Safe Internet Use
If you feel unsafe in your household or in your relationship, this safe internet use information may help you keep yourself, your family, and your information safe.
Escape Button
Many websites that have information about domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking have a “quick escape” or “leave this website” button at the top of their webpages. These buttons or messages allow someone to quickly leave the website if they are concerned that it could be an issue should someone know that they are seeking this kind of information.
This button is helpful only if someone is watching over your shoulder or enters a room and you need to quickly switch to another website. It will not prevent the other person from going through your browser history or from knowing you were on that website if they are monitoring your device or internet activity remotely.
Internet Safety Tips
To minimize the chances of someone knowing that you are researching information about domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, follow these tips.
If you think your devices or internet search activities are being monitored, access this information from a device that isn’t being monitored. That should be a device that the person does not or has not had physical or remote access. This is the safest thing to do if you don’t want someone to know that you are visiting these websites.
Sign out of other accounts, such as Google or Facebook, before visiting these sites.
Use your internet browser settings to increase your privacy, such as turning off browsing history or using the browser’s in-private mode. To browse privately:
- Chrome: under Menu, click New Incognito Window
- Firefox: under Menu, click New Private Window
- Internet Explorer: under Safety Menu, click InPrivate Browsing
- Safari: under File, click New Private Window
To stop someone from seeing where you have been on the Internet, victims can clear their browsing history:
- Chrome: under Menu, click History and recent tabs > History > Clear browsing data
- Firefox: open a new tab and click the gear icon, click Clear browsing history
- Internet Explorer: under Tools, click Safety > Delete browsing history
- Safari: under the Safari menu, click Clear History and Website Data
If you are in immediate danger, call 911
You can also contact a local victim service program in Montana, or one of the National Hotlines below. If you want more information, click on their names to go to their associated Web sites.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) OR TTY: 1-800-787-3224
- National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
Safety Planning
"Safety planning" refers to making a personal plan to try to stay safe while in an abusive relationship, or when planning to leave, or after leaving that relationship.
Each person’s safety plan is unique. A safety plan might involve:
- Getting things ready to be able to leave quickly, such as making a "go bag."
- Having “safe words” to alert other people when you are in danger or to tell them to go somewhere safe.
- Asking friends and family for help.
- Hiring a lawyer.
- And more.
More Safety Planning information is available from the National Domestic Violence Hotline website.
