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It is not possible to completely clear the "tracks" of where you have been on the Internet.
If you have reason to believe that your computer is not secure,
you may want to find a computer in another location that your abuser cannot access.
Find your browser - then follow the step-by-step instructions.
If you don't know - most computers use Internet Explorer.
Firefox (The Best Internet Privacy Solution)
If you can, follow these recommendations to maximize your online privacy:
1. Use Firefox as your browser, not Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer leaves a trail of evidence in multiple places on the hard drive.
2. Uninstall any third-party "toolbars" and "extensions" like the Yahoo search bar. These all keep their own histories and this advice can't possibly cover how to clear all of them.
3. When you are ready to clear your history, go away from the site you want to be certain is forgotten.
4. Select the "Tools" menu, then "Options," then "Privacy." Click "Clear All" to remove evidence of your browsing.
There is no perfect solution -- professionals could still retrieve something -- but these steps provide very good privacy.
Internet Explorer
In Internet Explorer, follow these steps to erase your browsing history from the "history" window.
1. Make the following sequence of menu choices:
Tools -> Options -> Internet Options -> General
2. Click "Delete Files," then "OK."
3. Click "Delete Cookies," then "OK."
4. Click "Clear History," then "Yes."
Internet Explorer may also remember your form entries for you, which can result in past searches appearing in a drop-down box when typing in search keywords on your favorite search engine or similar. To erase this information, follow this sequence of menu choices:
Tools -> Internet Options -> Content -> AutoComplete -> Clear Forms
You can also clear the "Forms" checkbox to prevent the program from trying to recall your form selections for you in the future.
America Online
The America Online browser is based on Microsoft Internet Explorer. In addition to the information above, here are specific steps to clear your AOL browsing history:
1. Select "settings" from the set of buttons at the top of the AOL window.
2. Select "preferences."
3. Select "toolbar and sounds."
4. Select "clear history trail now."
Other Browsers
Other browsers offer similar functions; investigate their menus thoroughly. These techniques prevent other users of the machine from accidentally or casually discovering your browsing habits. Professionals could still find traces, by examining deleted but not yet reused files on your hard disk, for example.