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Ronald W. Nelson PA
kansas-divorce.com privacy policy The Law Offices of RONALD W NELSON, PA take safety seriously. We have compiled the following recommendations on internet safety for persons concerned about their personal safety inside or outside their homes. Your safety is our primary concern.
If you think your online activities are monitored, you are probably right.
Abusive and overbearing people often seek “control” and they frequently want to know everything their partner is doing – everything. Be aware of the following safety issues and related measures to protect yourself from having online – or offline – computer activity monitored.
Computers store large amounts of private information, including the websites accessed, emails and instant messaging (IMs), internet-based telephone, IP-TTY calls, online purchases, and many other activities. Much of this information is stored on the computer itself and it is very easy to find out what anyone else using the computer has done.
In addition to information automatically stored on a computer, abusive and controlling people often use computer programs or other devices to monitor computer usage, such as “keystroke loggers,” “spyware” programs, and other “hacking” tools.
Spyware has become sophisticated, so it's often difficult to know it is installed on a computer. You should be suspicious if your partner seems to know information that you have only communicated online or if your partner unexpectedly “appears” at a location where you planned to be.
1. If you think your computer activities are monitored, be very careful how you use your computer. Do not delete the spyware; that action may let your partner find out that you know of the computer monitoring and you may be in greater danger. In addition, the existence of spyware may be useful as evidence in court.
2. Clear your computer and browser history and empty your computer and browser “cache” file (see below). It is not possible to delete all “footprints” of your computer or online activity, but this action will limit the available information.
3. Be aware that if your computer or online activity is monitored, any sudden change in your computer use – including deletion of computer or internet history -- may be dangerous.
4. Some browsers have privacy protections built in. If the browser you use has privacy protections use them. If your browser does not, you may want to download a brower that does have privacy protections, such as Apple Safari 4.0 or higher, Firefox 3.5 or higher, Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 or higher and some others. The “Privacy Mode” in these browsers allows a user to browse the internet without leaving data trails on their computer. When Privacy Mode is active, data trails are cleaned or cleared or never created.
5. You may want to keep using the monitored computer for non-private activities, such as looking up the weather or daily news; but you should make sure that you use a secure computer (at work, a library, or cyber café) to research an escape plan, look for a new job, residence, communicate with lawyers, or ask for help from others.
6. Unless you are using secure email at a secure or public computer with an email account that only you know about, it is not safe to send emails that include your concerns for your safety to others or communicate with lawyers or others. Instant messaging and text messaging are not safe and are not confidential ways to communicate about the danger you perceive. We strongly recommend that anyone communicating with us do so by secure email or other secure form of electronic or physical communication.
We recommend that anyone desiring to communicate with Ronald W Nelson PA use either a secure email site (such as Hushmail) or an encryption program for email, such as OpenPGP®, Verisign®, Thawte® personal email certificates, or other encryption method, which protects your privacy and the privacy of information provided.
7. If you use email or IM, please use a safer computer and an account your abuser does not know about. If you believe your account is secure, make sure that you use a password that only you know and that no one else can “guess.” If you receive threatening or harassing emails, text messages or instant messages, save those communications in their original format and print paper copies of them so that you have evidence of them. Save them in a secure place that is not accessible to your partner.
* You may clear your history or empty your cache file in your browser's settings:
History / Cache file: If an abuser knows how to read your computer's history or cache file (automatically saved web pages and graphics), they may be able to see information you have viewed recently on the internet.
Internet Explorer: Pull down Tools menu, select Internet Options. On General page, under Temporary Internet Files , click on "Delete Files." Under History click on "Clear History."
AOL: Pull down Members menu, select Preferences. Click on WWW icon. Then select Advanced. Purge Cache.
*This information may not completely hide your tracks. Many browser types have features that display recently visited sites. The safest way to find information on the Internet would be at a local library, a friend's house, or at work. Tips compiled from various sources, including the National Network to End Domestic Violence: www.nnedv.org
Sending an email inquiry to Ronald W. Nelson, PA does not create any attorney-client relationship and does not obligate Ronald W. Nelson, PA to protect the confidentiality of any information contained in that communication. The communication of any information by Email is public information unless an attorney-client relationship has been established by written attorney-client contract.
Attorneys have always been, and continue to be, governed by strict confidentiality standards that are much more stringent than any standards required of any other profession or any other entity, whether by state of federal law. Notwithstanding this fact and notwithstanding the fact that we fully comply with those standards and strictly protect the privacy and confidentiality of our clients information, federal requirements require that some businesses that provide “financial services” must give customers notice of the types of information gathered, the purposes that information is gathered, and the circumstances under which that information will or may be disclosed to third parties.
The information on this web site is only about the laws of the State of Kansas. Although other States’ laws are referenced and although other States’ laws may be similar to those of Kansas, they are not the same. You should never rely solely upon the information provided on this or any other website about the law without talking with a lawyer to confirm how the law applies to your particular situation. Family law is highly fact specific and results depend completely on the particular facts presented to the court. Family law is not “black-and-white” and although the courts are governed by Kansas law and appellate court decisions, the law provides only very broad outlines about what a court must – or may – do. You should always seek and obtain professional legal advice before you determine the applicability of any particular law to a specific situation.
Ronald W. Nelson, PA is a Kansas law firm. Its offices are located in the State of Kansas and its lawyers are licensed to practice only in the State of Kansas. The lawyers of Ronald W. Nelson, PA cannot advise you about any rights you may have under the laws of any other state or country and cannot represent clients in the courts of any other State or country without associating local counsel in that other place.
The State of Kansas does not recognize specialties in the practice of law. The designation of emphasis in practice on domestic relations law is not intended to imply that the lawyers with Ronald W. Nelson, PA have any specialty license. |
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Last updated 08/12/2009 |
