Your Partner Can See Where You've Been!
If your partner limits your contact with the outside world, he or she may also monitor your use of the Internet. There are steps you can take to protect your privacy. (This is only necessary if you think your partner would be upset to learn that you've been visiting websites about Domestic Violence.)

Don't use your home computer to access sensitive information on the Net. Use a computer that your partner doesn't have access to. If you can't access the Internet at work or at a friend's house, then use the Internet at your local library. Fremantle library provides free internet access to members, as do many local libraries around Western Australia. You could also have afternoon tea at one of Fremantle's Internet Cafes while you 'surf' the net.

If you must use your home computer, follow these suggestions:

THE WEB (That's what you're using now.)
- Don't type website addresses directly into the Location Bar. Instead, use the "open" dialogue box, as it doesn't permanently record urls. Choose "File" > "Open Location" or "File > "Open" from your browser's menu. Then type the url of the website you want to visit and click "OK". - If you must visit webpages on a topic that may upset your partner, dilute those sensitive activities by visiting a large number of innocuous websites. - You could even try learning a web browser that your partner doesn't often use. If he or she uses Netscape, then use Microsoft Internet Explorer (or vice versa). Its possible that your partner won't think to monitor a program s/he doesn't use. - Advanced users: It is possible to remove individual items from the records your browser keeps. This can be quite complex, so we won't attempt to give instructions for every browser, version and operating system. Instead you may wish to search the net for further information. See below for a list of suggested search terms.
E-MAIL
A) If you don't want it to be recorded, don't say it! B) If you must send an email containing sensitive information, delete it from the 'send' box, and then delete it from the 'deleted' items' box. Remember: - a computer expert may still be able to recover the deleted file from your harddrive. - Another copy of your email is usually kept by your Internet Service Provider. - You have no control over how many people have access to your email at the other end.
IRC ( Internet Chat )
Beginners:		Advanced:
If you don't want it to be recorded, don't say it!		-	Check if your chat program has an "enable/disable log" setting. Disable the log while you chat, and restore it to the original setting when you finish.

Suggested search terms:

Windows users:
  Try a combination of your browser, and the following words:
  "typed urls", cache, history, clearing, regedit, registry

  Eg 1) Netscape AND history AND cache AND clearing
       2) Internet Explorer AND "typed urls" AND registry AND clearing

Apple Mac users:
  Try a combination of your browser, and the following words:
  "typed urls", cache, history, macintosh, clearing, resedit

  Eg 1) Netscape AND macintosh AND history AND cache AND clearing
       2) Internet Explorer AND macintosh AND "typed urls" AND resedit AND clearing