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Using this site safely

While you are using this site

If you are concerned that someone else may come into the room while you are visiting this site, and you do not want them to see what you are looking at, the quickest way to hide the site is usually just to close the window.

It might be a good idea to remind yourself now of the keyboard command used to do this on your computer:

Windows: 'ALT' key and 'F4'
Apple Macintosh: 'Apple' key and 'W'

You could also open another browser window and leave it open at another website, placing it behind the window you are currently using (this site). This way, if you have to quickly close the main window, you will not be left looking at a blank screen.

After visiting

It is possible for people who share your computer to see which web pages you have visited. This is usually as easy as looking in the 'History' menu of the web browser. The browser also stores this information elsewhere on your computer, and anyone who knows where to look may be able to see which sites you have visited.

You can tell your computer to delete this information by following these steps described below.

Please note: You cannot be completely sure that this will be successful. It may still be possible for someone to work out which sites you have visited. The safest thing to do may be to access this site from a safe place, such as a library, Internet cafe, or a friend's house.

The steps described are for Microsoft Internet Explorer. Many other browser programs are available, and they should allow to delete this information in a similar way.

Windows

Go to the 'Tools' menu, and choose 'Internet Options...'
Click on the 'General' tab at the top of the Internet options window.
Click the 'Delete' button under 'Browsing history' and choose which files you want to delete. The most important ones in this context are the 'Temporary Internet Files' and 'History' files. Click the 'delete' buttons next to 'Temporary Internet Files' and 'History'
Click 'yes' when IE asks you whether you are sure
Click 'Close' and 'OK' to close the Internet Options menu.
Exit the program.