Consider who can access your device
Before searching or sending a message, consider whether another person can see your device, accounts, phone plan, or notifications. The Hotline warns that internet activity can be monitored and cannot be completely erased. Private or incognito browsing does not protect against every form of monitoring.
A quick-exit button changes what is on screen. It does not remove browser history, downloads, account activity, or records held elsewhere. Treat it as a convenience, not a privacy guarantee.
Choose a safer place to connect
The National Network to End Domestic Violence's Safety Net Project suggests considering a device the person monitoring you has not accessed, such as a trusted person's phone. A different device may help, but signing into an account that someone else can access may expose new activity.
Before contacting a provider, think about replies as well as the first message. Ask whether they can avoid voicemail, use a neutral message, or contact you only through an agreed channel. Appointment reminders, shared calendars, payment records, and email previews can reveal that you sought help.
Plan before making visible changes
Changing passwords, disconnecting shared accounts, or removing a tracker may alert someone who is monitoring you. Safety Net recommends considering how that person might respond before cutting off access. An advocate familiar with technology abuse can help you weigh options.
If saving notes or screenshots is useful, consider who could find them and whether collection itself could increase risk. Clearing records may also remove information you later want to keep. There is no single privacy step that is safest for everyone.
Share only what is needed
An initial inquiry usually does not require your full history. Ask what information is necessary and how it will be used. Read the site's current privacy explanation before submitting sensitive details; this guide does not establish how any particular website stores or shares data.
Sources & review
Public sources reviewed September 12, 2026. Details can change.
For education, not individualized advice. If you are in immediate danger, seek appropriate local emergency help when safe. You do not need a quiz score to ask for support.