Safety warning If you're 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.

In this article

History / cache file Internet Explorer

Netscape AOL

E-mail

It's possible for someone to know which websites you have visited by looking through your computer's history or cache file (automatically saved web pages and graphics). You can clear your history or empty your cache file in your browser's settings. Here's how you do it.

IMPORTANT

The information below may not completely hide your tracks. The safest way to find information on the internet is to do it in a safe place. This could be at a local library, a friend's house, or at work.

Click on the Tools menu (in the row at the top of the browser). Select Internet Options from the drop down menu. You should now be on a tab that says 'General' - if not, select 'General'. Under the title, 'Temporary Internet Files', click on 'Delete Files'. You can also check the box that says delete all offline content. Then, under 'History' click on 'Clear History.' Then click OK, at the bottom.

Pull down the 'Edit' menu, select 'Preferences' from the drop down menu. Click on 'Navigator' - (this may be a tab at the top or an option in a list on the left). Click on the 'Clear History' button.

Then click on 'Advanced' (this may be a tab or an option in a list on the left. If it's in a list, please click on the + sign). Then select 'Cache'. Click on 'Clear Disk Cache'.

On older versions of Netscape: Pull down the 'Options' menu. Select 'Network Options', Select 'Cache'. Click on 'Clear Disk Cache'.

Take the following steps to clear AOL's browser cache:

1. Go to 'Start' - 'Programs' - 'AOL' - 'AOL System Information'.
2. Click the 'Utilities' tab at the top of the window.
3. Click the 'Clear Browser Cache' button. The 'Current Cache Size' will change to 0 KB.
4. Now close the AOL System Information window by clicking the 'X' in the top right-hand corner of the window.
5. Connect to AOL to see if this has solved the problem. If not, try the following alternative method.

If 'AOL System Information' is not listed in the 'Programs' menu:

1. Sign on to AOL as normal.
2. Go to AOL Keyword: 'Preferences'.
3. Click 'Internet Properties (WWW)' - This will open the 'Internet Options' window.
4. Click 'Delete Files'… and then click OK to delete your temporary Internet files.
5. Now click OK to close the 'Internet Options' window.

If an abuser has access to your e-mail account, they may be able to read your incoming and outgoing mail. If you believe your account is secure, make sure you choose a password that an abuser will not be able to guess.

If an abuser sends you threatening or harassing e-mail messages, they may be printed and saved as evidence of this abuse.

This article was last reviewed by Catherine Orr Deas in December 2005.
First published in February 2003.