Staying safe on-line

Monitoring, harassing and stalking behaviours have always been part of domestic abuse. Modern technology has provided new, simpler, means to enable this behaviour to continue. Mobile phones, social media platforms, and apps are all developing so quickly that it can often feel difficult to know how to keep yourself safe online. Here are a few ideas that can help you.

Changing passwords to accounts such as emails / social media / icloud etc so these cannot be accessed. Think about a password made up of 3 generic words rather than anything personal that the abuser may guess.
Don’t answer calls from withheld numbers
Block or change numbers (only when it is safe to do so) on the advice of your domestic abuse support provider.
Turn off location services such as ‘find my iPhone’ on smart phones
Ensure that location services are also not activated on apps – for example facebook attaches a location to posts
Delete and/or block your abusive partner on social media sites and don’t add anyone unknown. If safe to do so, your DA support will be able to advise.
Ensure your social media sites are managed safely; for example changing your facebook settings so you can’t be found by using the search function/setting up new accounts which you only give to safe friends or family
Cover cameras on tablets/computers/phones in case perpetrators are able to hack them.
If you’ve experienced abuse through your phones/tablets the safest option is to get a new device.
If you can’t afford a new device, you can restore the device to factory settings. Going in store to your provider can help you with this to check it’s done correctly.
Get screenshots to keep a log of any threats occurring through social media where safe to do so.

Please see below link for guidance to stay safe on-line.

Digital_Stalking_LEAFLET.pdf (womensaid.org.uk)

Cover your tracks online - Women’s Aid (womensaid.org.uk)

Digital domestic abuse | Norfolk Constabulary

How to hide this visit from your web history | Norfolk Constabulary