Tech Safety Tips for Domestic Violence Victims

Tech devices such as phones and computers are vital in one’s life, but they can also easily make you vulnerable to abuse. Being a victim of domestic violence is not somebody’s fault, but one must take the necessary measures to prevent the abuse from ever happening again.

Using a VPN is an effective method of preventing tech-triggered domestic violence by boosting email, browser, and IoT security. However, there are other ways you can use it. In this article, we look at the best and most effective tips to help you stay safe when using a tech device and reduce the chances of abuse. They include:

1. Only Use Trusted Devices

You need to trust your device to use it safely, even for vital duties such as making bank transactions. A smartphone can seem very secure, especially when it has a password. However, if there are people who know the password, then you can’t consider that device safe to use. Why? A significant percentage of domestic violence victims got attacked after trusting close friends or relatives with their devices. So, anyone can be compromised by your abuser to disclose sensitive personal information like passwords and PINs.

If other people use your smartphone or computer, then there are high chances that an abuser can use that as an opportunity to plant tracking spyware in that device. That way, he/she can always track the device’s location hence leaving you vulnerable to unexpected attacks.

Unfortunately, most spyware apps can remain invisible for several years after the attacker has installed them. So, if you suspect that someone installed spyware on your phone, the best thing to do is to restore its factory settings. Doing so gets rid of the spyware and restores your device to a healthy, secure state. After resetting the device to its factory settings, set up a stronger password, and don’t share it with anyone.

2. Secure Your Most Crucial Information Data and Files

If you are using a secure device, then it is easy to trust it with essential files and information. However, you can’t be sure of the safety of your files after your abuser has corrupted your smartphone or computer, leaving crucial data at risk. So, ensure you back up information, files, and data in online storage accounts such as Dropbox and Spideroak. These accounts allow you to store a lot of data, making it a perfect option to back up vital files. Also, secure the storage account with a strong password to increase the security of the files and data.

Two-factor authentication is another effective method of securing online storage accounts. Using this method enables you to receive a confirmation text or call every time you or someone else tries to access the account. That way, you can know when someone else is trying to access your information and change the account’s password accordingly. However, if you don’t trust your smartphone, then avoid using two-factor authentication. It’s because some attackers tamper with a device in a way that they get the confirmation texts as well.

3. Protect Communications from Surveillance

Communication with friends and family or with workmates is vital. However, your abuser can attack your smartphone and tamper with communications or even use the most private messages to extort money from you or your close friends and family.

The best way to prevent attackers from accessing your communication is by using encryption. Communication apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Viber have easy-to-use encryption features. So, activating these encryption features will enable you to communicate safely. Even if the abuser manages to tap your communications, they won’t be able to make sense out of it.

There are many methods you can use to avoid being a victim of domestic violence. Discussed above are the major and most effective tips that you can use to protect yourself from further abuse. So, follow them consistently to help boost security when using your smartphone and other tech devices.