The internet is changing fast – and not always for the better – because for children the dangers it presents are just as real as the opportunities to learn and make friendships.

And unless we take the chance we have now to make the internet safer, we will fall even further behind the criminals who are taking advantage of the industry’s slowness to act.

As you read this there are millions of illegal images of child abuse in circulation online. Children are visiting social networking sites that have no effective control over their content. And with more and more public WiFi zones plus web-enabled mobile phones, access to dangerous content has never been easier.

But together we can make the net safer – please sign our Safety.Net petition now.

The new UK Council for Child Internet Safety is deciding how to make the internet and mobile phones safer for children – and we have the chance to influence it by petitioning the Prime Minister directly on six key issues.

Stop the use of software for private sharing of child abuse images

Block children’s mobile phone access to adult content

Ensure social networking sites protect young users by proactively reviewing and removing offensive/illegal content

Pre-install child safety software on all computer and mobile web devices

Make therapeutic services available for children who have been abused and had pictures and films of the abuse appear on the internet

Provide specialist training for professionals who deal with online offenders The NSPCC has influenced policy in the past with your help and we can, and must, do so again today.

Please sign the Safety.Net petition now and make the net a safer place for children.

Thank you.

Christine Wood
Relationship Manager

Tags: Charities, Child Abuse, child protection, Child Safety, Home Electricals and Computers, Internet Crime, Internet Security, NSPCC

Sourced from http://www.mcafee-downloads.co.uk

Protecting yourself against Internet crime and identity theft is critically important to a successful Internet experience. It is very important to keep your firewall and Web browser up-to-date. However, it is also important to report Internet crimes to the proper authorities in order to prevent identity theft and computer hacking from spiralling out of control. There are several different Internet crime prevention programs already in place – take the time to contact them if you have become a victim of online theft.

If you become a victim – or know of someone who has become a victim – of online theft, report the incident immediately. In the event of a suspected pedophilia or online stalking complaint, reporting a suspected crime can launch a police or government investigation.

By reporting organized software piracy, improper marketing to children, or general identity theft, your reporting can lead to the reporting of statistics used to enact important legislation. Reporting of crimes also helps raise awareness in your neighbourhood and community, and also allows officials to take action to keep the event from happening again.

If you become the victim of a virus, spyware, hacking, phishing scams, spam, or consumer fraud, the authorities in charge of investigating these crimes may use your information as part of their investigation. As a result of law officials’ investigations, the identity of hackers and thieves becomes much easier. This will help prevent new scams and spot new fraud trends. These reports can also be used in court if you decide to take legal action against the violators of your computer’s security.

Preventing Your Computer From Becoming a Target

Hacking, viruses, spyware, phishing scams, and spam can lead to identity theft and other serious crimes. It’s easy to help stop criminals before they even start. Here are several suggestions on how deal with online theft if you become a target.

• If you notice that your computer has become hacked or infected by a virus, disconnect from the Internet immediately. Install updated anti-virus software and update your firewall if necessary. McAfee has several solutions to help protect your computer – consider using them.
• If you become the victim of online crime, report the incident immediately to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Be sure to file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• If spyware appears on your computer, report the incident via the FTC’s Consumer Complaint Form. Once again, McAfee has a software solution that will enable you to prevent and get rid of spyware from your computer.
• If you believe that you have become the victim of ‘phishing’ e-mails, and your personal information may be in jeopardy, forward the information to spam@uce.edu . If you have been scammed by a ‘phishing’ scheme, report the FTC and take more precaution against personal identity theft.
• McAfee offers the program McAfee SpamKiller that will help you defend your computer against aggressive spammers. This software will also protect you from ‘phishing’ scams and other security threats.

Sexual Exploitation of Children

Always be aware of what your child is doing in cyberspace. Parental involvement and due diligence are critical factors in preventing child sexual exploitation online. Make sure you are aware of the potential threats to your child while they are online.

For more information on Anti Virus products visit : www.mcafee-downloads.co.uk/

Tags: Anti Virus, Digital Download Products, Home Electricals and Computers, Internet Crime, Mcafee, Phishing Scams, Spam, Trojan Horses, Viruses

Sourced from http://www.sky-direct.co.uk

Where Did it Start?

The first phase of popularity was with download software such as Morpheus. These programs allowed computer users to share files, including music and video, by downloading from other servers.

Although available, television shows were certainly not the most popular downloads – taking a distant third place behind music and movies. The reason for this was primarily because television shows often took a very long time to download and were frequently of lower quality than their movie counterparts.

What Technology is Driving this Trend?

There have been a few key technological developments over the past 5 years that have allowed pirated television to thrive online. The first development has been the continual reduction of cost for high storage computers. Compared to 5 years ago, the average computer now has more than 20 times the storage space. Also, DVD burners have sparked an increase in pirated video trafficking ensuring that viewers are not limited to collecting only what can be stored on their hard drives.

Even more recently, direct streaming capabilities improved to the point that internet users can visit sites such as YouTube and watch videos without actually downloading the content to their computer. From here, several pirated television databases, PeekVid and TVLinks being two of the most popular, have cropped up offering hundreds of links to television shows available online.

Why Are People Concerned?

Those who view pirated television must sacrifice some quality and convenience in order to receive free television shows. First, the sites that provide direct streaming are often short lived, meaning that viewers must frequently search for a new supplier. Second, even if the site is active it is common for several of its links to be broken or damaged meaning that the video is unavailable or incomplete. Third, even after locating the television show they wish to view, users are still often faced with poor image quality or uncoordinated audio.

These problems are not enough to deter everyone, and they certainly are not enough to appease the industry that is being robbed. When the concept of pirated music first landed on the radar, video, and television was believed to be immune given the size of the files. Ubiquitous access to high-speed internet changed this. Now, experts understand that the technology of tomorrow will likely overcome the direct streaming challenges of today.

Dangers for the Viewers

There is a certain sense of anonymity that comes with using the internet, but this isn’t actually the case and many pirated television viewers are hiding behind a clock that doesn’t actually exist. One of the easiest ways that investigators are finding illegal downloaders is through their IP addresses which are left with every download.

The Solution?

Even with increased legal action against those who pirate television online, it is unlikely that the problem will disappear any time soon. The solution for many companies in the television industry is to simply view pirated television as a message from their customers and adapt their services. For example, several network sites are now streaming previously aired episodes directly from their websites, for free.

This “viewership on demand” trend is one that has been long recognized by Sky television. With a variety of custom packages and sky boxes, viewers can now control their television viewing without resorting to illegal activity.

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To Sign up or for more information on Sky TV or Sky Broadband Services use these links

• See, Surf, and Speak
• Sky Broadband
• Sky Equipment and Installation
• Kids Mix
• Knowledge Mix
• Music Mix
• Variety Mix
• Style and Culture Mix
• News and Events Mix
• Movies Mix
• Sports Mix

For more detailed information on Sky TV or Sky Broadband Services visit www.sky-direct.co.uk

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Tags: Digital TV, Fraud, Internet Crime, Pirated TV, Sky TV