Online Safety
For general tips on how to hide your tracks on this website, check our keeping yourself safe page
For someone experiencing domestic abuse, it can feel like every aspect of their world is controlled by the abuser – and the online world is no different. Although technology can help victims to access information and support, it can also provide abusers with even more ways to threaten and control. We now live our lives online more than ever, and simply advising individuals to remove themselves from social media sites isn’t enough.
Handy tips for your online safety:
Social networks
We want to empower women to access technology safely, not to cut themselves off. Why not create a new account with an obscure name, use a fake photo and information. Only add your most trusted friends. At the very least make sure that you and your friends have put on the highest privacy and security settings. Go through each option on your profile, privacy and security settings and use the ‘friends only’ or ‘only me’ settings’, turn off all apps linked to your account, and finally don’t allow people to tag you to keep you safe.
Passwords
Passwords are the biggest risk; abusers often get access to information because they know or guess a password.
Here are some top tips for passwords:
- Don’t use personal information
- Never reuse passwords
- Download a trusted password manager
- Include a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols
Remove spyware on mobile
Turn off all your geo-location services. Sync or back up your phone and do a factory reset. Reinstall your data and apps but be careful not to reinstall any ‘find your phone’ apps or any apps that you don’t recognise. Also make sure you change your password on your mobile phone account and the secret pin.
Useful links:
Specialist organisations working on tech safety:
- Chayn: DIY Online-Safety guide
- Refuge: tech abuse and safety resources
- EndTechAbuse.org resources
- Cyber safety plan and TechSafety’s quick tip
General guidance for survivors, friends and family:
- Technology safety and privacy: A Toolkit for Survivors
Links to social media privacy settings: