If you are worried about someone knowing you have visited this website, then please read this warning. It tells you how to take steps to increase your safety when using the internet.
Taking precautions
As you surf the internet, your internet browser (for example Internet Explorer) will save certain information such as which sites you have visited, files you’ve downloaded, and images you’ve viewed.
If you are worried that someone may have access to your computer you can cover your tracks by taking a few simple precautions outlined below.
Important
The information below may not completely hide your tracks. If you do not use a password to log on to your computer, someone else will be able to access your email and track your internet usage. If you have any doubts, you might prefer to use a friend’s computer, a work computer or visit a local library or internet cafe.
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 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 6.0
- click the Tools drop-down menu and select Internet Options
- on the General tab under Temporary Internet Files
- click Delete Cookies
- click Delete Files
- under History click Delete History
- on the Content tab under Personal Information click AutoComplete
- click Clear Forms and then click OK
- click OK again to close Internet Options and save your changes
Internet Explorer 7.0 and 8.0
- click Tools drop-down menu and select Internet Options
- under Browsing History click Delete
- delete browsing history by clicking each delete button as required or click the Delete All button
- click Close and then Click OK to confirm the deletion
Alternatively
- click the Tools drop-down menu and select Delete Browsing History
- click each delete button in turn as required or click Delete All
- click Close to confirm
Internet Explorer 9.0
- click the “gear” icon in the top right hand corner of the screen and select Internet Options
- under Browser History click Delete
- Select Temporary Internet files, History, Download History, Cookies, Passwords, Form data, Paswwords and InPrivate Filtering data
- ensure Preserve Favourites website data is not ticked
- click on Delete to clear everything
Internet Explorer 10.0 and 11.0
- click the Tools button on the top right hand side of the screen
- point to Safety and then click Delete browsing history
- click on Delete
Firefox
- click on the Firefox button and select History menu
- click Clear recent History
- select a time range from the drop down list
- click Clear Now
Opera
- click the Tools drop-down menu and select Preferences
- click the Advanced tab and select History on the left hand menu
- click the Clear and Empty Now buttons
- select Cookies from the left hand menu
- click Manage cookies
- select any entries on the list you want to delete and click Delete
- click Close when you have finished deleting all the entries you want to
- click OK to close Preferences
Email:
Print and save as evidence of abuse if an abuser sends you threatening email messages. Any sent e-mails can be checked in Sent Items folder. If you reply to any email, the original message will probably be in the body of the message – print and delete the email if you don’t want anyone to see your original message.
When you delete an item in any email program, it does not really delete the item – it moves the item to a folder called ‘Deleted Items‘. In order to delete them completely go to Deleted Items folder and delete the individual items.
