The computer (or laptop) is a ubiquitous item in most households. It sits in the corner for the kids to do their homework on or for us to check email and maybe pay a bill or two. At the office, it is the workhorse that we don’t even think about when we log in every morning and turn off each evening.

Computers can be a vulnerable technology that abusers can exploit to gain information about what a survivor is doing. While a computer may not be as intimate to us as a smartphone (yes, some of us sleep with our smartphones), it still contains a lot of personal information, from email accounts to web browsing activity, from filling out forms and documents to saving and storing important information. Whether you’re setting up a new computer or just reviewing your computer’s settings, here are some privacy and security tips.

The only way to completely prevent someone from accessing your computer is to keep it disconnected from the internet or other network (such as a home network even if it’s not connected to the Internet), and put a passcode on your computer so that only you can access your computer. If you are concerned that someone might be getting into your computer, and you’re comfortable with disconnecting it from the internet, this might be an option. For most people, however, disconnecting from the internet prevents them from doing what they need their computers to do…READ MORE