• Traditional “corded” phones are more private than cell phones or cordless phones. You may not be able to reach 9-1-1 using an internet phone or internet-based phone service. You may need to be prepared to use another phone to call 9-1-1.
• If you use a cell phone, be aware there are numerous ways an abuser can use cell phone technology to overhear your calls or locate you. Use a cell phone only if you do not have access to a regular phone, and make sure that you do not give any identifying details on a cell phone. If your abuser works for a phone company or law enforcement agency, use extreme caution, and discuss cell phone safety with a domestic violence advocate.
• Do not use a cell phone that has been a gift from your abuser or is on the same account as your abuser’s phone. They can access logs of your calls and texts and even be able to locate you through the phone’s GPS (Global Positioning System) which is a location-finding feature. A cell phone in “silent mode” or “auto answer” can serve as a tracking device. If you are fleeing from your abuser, either turn off your cell phone or leave it behind.
• Wireless carriers are required to complete 9-1-1 calls, even when a phone is not activated. Any phone that turns on and receives a signal is capable of making 9-1-1 calls. NOTE: If the phone you’re using isn’t activated, (i.e., no phone number is assigned to it), and you’re disconnected from the 9-1-1 dispatch center, you must call 9-1-1 back.
• You can obtain a donated used cell phone from Hope Center in order to be able to call 9-1-1.

PHONE APPS FOR SAFETY

RUSafe is a free dangerous relationship assessment app for Apple or Android that invites the user to answer a series of questions about their relationship. The app then calculates the responses and, if there is cause for concern, it will enable the user to directly call the domestic violence hotline in their area. If the user is in immediate, lethal danger, they can call 9-1-1 directly from the app. RUSafe is based on the Danger Assessment developed by Jacquelyn C. Campbell, PhD, RN, FAAN of Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. The app was developed by the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh and Newton Consulting, who generously donated their time and services.

Click HERE for more information.

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New Mobile Apps May Increase Safety

The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association has announced two new apps for smartphones created by APPRISS called VINELink and MobilePatrol. Both apps are free and available through the Apple App Store and Google Play and can be downloaded on iPhone and Android devices.

VINELink enables users to track and be notified of the status of offenders in county correctional institutions and the PA State Prison System. VINELink is anonymous for users, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With the Vinemobile app, the user can obtain up-to-date offender status and search for offenders by first and last names or by age/gender. Individuals can register to receive notifications through phone, email, or text whenever an offender’s status changes. The app also provides access to PA’s victim services as well as other emergency numbers with a single tap. The system is also available online.

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The MobilePatrol app was created to increase community safety by enabling any concerned citizen to connect to important safety information, news, and critical alerts such as descriptions of an actor sought in a recent crime, weather alerts, or missing children alerts for any location of interest. In addition, the app can be used to report tips on suspected crimes and offenders. You can download the MobilePatrol app at https://apprisssafety.com/solutions/mobilepatrol/.

Information you have brought up on the internet (including this webpage) may be viewed by anyone who knows how to access your computer’s history or cache file. In order to prevent this tracking from happening, you should turn on private browsing and/or clear your browser’s history. This task can be done by accessing your internet browser settings. Since browsers are frequently updated, these instructions may change. They are current as of 7/1/2021.

PLEASE NOTE: Clearing web browser histories in this way will delete ALL histories of visited websites. If you are concerned that someone may be checking up on your internet usage, the absence of all files and history may appear suspicious. Instead of clearing your history every time you visit the webpage, you can use the instructions below to turn on private browsing before you visit the webpage. Additionally, other software programs are available that can track website visits.

Here is what to do:

Google Chrome

Private Browsing:

1. Use the keyboard combination “Ctrl + Shift + N” to open a “New Incognito Window”.

OR

1. Click on the “Customize and control Google Chrome” button in the upper right hand corner. It looks like 3 dots stacked on top of each other.
2. Select “New incognito window” from the drop down list.

Clear History:

1. Use the keyboard combination “Ctrl + H”.
2. Click on “Clear browsing data” on the left hand side of the screen.
3. Select “All time” from the dropdown menu after “Time Range”.
4. Click “CLEAR BROWSING DATA”.

