Hide my visit
Private website browsing
If you’re worried someone might be watching what you do online, don’t delete your whole browsing history as this could make them suspicious. Instead, open a private or incognito window to browse safely.
Private website browsing lets you look at websites without saving your history on the device you’re using. This means other people who use the same computer or phone won’t see what websites you have visited.
- Private browsing only hides activity on your device. Your internet provider, workplace, or the websites you visit can still see what you’re doing.
- You can still download files and save bookmarks, but they will stay on your device for others to see.
- Once you close all private browsing windows, temporary data from that session will be cleared.
Start private browsing
Here’s how to start a private website browsing session in common browsers.
To start a private browsing session, open a new “Incognito” or “InPrivate” window in your web browser. This mode prevents the browser from saving your browsing history, cookies, and other data, enhancing your privacy while online.
Google Chrome
Using the menu:
Click the three dots (More) in the top right corner of the browser window and select “New Incognito Window”.
Using a keyboard shortcut:
Press Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows/Linux) or Command+Shift+N (Mac).
Safari
Using the menu:
Click “File” in the menu bar and select “New Private Window”.
Firefox
Using the menu:
Click the three horizontal lines (Menu) in the top right corner and select “New Private Window”.
Using a keyboard shortcut:
Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Command+Shift+P (Mac).
Microsoft Edge
Using the menu:
Click the three dots (Settings and more) in the top right corner and select “New InPrivate window”.
Using a keyboard shortcut:
Press Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows/Linux) or Command+Shift+N (Mac).
Tips for keeping yourself safe online
Email security
If an abuser has access to your email account, they may be able to read your incoming and outgoing mail.
If an abuser sends you threatening or harassing email messages, they may be printed and saved as evidence of this abuse.
If you believe your account is secure, make sure you choose a password that an abuser will not be able to guess and change it often.
If you believe your email has already been used ore viewed by them and that changing the password may be risky, then set up a secondary email which you keep private.
Social media security
Social media can feel like a great way to stay connected, but it also poses its own risks.
Taking some precautions when using your social media can ensure you can enjoy the connection with friends, family and community, while still feeling safe.
If your profile is public, or if you comment/post on public pages, then your partner/ex-partner could use your posts, photos and interactions with others as a way to track your movements. Blocking the person may not be enough if you still have other mutual connections.
To help keep safe, be wary of what you post, including who is in photos or what can be seen in the background, and ensure that location services is turned off (managed through general settings). Increase your safety and privacy settings on apps to ensure only those people who you want can see your profile; be sure to recheck these settings often as app and phone updates can sometimes change settings back to default.