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If you are in a dangerous relationship, please take these
precautions to protect yourself.
email: If an abuser has access to your email account, he or she may be able to read your incoming
and outgoing mail. If you believe your account is secure, make sure you choose a password he or she will not be able to guess.
A better choice would be to use a web
based e-mail account - excite.com, yahoo.com or netscape.com. All offer free
e-mail accounts. These email accounts may be accessed anywhere, allowing you to
take your e-mail with you. Newer browsers will ask you if you want "these
values saved" when you enter user id and password. be sure to click
"NO". Clicking yes will allow anyone to enter your e-mail account.
If an abuser sends you threatening or harassing email messages, they may be printed and saved as
evidence of abuse. Additionally, the messages may constitute a federal offense. For more
information on this issue, contact your local United States Attorney's Office.
history / cache file: if an abuser knows how to read your computer's history or cache file
(automatically saved web pages and graphics), he or she may be able to see information you have
viewed recently on the internet.
You can clear your history or empty your cache file in your browser's settings.*
Netscape:
Pull down Edit menu, select Preferences. Click on Navigator, choose 'Clear History'. Click on
Advanced then select Cache. Click on "Clear Disk Cache".
On older versions of Netscape: Pull down Options menu. Select Network Options, Select Cache.
Click on "Clear Disk Cache".
Internet Explorer:
Pull down View menu, select Internet Options. On General page, under Temporary Internet Files ,
click on "Delete Files". Under History click on "Clear History."
AOL:
Pull down Members menu, select Preferences. Click on WWW icon. Then select Advanced.
Purge Cache.
* This information may not completely hide your tracks. Many browser types have features that display recently visited sites. The safest way to find information on the internet, would be at a local library, a friend's house, or at work.
Contact information:
Commission on Domestic Violence
740 15th Street, NW, 9th Floor
Washington, DC, 20005-1022
abasvcctr@abanet.org
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