
Android:
Select phone lock settings
Select phone lock type
Use a unique password
iPhone:
Select “Settings” icon on the home screen
Press the “General” tab
Press “Passcode lock”
Create a four-digit Passcode
Set “Require Passcode” to “Immediately”
- Only give your phone number to people you trust completely
- Delete any numbers your abuser can access to contact you or your children
- Consider more than one SIM card so you have different phone numbers for different people to contact you
- Do not post anything online or share pictures from your phone that could trace your location
- If you have Bluetooth either disable or set your phone to “not discoverable”
Disable GPS tracking
Manually for iPhone:
Home menu
Select “Settings”
Select “Privacy”
Select “Location Services”
Switch to “Off” for specified apps
iPhone 4 (and earlier models)
Home menu
Select “Settings”
Select “General”
Select “Location Services”
Switch to “Off” for specified apps
For more information please visit: https://www.thehotline.org/plan-for-safety/internet-safety/
Information for Survivors
