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Tips to browse safely online

Here you'll find some basic tips to protect your privacy and reduce the ability for people to see what you do online.

The 'Close this site' button

Some pages on this website include a 'Close this site' button. Use this button to quickly hide what you are looking at. You might find this helpful if someone comes into the room or looks over your shoulder and you don't want them to know what you've been looking at.

When you use the 'Close this site' button, it immediately closes this website and opens the Google search page in a new window.

You can also quickly close this site by using the ESC button on your computer keyboard. It immediately closes this website and opens the Google search page in a new window.

The 'Close this site' function doesn't delete your browser history. This means that if someone checks your browser history on your computer or mobile device, they will be able to see everything you looked at on our website.

Clear your browsing history regularly

Web browsers keep track of your online activity through your browser history, cookies and caching. This is so you can find websites you've visited before, but it also means other people can see this data.

To protect your privacy, it's a good idea to clear your browsing history regularly. You can choose to delete everything or only some things.

Find out how to clear your browsing history in:

  • Internet Explorer
  • Google Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Safari
  • Safari on iPhones or iPads.

For other browsers and devices, check the provider's website.

Use private browsing

Private browsing is an easy way to hide your browsing habits. If enabled, when you close your browser, all browsing history and stored cookies from future browsing sessions will automatically disappear.

However, the sites you visited during your current browsing session will record your browsing activity. Your internet service provider will also record this information. Any files you download using private browsing won't be deleted, so other people can access them if they use your device.

Find out how to enable private browsing in:

  • Internet Explorer
    • In the 'Tools' menu (the cog icon on top right of the browser window), select 'Safety', then 'InPrivate Browsing'.
  • Google Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Safari
  • Safari on iPhones or iPads.

For other browsers and devices, check the provider's website.

Accounts and passwords

Don't let your browser auto-save your passwords. While the auto-save function may be convenient, it gives anyone who uses your device access to your accounts.

When you are using an account with a password (e.g. your social media or email account), always log out before leaving the website.

Using other computers and devices

If you are worried about someone looking at your internet use, consider using a computer or device that they can't access.

This might be a computer at your local library, your work computer, or a family or friend's device. But again, don't auto-save any passwords and make sure you log out of your accounts when you've finished using the computer.

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

This advice is from "Tips to browse safely online" by The State of Queensland.
The content is licensed under the CC BY 4.0 license.
© The State of Queensland 2024.
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Criminal law services frozen at 13 Local Courts

15 May 2023

We have been forced to freeze criminal law services at 13 Local Courts across NSW due to a workload crisis caused by inadequate government funding.

Beginning from Monday 15 May 2023, the ALS is unable to act for people facing new criminal charges at the following Local Courts:

  • Byron Bay
  • Eden
  • Forster
  • Junee
  • Lithgow
  • Moss Vale
  • Muswellbrook
  • Scone
  • Singleton
  • Temora
  • Tenterfield
  • West Wyalong
  • Wauchope

The ALS has contacted all current clients with criminal law matters in these courts.

If you have a new criminal charge in one of these courts after today, please call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529 for legal help. 

If you are unable to access support through LawAccess NSW, please contact your nearest ALS office or call us on 1800 765 767. We will not be able to represent you in court, but we may be able to help refer you onto another legal provider.

 


Q&A

Why is the ALS freezing some services?

Demand for our services has almost doubled since 2018 but our core Federal Government funding has decreased in real terms. This means we are being pushed harder than ever before.

We are dedicated to maintaining high quality, culturally safe legal services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – the services that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people expect and deserve.

This is only possible when we prioritise the physical and mental health of our teams so they can do their best work for community. Right now our teams are stretched and without an emergency support package from government, we are unable to continue the fight for community at the current pace.

 

How long will the freeze last?

This is really up to government. We are not freezing services as a tactic - we are doing it because we have no other choice. Our hope is that government comes through with the crisis funding we need, and these service freezes are minimal and temporary.

While we welcome a recent $21 million government funding increase, it's simply not enough. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services across Australia are all facing the same workload crisis, and together, we requested a $250 million emergency support package from the government in order to prevent or reverse freezes to our services.

 

I am an ALS client. Does this service freeze affect my case?

At this time, the ALS is only freezing criminal law services in the 13 Local Courts listed above. If you are being represented by the ALS in another court, this service freeze does not currently affect you.

We are not freezing any child protection or family law services at this time. If you have a family law or care and protection matter being heard in one of the courts listed above, it is still going ahead as planned.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call your local ALS office and ask to speak with your solicitor.

 


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Warning: This website may contain images and names of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have passed away.