How to stay safe online

It’s important for you to be safe when you’re online. There are some simple steps which will increase your safety online, and websites with information and step-by step guides to help you.

Safety on The Handy Guide – The ‘Quick Exit’ button

On every page of this site you can see the QUICK EXIT button. It follows as you scroll down and navigate our site. Hit QUICK EXIT and you’ll immediately be taken to a neutral site.

However, this will NOT clear your browser history so if anyone else has access to your computer or mobile device they’ll be able to see you have visited this site.

Clearing your browser history is one of the many things you need to do to ensure your safety online and keep your information and communication private.

If you use the quick exit button on The Handy Guide, it will close The Handy Guide and open the BOM (weather) website.

Internet History

When looking at websites on the internet, your browser saves the pages you look at which means someone can see what websites and information you’ve been looking at.

You can:

delete your browser history.
use a ‘private/secret’ view browser.

To learn how go to E-Commissioners - Australian Government

Use a Safer Computer

If you are worried about someone looking at your internet use, then you should use a computer that can’t be looked at by the person you’re worried about - like a friend's computer, a work computer or one at the library. Do not sign into sites like Gmail or Facebook as these sites can save other places you look at.

Create a new email account

It might be necessary to create a new email account. Find a free web-based email – like Gmail or Hotmail – and use a generic name for the account. For example – sunshine.blue@ rather than anything that contains any part of your name eg. jane.smith@. Set up this account from a safe computer and only check it from this computer as well.

Change passwords regularly

Make sure you have a passcode on your mobile phone and change it regularly — also regularly change your passwords on your email, banking and social networking sites. Make them difficult to guess (no birthdays!) but easy for you to remember.

Reduce your online presence

It isn’t difficult to track someone when they’re online often. Features such as ‘checking in’ allow people to see where you are. Facebook and Messenger show when you were last online. Taking and uploading photos can give away your location. Be careful about what you’re uploading and who can see it. Block anyone you don’t trust. Unfriend people you don’t really know. Turn off location settings on apps that don’t require it to function.

Clear your recent calls and messages

Regularly clear your recent call lists and delete messages so they cannot be read by others. Check your phone settings to see if you can stop messages appearing on the home screen or allowing them to be read when the phone is locked.

Use a safe phone

If you’re worried that someone is tracking your calls find a safe phone. Purchase your own prepaid mobile and keep it hidden. Or use a public phone or a friend’s landline phone. DV Safe Phone collects, repurposes and gifts mobile phones to victims of domestic violence (DV) through registered charities, safe houses and authorities serving this vulnerable community. Our Safe Phones are then provided as part of an individual's 'safe' or 'escape' plan' offering a lifeline to call for help when it is needed most.

Step-by-Step Guides

Available in 12 different languages.

eSafetyWomen - Step-by-Step Guides

The eSafetyWomen resources aim to help women to manage technology risks and abuse by giving them the tools they need to be confident when online.

The resources include safety checks and step-by-step guides on how to clear your browser, and make sure your social media and other accounts are secure.

If you are worried a partner or family member is monitoring your technology use, or tracking / following you with technology call 1800Respect on 1300 737 732 to get advice and a local service to help.

The eSafetyWomen resources aim to help women to manage technology risks and abuse by giving them the tools they need to be confident when online.

The resources include safety checks and step-by-step guides on how to clear your browser, and make sure your social media and other accounts are secure.