cover your tracks
If you're worried about someone knowing you have visited this website please read the following safety information.
Please note, the information below may not completely cover your tracks. If you want to be completely sure of not being tracked online, the safest way would be to access the internet at a local library, school, college or at a friend's house.
Many browsers now have "private browsing" that won't keep a record of your browsing activity. If you can, turn on "private browsing" each time before you start using the internet.
Websites that you have visited are stored on your computer as 'temporary internet files' and 'cookies'.
How do I know which browser I'm using?
If you know what browser you are using, then skip to the relevant instructions below. If you do not know the type of browser you are using, click on Help on the toolbar at the top of the browser screen. A drop down menu will appear, the last entry will say About Internet Explorer, About Firefox, or something similar. The entry shows which browser type you are using and you can then check the relevant instructions below.
Internet Explorer
On the top menu bar, click on the Tools menu and select Internet Options. In the General tab, under Browsing History, select the Delete... button.
Either select and delete each section: Temporary internet files; Cookies, History; Forms data and Passwords; or select the Delete all... button at the bottom to clear everything.
To turn on private browsing: Click on Tools and select InPrivate Browsing.
Firefox
On the top menu bar, click on History and Clear Recent History...
From here, you can select Browsing & Download History, Cookies, Cache and Offline Website Data.
To turn on private browsing: Click on File and select New Private Window.
Safari
On the top menu bar, click History and select Clear History.
To turn on private browsing: Click on Safari and select Private Browsing.
Google Chrome
Click on the menu icon, (), which is usually near the top right of the screen.
Select History and recent tabs and then History. From this window, click on Clear browsing data.
To turn on private browsing: Click on the menu icon, (), and select New incognito window.
Opera and other browsers
There are many browsers on the market, so it is always advisable to search for advice on your own browser if it is not listed here.
How to clear cookies from your iPhone
Launch the Settings app from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad. Scroll down and tap on Safari. Scroll down and tap on Clear Cookies and Data.
E-mail
Any email you send will be stored in your Sent Items folder. Go to sent items and delete emails you don't want a person to see. If you started an email but didn't finish it, it might be in your drafts folder. Go to the draft folder to delete it.
If you reply to any email, the original message will probably be in the body of the message - delete the email if you don't want anyone to see your original message.
Remember that you also have to delete the items from the Deleted Items folder to remove them completely.
If there's a risk that someone may know how to access your emails, it's a good idea to set up a new email account. Use a provider like Hotmail or Yahoo for an account you can access from anywhere, and use a name that is not recognisable as you. Keep this email secret.
Toolbars
Toolbars, such as Google, keep a record of the search words you have typed into the toolbar search box. In order to erase all the search words you have typed in, you will need to check the individual instructions for each type of toolbar. For example, for the Google toolbar all you need to do is click on the Google icon, and choose "Clear Search History".
Please note, the information below may not completely cover your tracks. If you want to be completely sure of not being tracked online, the safest way would be to access the internet at a local library, school, college or at a friend's house.
Many browsers now have "private browsing" that won't keep a record of your browsing activity. If you can, turn on "private browsing" each time before you start using the internet.
Websites that you have visited are stored on your computer as 'temporary internet files' and 'cookies'.
How do I know which browser I'm using?
If you know what browser you are using, then skip to the relevant instructions below. If you do not know the type of browser you are using, click on Help on the toolbar at the top of the browser screen. A drop down menu will appear, the last entry will say About Internet Explorer, About Firefox, or something similar. The entry shows which browser type you are using and you can then check the relevant instructions below.
Internet Explorer
On the top menu bar, click on the Tools menu and select Internet Options. In the General tab, under Browsing History, select the Delete... button.
Either select and delete each section: Temporary internet files; Cookies, History; Forms data and Passwords; or select the Delete all... button at the bottom to clear everything.
To turn on private browsing: Click on Tools and select InPrivate Browsing.
Firefox
On the top menu bar, click on History and Clear Recent History...
From here, you can select Browsing & Download History, Cookies, Cache and Offline Website Data.
To turn on private browsing: Click on File and select New Private Window.
Safari
On the top menu bar, click History and select Clear History.
To turn on private browsing: Click on Safari and select Private Browsing.
Google Chrome
Click on the menu icon, (), which is usually near the top right of the screen.
Select History and recent tabs and then History. From this window, click on Clear browsing data.
To turn on private browsing: Click on the menu icon, (), and select New incognito window.
Opera and other browsers
There are many browsers on the market, so it is always advisable to search for advice on your own browser if it is not listed here.
How to clear cookies from your iPhone
Launch the Settings app from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad. Scroll down and tap on Safari. Scroll down and tap on Clear Cookies and Data.
Any email you send will be stored in your Sent Items folder. Go to sent items and delete emails you don't want a person to see. If you started an email but didn't finish it, it might be in your drafts folder. Go to the draft folder to delete it.
If you reply to any email, the original message will probably be in the body of the message - delete the email if you don't want anyone to see your original message.
Remember that you also have to delete the items from the Deleted Items folder to remove them completely.
If there's a risk that someone may know how to access your emails, it's a good idea to set up a new email account. Use a provider like Hotmail or Yahoo for an account you can access from anywhere, and use a name that is not recognisable as you. Keep this email secret.
Toolbars
Toolbars, such as Google, keep a record of the search words you have typed into the toolbar search box. In order to erase all the search words you have typed in, you will need to check the individual instructions for each type of toolbar. For example, for the Google toolbar all you need to do is click on the Google icon, and choose "Clear Search History".