Quick Tips for Safer Surfing

If you’re concerned about your safety, please be aware that the Internet is not a secure place to share information about your concerns or plans. Your partner may be monitoring your Internet and email usage.

There are many ways to monitor computers, including spyware that tracks a user’s keyboard strokes. Spyware and other tracking technologies can be very difficult to detect.

You can take precautions to decrease your risks online:

• Keep your information private. Although it’s impossible to ensure that your computer use is entirely concealed, don’t save passwords on your computer. Update passwords frequently and avoid using words or phrases your partner would recognize, such as family and pet names.
• Choose the highest security options on social networking sites, such as “Friends Only” on Facebook.
• To minimize the chances that your computer use is tracked, use the Internet at a public place, such as a library or computer lab, or at your workplace or a friend’s house.
• Your Internet browser saves information about the sites you’ve visited. Delete your browsing history. Here’s how.
• If you are receiving harassing emails, you can save them as evidence of harm. Use a web-based email client, like Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail.
• Consider using phone help lines instead of online discussion groups. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is open 24 hours a day and is free. Though the Hotline is not LGBT specific, it is committed to helping all survivors. Call the Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE (7233).