When does stranger danger start

What It Is and How to Help Your Baby

When babies are new to the world, they’re often happy to be passed from one person’s arms to the next without much fuss as long as they’re full, warm, and comfortable. As babies get a little older though, it’s not uncommon for them to begin to fear being passed to unfamiliar arms.

While there’s something to be said for baby wanting to be in your arms all the time, sometimes you want to drink a cup of coffee while it’s still hot or just get out of the house for a while — because let’s be real, mama needs a break!

Naturally, it can be frustrating when your previously easygoing baby turns into a sobbing, clingy mess when a new babysitter or stranger is in their presence. However, rest assured this behavior is developmentally normal.

Stranger anxiety is the distress that babies experience when they meet or are left in the care of people who are unfamiliar to them.

Stranger anxiety is a perfectly normal developmental stage that often begins around 6 to 8 months. Stranger anxiety typically peaks between 12 and 15 months and then begins to gradually decrease as your baby continues to grow and develop.

The development of stranger anxiety coincides with a baby’s budding sense of organization and order in the world. Around the time that stranger anxiety begins, baby realizes that the relationship they have with the people they spend the most time with (often their parents) is different than the relationship they have with strangers and other people they don’t know well.

As they realize this, babies seek out the familiar and express distress around the unfamiliar.

Stranger vs. separation anxiety

While stranger anxiety and separation anxiety often begin to develop around the same time, they are distinct developmental milestones.

Stranger anxiety refers to a baby’s distress around meeting or being left in the care of unfamiliar people, while separation anxiety refers to a baby’s distress around being left alone or separated from their parents or primary caregivers.

If a child experiences distress when being left with a familiar grandparent or regular caregiver, they’re likely experiencing separation anxiety, not stranger anxiety.

If a baby expresses distress when approached by an unfamiliar individual or when being left with someone new, they are likely experiencing stranger anxiety.

While stranger anxiety is normal and to be expected, the intensity and duration of the distress experienced by any individual baby, along with the ways that distress is expressed, may differ greatly from baby to baby.

Some babies express their distress by “freezing” in your arms. They may remain very still and quiet with a frightened expression on their face until the stranger leaves or they begin to feel more comfortable around them.

Other babies might express their distress in more obvious ways such as crying, trying to hide their face in your chest or clinging tightly to you.

Older toddlers who are more verbal and mobile might try to hide behind you or express verbally that they want to stay with you or want you to hold them.

While the research on separation anxiety is more robust than that of stranger anxiety, scientists have delved into the topic.

A 2017 study observed that babies who showed a steep increase in fear between 6 and 36 months old were more likely to show increased anxiety at 8 years of age.

A 2013 study of twin pairs looked at the many factors that influence a baby’s anxiety, in particular, stranger anxiety, and found that there is a maternal connection to the anxiety levels of the baby. The researchers acknowledged that the increased likelihood that a mother with anxiety will have a baby with anxiety can be caused by a combination of maternal behaviors and genetic factors.

Further, a 2011 study points out that research has primarily focused on mothers, but fathers are also a factor (Can we get an “about time they noticed” here?). In fact, the researchers noted that in some cases the father’s reaction may be more significant than the mother’s in cases of developing stranger and social anxiety.

So what does all this mean? Are all babies with stranger anxiety destined to be anxious kids in elementary school? Are parents with anxiety destined to pass this along to their children? Not necessarily. So many factors are at play with a child’s social, emotional, and developmental growth.

While you can’t prevent your baby’s fear or anxiety, especially during this normal developmental stage, you can be aware of how you react to their feelings and encourage positive interactions.

While the distress associated with stranger anxiety is normal, there are many strategies you can use to help your baby through this challenging stage with care, empathy, and kindness.

Recognize that every child is different. Every baby will warm to new people at their own pace. When you recognize that your child’s hesitancy to interact with new people is normal, you may be more likely to muster the patience it takes to help them move through the big emotions associated with stranger anxiety.

Take practical steps to help your baby feel comfortable meeting new people. This can include introducing anyone new to the baby gradually instead of suddenly. For example, if you hope to leave your child with a new babysitter, you can have the sitter spend some time with the family together first before you attempt to leave the child alone with them. Have the sitter visit with you and play games for some friendly interaction. If you’re enthusiastic and upbeat, your baby will gather that this new person is pleasant and trustworthy.

Use a gradual warm-up strategy even with those close to you. Suddenly people your baby previously was happy to see, such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, or family friends, may be a source of stress for your little one. It can be especially challenging when your baby acts as if their loving grandparent is a stranger, but these fears are developmentally normal. Encouraging a gradual warm-up period to allow for their comfort will make interactions more positive.

Support your baby as they experience these big, uncomfortable emotions. Experts recommend that you not ignore your child’s distress or pressure them to rein in their response prematurely. Pressuring a baby to go with or be held by a stranger before they’re ready can often increase anxiety and make the next time they meet a stranger even more stressful.

