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Technology-savvy abusers use Internet stalking as a way to further harm
their victims. Internet stalking is on the rise and domestic violence
victims are not immune to its effects. It is vital that domestic
violence victims understand the basics of technology in order to remain
as safe as possible when using technology to access resources or
counseling services.
If you suspect that either your computer use is being monitored or
simply want more information to increase your safety, please consider
the following issues when using the many forms of available technology.
It is important to note that using these steps will not erase all
history of activity nor are they to be considered 100% safe. In other
words, these suggestions are ways to decrease the risk of computer use
tracking but will not eliminate the risks entirely.
For your safety, each page is equipped with a large green button at
the bottom of each Anti-Violence page on this website that immediately
sends you to another site. We believe that it might cause more suspicion
for your abuser if your browser suddenly closed than if you are simply
redirected to a safe site. Please use this button at any time that you
want or need to opt out of OutFront Minnesota’s Anti-Violence Programs
website.
Computer Use
Computers can be a great resource for accessing local program
information, resources and support for domestic violence victims.
However, it is important to understand that all computers store
information about your internet use, email activities and possibly even
your location. It is also important to note that you can never fully
erase this activity from your computer. If you believe that your
activities may be monitored, please use a safer computer at:
- Your workplace
- A friend’s house
- A public library or internet café (this option may include a fee)
If you are using a computer in a public place, please remember to log
out of your accounts before you leave the computer station.
Internet/Home Computer Use
Computers leave behind a footprint of the sites that you have visited on
the internet. Some people “bookmark” sites for easy reference or when
they return repeatedly to a specific site. Even without “bookmarking” a
site, a record does exist that you have visited a particular site.
When Sharing a Home Computer with your Abuser
1. Passwords/Files:
- Password protect your documents: this means that these documents
require a password to open them.
- Be aware that he or she might be able to log into any email accounts
that you have set up: Do not use your name, birthdays, anniversaries or
other special dates, your social security number or any other easily
identified password for any account that you use. It is suggested that
your password contain some combination of letters and numbers. The best
passwords are a random combination of numbers and letters that don’t
spell anything. In addition, change your password often.
- When possible, keep all personal files on a separate disk that
requires a password to access the information
- NEVER check the box “Remember my username” or “Remember my password”
- Clearing your cache/history and temporary files:
a. Be aware that your abuser might notice if your entire shared history
of internet use is deleted, especially if your abuser has been tracking
your computer use
b. You can delete only the websites that you visited or you can delete
activity for that day only
c. Remember to delete emails from the Sent file or Outbox
d. Remember to also delete these items from your Deleted items box as
well as empty your Recycle bin at the end of the session. Important note
– deleting individual emails sends those emails to a Deleted items
folder – they still exist on your computer until you permanently delete
them
2. Email is not a safe way to send information:
- The vast majority of email is not “encrypted” (meaning that it is
easily read and diverted in a variety of ways)
- Emails can very easily be monitored and therefore your abuse should
not be discussed using email
a. Computer programs exist that can send your emails to another account
before being sent on to your mail account fairly easily. You have no way
of knowing if this is happening and, if you suspect that your abuser is
monitoring your emails, do not send personal information through email
b. Hacking into your company’s email program is fairly easy as well
i. An abuser can “ping” your company’s email program, get the name of the
internet service provider as well as the IP address and have your email
“packets” diverted to another email address and then redirected to your
account
ii. From there, your abuser can monitor email activity using your email
address
iii. This is fairly time consuming because your abuser would have to sort
through all the data in the packets but is not outside of the realm of
possibility for a determined computer savvy abuser
c. Using a web-based email service such as Yahoo or Hotmail is more
strictly regulated than a personal email service.
i. You can access your email account from any computer
ii. It is much more difficult to monitor and therefore is several degrees
safer than a personal email account through your home computer
iii. However, DO NOT use your real name, address or telephone number when
signing up for these accounts
3. Other computer technology that could be used to harm you:
- Keystroke logging programs are commonly available and fairly
inexpensive.
a. You would have no way of knowing whether or not your abuser is using a
keystroke logger to record every keystroke that you are making on your
computer
b. Keystroke logging is a common way for large companies to monitor
employee computer usage and can easily be adapted by an abuser to record
all of your personal information
- Software programs for parents to track their children’s use of the
computer have the ability to take pictures of the computer screen at
certain intervals (i.e. every five seconds, etc.), record a user’s
password and ID, and record both incoming and outgoing mail messages
a. It does not require much knowledge about computers by the abuser
b. The software generates a report that can be sent to an off-site
computer
c. This can potentially give an abuser full access to all internet
communication
- Installable viruses can easily be installed
a. They often create an invisible “backdoor” into the computer that
allows remote control of the computer
b. Sometimes these viruses are sent through email as an attachment
- Cookies are created when you surf the web
a. Used correctly, they can authenticate your access to a website or
acknowledge a prior visit to a website
b. However, they also provide a trail of where you have been
c. Cookies should be deleted from your computer as often as you surf the
web
4. Other Technology to Know About
Currently, there are a variety of ways that an abuser can monitor their
victim’s behavior that go beyond the traditional home computer methods
described above. Many of the items listed below are easily available and
can be fairly inexpensive.
- Telephones:
a. Traditional corded telephones afford the most privacy.
b. Cordless, wireless and cell phones can be easily monitored using a
baby monitor or a police scanner
c. Telephone Technologies
i. Caller ID can allow your abuser to monitor who has called you and who
you have called
ii. Web-based telephone services, also known as Internet phone, replace
the “traditional telephone company” by using the internet as your
telephone company. 1) Most internet telephone companies offer a variety of options such as
monthly call logs, email notification of messages being left on the home
telephone, and records created of ALL calls to and from the number. 2) Abusers can use this technology to access messages and telephone calls
without ever having to be in the home
- In-home web cameras have gotten a great deal of press recently as
“nanny cams” and “baby sitter cams”
a. Usually about the size of a ping-pong ball, these cameras are
inexpensive and can be mounted anywhere
b. Images can be monitored using an off-site computer
c. Most people who are being monitored this way have no idea that cameras
have been installed
- GPS (Global Positioning System) is now very available through both the
internet and stores such as Best Buy and Radio Shack.
a. Your cell phone in the “silent mode” can serve as a GPS tracking
device for your abuser
b. GPS systems are usually very small and can be purchased for as little
as $300.
c. The antenna is about one inch by one inch and requires a clear view of
the sky
d. This technology is accurate enough to determine which side of the
street a car is parked on
e. Once installed, GPS systems create a log of all vehicle use, including
speeds, times and locations of use
- Fax machines can record on their header the location of the user. If a
victim faxes the abuser, the abuser can then call national directory
assistance to get an address for that number.
Additional Resources:
Clearing your web browser/history cache:
http://www.vaw.umn.edu
General Information:
http://www.acadv.org
http://www.Jewishwomen.org
Research:
http://www.mincava.umn.edu
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