How to Clear Footprints of Your Internet Searches
Clear Footprints of Internet Searches from Your Computer
One of the sad facts is that abusive people are highly controlling. They look at your cell phone, caller ID numbers, e-mail, and even where you searched online!
To make sure you are safe, search when your abuser is not at home.
Keep in mind, if your partner is well-versed in computers, he or she might know the back door way to obtain your searches even if you implement the step below.
However, the average person who has only basic computer knowledge will not be able to retrace your steps when using the following procedures.
When you are finished with all of your online activity, make sure you do the following:
1. With your Internet Explorer window open, look in your upper left-hand corner menu where you will see the following:
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2. Click on "Tools"
3. Then click on "Internet Options"
4. Then click on "Delete Cookies"
5. Then click "OK"
6. The next step is to clear all of the temporary files you have just searched. So we are now going to delete all of the files that your computer conveniently saves automatically on your computer that you search every time you do ANYTHING online.
7. Again, Click on "Tools"
8. Then click on "Internet Options"
9. Then click on ""Delete Files"
10. Make sure you ALSO put a check mark in the box where it states "Delete All Offline Content"
11. This might take some time, depending on if you have not recently deleted many files saved automatically on your computers storage (hard drive).
On a side note, if you have a sluggish computer, I recommend you do this at least once a month to clear those needless files on your PC. It will make it move along faster.
12. Last step, you will want to go to "Tools" again.
13. Then click on "Internet Options" again. You will see "Clear History" This will clear ALL searches in your Browser's pull down menu that have been searched.
This means if anyone else uses the computer and uses the pull down menu (this is in the upper left-hand area of your screen where it says "Address" http://www.domesticviolencenomore.com Way over to the right in that line is a down arrow. When we "Clear History," that window will be all white. NO past searches will be available.
14. If your abuser is computer literate and you are not, he might ask what you did on the computer because he or she cannot find the link they were looking at previously. You can always act like you have absolutely no idea what they are talking about and remind your abuser that you wouldn't even know what that means.
15. These are only tips. If you feel uncomfortable implementing these on your computer to erase your searches and you do not want them to see what you have been searching, then I highly recommend you use someone else's computer, or one at the local library.
16. Nothing is 100% Hard drive data can be retrieved, but not by a novice. Only a highly skilled computer hardware and software expert will know how to do this. When this type of action is taken, your computer usually needs to be taken to a professional and they try and retrieve any data lost on a damaged computer where the hard drive crashed.
17. These tips are options you may use, but always err on the side of caution since we never know what is in the mind of the abuser.
Please feel free to leave a comment to let me know if this article helped you, or what other topics you would like to see on the site. I started this site to help others, so I want to make sure you are getting the most from it. God Bless.
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