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| == Are You Keeping Your Family Safe Online Over the Festive Sea ==
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| Are You Keeping Your Family Safe Online Over the Festive Season?<br><br>The festive season is upon us. It's a time where we all take a little time off work, eat, drink, watch a film and do a little leisurely surfing online.
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| And that time to ourselves can also present a danger. We're not the only ones with time on our hands - so do others with less innocent intentions.
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| The pitfalls of a social web
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| Our children, and family at large need to keep safe while online. Do you know who your son or daughter is chatting with online? Do they even know? And how about your girlfriend, wife or husband? How do you know whether the hours that they while away staring into a computer screen are entirely innocent?It's a fact of life that social networking, with all the good it has brought society, can present a challenge to family life.
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| It is estimated by The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that one million paedophiles are online daily. During the holiday season, when people are spending extended time at home, this figure dramatically increases.
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| Likewise, social networking activity rockets. More people get back in touch with old flames at this time of year than any other. Relationships blossom, regardless of whether both parties are already attached. The presence of abundant alcohol in the home can instil an increase sense of adventure, making it more likely that potential situations will escalate more quickly.
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| Nip potential online problems in the bud
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| Most potential dangers online can be nipped in the bud, so long as you have knowledge of the situation before it develops. Wouldn't you rather know about a potential threat before it gets out of control?Luckily there are simple steps you can take to keep your family safe.
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| Monitor internet usage closely, and don't allow children to go online in their bedrooms where they may feel less inhibited and more willing to be adventurous. Remember that most modern games consoles have online social elements. Make sure they know they can ask you questions and stay open and honest about the dangers of talking to strangers online.
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| Online monitoring software is a simple solution that you can implement right away. There are many programs on the market that, once installed on your home computer, will record activity and provide you with clear usage reports. See every chat conversation and email exchange that occurs on your computer to keep yourself in the loop.
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| You can tell your family about the monitoring the help prevent misuse, or you can run it in stealth mode and pick up potential problems before they get out of hand.
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| Stay aware and stay informed
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| Above all, watch for changes of behavior in your loved ones. Increased secrecy is always reason for concern. Be quick to act on suspicion, keep communication open and keep yourself informed.
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