Electronic Safety

Technology can be a key tool in helping you find valuble resources, help and support. However, even though it is helpful, technology can also be used to monitor your activities without your consent. Awareness and education are the best methods of avoiding being monitored electronically. Below you will find helpful guides and hints detailing electronic threats and how you can best avoid them when seeking help.

When using a mobile phone

Mobile phones are easier to keep your privacy on than landline phones but there are a few things you should remember when using them to seek help.

• Call Records

Mobile phones usually keep a log of recent calls. If you've contacted an agency or resource that could put you at risk remember to delete this occurance from your phone's log, some phones will only allow you to clear the entire log instead of select entries, remember to be careful if this is the only option present on your phone as it could raise suspicion. Also be aware that many carriers will allow the owner of the account to recieve itemized bills listing the calls that were made on each phone. If the primary owner of the account recieving an itemized bill could put you at risk then try to gain access to another, more secure phone or ensure that they are not recieving this type of bill. You can also establish a code word with a close friend or other safe phone number that can be used to alert another person that you are in danger so that they may take the appropriate steps for you.

• Voicemail

Almost all phones feature voicemail, verbal messages can be left if the phone's owner is not able to answer the call. If you contact help or other resources and they return your calls with voicemail then remember to delete these messages after you've viewed them so that they can not be found by anyone who could put you at risk, also remember to set a strong PIN number on your voicemail account if the option is available to you. Your PIN number should not be a number easily guessed by someone who could put you at risk. Avoid using birthdays, social security numbers, lucky numbers or any other easily guessed numbers and remember to keep your PIN well hidden. If you must write it down then place it in your wallet, purse or another location that you are able to monitor well.

• Text Messages (SMS) and Picture Mail

Text messages (Also known as SMS messages) are often a safe mode of communication if they are available as some cellular providers will not release a log of text messages even to the primary account holder. If you are communicating with someone that will increase your risk or sharing sensitive information through text messages then remember to delete the messages that could put you at risk.

Many phones also feature picture mail, images that can be sent from one cellular phone to another. Avoid using this feature to share sensitive information if at all possible, especially if you are not the primary account holder. Many cellular providers allow the primary account holder to view the images from picture mail online and sometimes even allow access to the text contained within the message as well.

• Internet Access Through Mobile Phones

If your cellular plan includes data, or the ability to access the internet at no additional charge then it is advised to access the internet through your mobile phone. The information accessed online by mobile phones is much harder to track if you clear the internet history of the device after using it to access sensitive information. Most providers will not release logs of the sites accessed by the phone. However, remember to avoid internet access if your plan does not include it as this often incurs charges which could then raise suspicion or put you at risk.