OR

1. Click on the “Customize and control Google Chrome” button in the upper right hand corner. It looks like 3 dots stacked on top of each other.
2. Hover over “History”.
3. Click on “History” in the resulting drop-down menu.
4. Click on “Clear browsing data” on the left hand side of the screen.
5. Select “All time” from the dropdown menu after “Time Range”.
6. Click “CLEAR BROWSING DATA”.

Microsoft Edge

Private Browsing:

1. Use the keyboard combination “Ctrl + Shift + N”.

OR

1. Click the “Settings and more” button in the upper right hand corner. It looks like 3 dots.
2. Click on “New InPrivate window”.

Clear History:

1. Use the keyboard combination “Ctrl + H”.
2. Click the “More options” button in the upper right hand corner of the menu. It looks like 3 dots.
3. Click “Clear browsing data”.
4. Under “Time range” select “All Time”.
5. Click on “Clear now”.

OR

1. Click the “Settings and more” button in the upper right hand corner. It looks like 3 dots.
2. Select “History”.
3. Click the “More options” button in the upper right hand corner of the menu. It looks like 3 dots.
4. Click “Clear browsing data”.
5. Under “Time range” select “All Time”.
6. Click on “Clear now”.

Mozilla Firefox

Private Browsing:

1. Use the keyboard combination “Ctrl + Shift + P”.

OR

1. Click the “Open Menu” button in the upper right hand corner. It looks like 3 horizontal lines stacked on top of each other.
2. Click on “New Private Window”.

Clear History:

1. Click the “Open Application Menu” button in the upper right hand corner. It looks like 3 horizontal lines stacked on top of each other.
2. Click on “History”.
3. Click on “Clear Recent History”.
4. Select “Everything” from the dropdown menu after “Time range to clear:”
5. Verify that “Browsing & Download History” is checked.
6. Click on “OK”.

Internet Explorer

Private Browsing:

1. Use the keyboard combination “Ctrl + Shift + P”.

OR

1. Open the Tools menu in the upper left hand corner of the screen.
2. Select “InPrivate Browsing”.

Clear History:

1. Use the keyboard combination “Ctrl + Shift + Del”.
2. Check all of the checkboxes.
3. Click “Delete”.

OR

1. Open the Tools menu in the upper left hand corner of the screen.
2. Select “Delete Browsing History”.
3. Check all of the checkboxes.
4. Click “Delete”.

If you are using an older version of Internet Explorer or have issues with these directions, see Microsoft’s page about how to delete browsing history in Internet Explorer.

A Note About Using Internet Explorer: Microsoft has announced that users should switch to another browser by June 15, 2022.

If you are currently speaking to someone online and plan to meet them, understand the warning signs of an abuser. Abuse is about power and control, and abusers try to mask their efforts to control you, usually by explaining controlling behavior as simply a great desire to be with you. NOTE: Abusers may exhibit many other signs, and some signs are not apparent in the beginning of a relationship, but the following are common:

• Jealousy – Abusers are bothered when victims talk to someone else or go somewhere without them, even early on in relationships.
• Possessiveness – They want to know everything about their victims, what they do, and where they are, and abusers want to have a say in those things.
• Explosive temper – They can switch moods from fine to furious in seconds.
• Not wanting the victim to spend time with family or friends – Abusers will try to keep them away from people who care about them, who may recognize warning signs before they do, and who will validate their worth.
• Not allowing individuals to speak freely or have their own opinions – their opinion is always the “right” one.
• Telling victims what they can/cannot wear – Whether the abuser likes what others are wearing or not, they want to have the final say – or the only say – in what others wear.
• Not accepting “No” as a response – Not getting their way is not an option. At first the abuser may try to coax the victim to accept their point of view or idea, but later they may become violent if the victim says “No” to anything.

For more safety tips for being safe online and on your phone, please visit The National Network to End Domestic Violence’s Technology Safety Resources

Other Resources:

Understanding and Preventing Cyberbullying

Online Dating and Dating App Safety Tips | RAINN  

Online Dating Safety Tips | 8 First Date Tips for Women & Men | ADT