Some people may not consider Internet cheating to be true cheating because it doesn't involve physical contact. However, the Mayo Clinic says that an affair can be described as an interaction that causes one partner to experience a strong sexual attraction and emotional connection to a person who's not his partner. It also mentions that an affair--virtual or not--involves one partner keeping a side relationship a secret by resorting to lies and deception. Although secrecy can make Internet cheating more difficult to uncover, some telltale warning signs may hasten revealing the truth.
Password Protection
If your partner's career requires him to keep work information under wraps, you'd understand why he would hide his documents and online account from you. However, if he just uses the computer at home for recreation, and he puts in the extra effort to prevent you or anyone else from accessing his online information, you may have a reason to be concerned.
Excess Time Online
If your partner is suddenly like a teenager, skipping family meals because she's glued to an instant messaging system, and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when the Internet needs to be fixed, you may have a right to be concerned. If she gets up in the middle of the night after the family's asleep, and you find her sitting in the office with the glow of the computer illuminating her face, you have a right to question her suspicious behavior.
Distance
According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, 52 percent of cybersex users lose their interest in relational sex. Your partner may not only lose interest in having sex, but also make consistent excuses to spend time alone, demand extra privacy and seem to experience distress in your relationship.
Cleared Search History
If your partner clears his Internet search history beyond the occasional clearing out temporary files to make the computer run faster, he doesn't want you to know what he's accessing online. Before you immediately jump to a conclusion that he's cheating, consider whether he may be trying to set up a special trip or buy you a gift for an upcoming holiday. If you can't come up with any other reason why he might be trying to get rid of information, ask him what he's up to.
Shielding Your View
If your partner turns the screen away from your view when you're in the room, she may be doing it so that she has extra time to change the image when you approach her. If she seems startled and turns the computer off when you enter a room, she's up to something.
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