How to cover your internet tracks

When you use the internet, your computer and the internet browser that you use (e.g. Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox) may save certain information such as which websites you have visited, files that you have downloaded, images that you have viewed, and emails that you have sent. If you are worried that others may have access to your computer, we would recommend taking the steps outlined below. This might be important if you are in an abusive relationship.

Relate cannot guarantee that taking these steps will completely remove all traces of your internet use and if you have any doubts, you might prefer to use a different computer (e.g. at a library, internet cafe, a friend, or at work) or get some advice from an IT professional.

Deleting cookies, files and internet history

If you know what browser you are using, then skip to the relevant instructions below. If you don't know the type of browser you are using, click on Help on the toolbar at the top of the browser screen. A drop down menu will appear, the last entry will say About Internet Explorer, About Mozilla Firefox, or something similar. The entry refers to which browser type you are using - you should then refer to the relevant instructions below.

Internet Explorer
Click on the Tools menu and select Internet Options.
On the General page, under Temporary Internet Files:
Click on Delete Cookies and then OK
Click on Delete Files, put a tick in the box labeled Delete all offline content and then OK
Under History, click on Clear History and then OK
Now look at the top of the window and click on the Content tab, select AutoComplete and finally, Clear Forms.

Firefox/Netscape
Click on Tools and then Options, then click on Privacy.
Click on History and then Clear Browsing History Now.
Click on Saved forms and then Clear Saved Forms Data Now.
Click on Passwords and then untick Remember Passwords.
Click on Download History and then Clear Download History Now.
Click on Cookies and then Clear Cookies Now.
Click on Cache and then Clear Cache Now.

Alternatively to quickly erase all private data click on Tools and then Clear Private Data button (or ctrl+shift+delete on the keyboard).

Opera
Click on Tools and then Preferences.
Click on the Advanced tab and then the History section on the left-hand side.
Click the two Clear buttons and the Empty Now button.

Deleting your browsing history
Internet browsers also keep a record of all the web pages you visit. This is known as a 'history'. To delete history for Internet Explorer and Netscape/Firefox hold down the Ctrl key on the keyboard, then press the H key (Crtl, Alt and H for Opera). Find any entries for any site you want to delete right click and choose Delete.

Email

If anyone has access to your email account, they may be able to read your incoming and outgoing mail. Make sure that you choose a password that others will not be able to guess - and change it regularly, just in case.