How to hide this visit from your web history

If you’re worried about someone knowing that you’ve visited our website, find out below how you can remove traces of your visit, these are called cache files. This includes files, scripts, images, and other multimedia stored on your device after opening an app or visiting a website.

You can clear your browser history (an application used to access and view websites, for example, Google Chrome, Safari and Internet Explorer) by following the steps below. We’ve also included advice on what to do if you’re receiving threatening or abusive emails.

Clear your browser history

It's possible for someone to see the websites you’ve visited by looking through your web browser’s history on a computer or mobile device. Clearing the history, and emptying the cache file of saved information can be done in a few steps.

Google Chrome

Android mobile - follow the steps below to clear your history:

• open the Chrome app
• at the top right, tap ‘...’
• click ‘History’
• tap ‘Clear browsing data…’
• next to ‘Time range’ select how much history you want to delete
• check ‘Browsing ’ Check any other data you want to delete
• tap ‘Clear data’

IOS mobile – follow the steps below to clear your history:

• open the Chrome app
• click ‘…’
• select ‘History’
• click ‘Clear browsing data’
• next to ‘Time range’ select how much
• history you want to delete
• click ‘Clear browsing data’

Windows computer – follow the steps below to clear your history:

• open Chrome
• click ‘…’ top right of browser
• select ‘More tools’
• ‘More Settings’
• Click ‘Clear browsing data’
• choose a time range, such as last 24 hours or last 7 days
• select the types of information you want to remove
• click 'Clear data'

Mac - follow the steps below to clear your history:

• Open Chrome
• Click ‘…’ top right
• Select ‘ History’
• Click ‘Clear browsing data’
• choose a time range, such as last 24 hours or last 7 days
• select the types of information you want to remove
• click 'Clear data'

Incognito browsing

In Incognito, none of your browsing history, cookies and site data, or information entered in forms are saved on your device. This means your activity doesn't show up in your Chrome browser history, so people who also use your device won't see your activity.

To use incognito browsing:

• Open Chrome
• click ‘…’
• select ‘New incognito window/tab’

Safari

Mac – follow the steps below to clear your history:

• open Safari
• click on ‘History’ in toolbar
• select ‘Clear History…’
• choose a time range, such as the last hour, today or all history
• click 'Clear History'

IOS – follow the steps below to clear your history:

• open Safari
• select book icon from bottom menu
• press ‘clear’

Internet Explorer

If you’re using Internet Explorer on a computer, follow the steps below to clear your history:

• click on the Tools menu (in the row at the top of the browser)
• select Internet Options from the drop down menu; you should now be on a tab that says 'General' – if not, select 'General'; under the title, 'Temporary Internet Files'
• click on 'Delete Files'. You can also check the box that says 'delete all offline content'
• then, under 'History' click on 'Clear History'

then click OK, at the bottom

Firefox

If you’re using Firefox on a computer, follow the steps below to clear your history:

• click the menu button, choose 'History', and then 'Clear Recent History'
• select how much history you want to clear: click the drop-down menu next to 'Time Range' to choose how much of your history Firefox will clear
• finally, click 'Clear Now'

Email abuse

If you are using a shared computer, or if someone has access to your computer, they may be able to read your incoming and outgoing mail. To ensure your account is secure, always log out after use and choose a password that others won’t be able to guess. On your mobile, use facial recognition, which is a hard-to-break layer of security, along with a secure pin code. You may wish to use the internet to access your emails, instead of downloading an email app, just remember to log out after every use.

If someone sends you threatening or harassing email messages, this can be reported as domestic abuse or a hate crime. Please print and save the emails as evidence and get in touch in one of these ways:

• call our non-emergency number 101; if you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service on 18001 101
• visit your local police station (search below to find a station)