Stay calm and keep it positive. When your baby is distressed about being left with a new caregiver or being introduced (or re-introduced) to someone new, try to maintain a positive and comforting tone and demeanor as you comfort them both verbally and physically. You can hold and talk to them as they move through their distress, give them lots of hugs and kisses, or sing a favorite song until they begin to feel more comfortable with the situation.

Manage other people’s expectations. While your baby’s reluctance to be cuddled by a visiting grandparent is normal, it can cause some hurt feelings if grandparents are not expecting it. You can help others manage their expectations and create a successful introduction by talking to them in advance about your baby’s need to warm up slowly and by offering suggestions for how to successfully interact with your baby when they do meet.

Offer advice to eager friends (who are considered strangers by baby). Recommending that they speak in a calm, soft tone or that they offer a familiar toy can help to ease introductions and let baby relax and feel comfortable. Ask them to give your little one plenty of time to get comfortable before trying to hold or cuddle them.

Introduce baby to new people frequently from a young age. Wear baby facing outward in their carrier (once it is safe to do so) to allow them to become accustomed to seeing new and unfamiliar faces and you can model warm, comfortable interactions with strangers. You can also allow others to hold, play with, and care for your young baby as long as you are comfortable doing so.

The development of stranger anxiety can be a challenging period for both you and your child. While your little one is experiencing lots of big, frightening emotions, you might get frustrated that they seem fussy, clingy, or unsociable.

Stranger anxiety is normal though, and with the right balance of warmth and comfort it typically passes before a child’s second birthday.

As you move through the stranger anxiety phase, remember to be patient with your child, cuddle and comfort them as needed, and try to remain calm and warm as they experience distress. Allowing them time and staying patient through this phase will make for happier days ahead for both of you.

What It Is and How to Help Your Baby

Stranger anxiety is the distress that babies experience when they meet or are left in the care of people who are unfamiliar to them.

As they realize this, babies seek out the familiar and express distress around the unfamiliar.

Stranger vs. separation anxiety

While stranger anxiety and separation anxiety often begin to develop around the same time, they are distinct developmental milestones.

If a child experiences distress when being left with a familiar grandparent or regular caregiver, they’re likely experiencing separation anxiety, not stranger anxiety.

If a baby expresses distress when approached by an unfamiliar individual or when being left with someone new, they are likely experiencing stranger anxiety.

Other babies might express their distress in more obvious ways such as crying, trying to hide their face in your chest or clinging tightly to you.

Older toddlers who are more verbal and mobile might try to hide behind you or express verbally that they want to stay with you or want you to hold them.

While the research on separation anxiety is more robust than that of stranger anxiety, scientists have delved into the topic.

A 2017 study observed that babies who showed a steep increase in fear between 6 and 36 months old were more likely to show increased anxiety at 8 years of age.

While you can’t prevent your baby’s fear or anxiety, especially during this normal developmental stage, you can be aware of how you react to their feelings and encourage positive interactions.

While the distress associated with stranger anxiety is normal, there are many strategies you can use to help your baby through this challenging stage with care, empathy, and kindness.

Recognize that every child is different. Every baby will warm to new people at their own pace. When you recognize that your child’s hesitancy to interact with new people is normal, you may be more likely to muster the patience it takes to help them move through the big emotions associated with stranger anxiety.

Take practical steps to help your baby feel comfortable meeting new people. This can include introducing anyone new to the baby gradually instead of suddenly. For example, if you hope to leave your child with a new babysitter, you can have the sitter spend some time with the family together first before you attempt to leave the child alone with them. Have the sitter visit with you and play games for some friendly interaction. If you’re enthusiastic and upbeat, your baby will gather that this new person is pleasant and trustworthy.

Use a gradual warm-up strategy even with those close to you. Suddenly people your baby previously was happy to see, such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, or family friends, may be a source of stress for your little one. It can be especially challenging when your baby acts as if their loving grandparent is a stranger, but these fears are developmentally normal. Encouraging a gradual warm-up period to allow for their comfort will make interactions more positive.

Support your baby as they experience these big, uncomfortable emotions. Experts recommend that you not ignore your child’s distress or pressure them to rein in their response prematurely. Pressuring a baby to go with or be held by a stranger before they’re ready can often increase anxiety and make the next time they meet a stranger even more stressful.

Stay calm and keep it positive. When your baby is distressed about being left with a new caregiver or being introduced (or re-introduced) to someone new, try to maintain a positive and comforting tone and demeanor as you comfort them both verbally and physically. You can hold and talk to them as they move through their distress, give them lots of hugs and kisses, or sing a favorite song until they begin to feel more comfortable with the situation.

Manage other people’s expectations. While your baby’s reluctance to be cuddled by a visiting grandparent is normal, it can cause some hurt feelings if grandparents are not expecting it. You can help others manage their expectations and create a successful introduction by talking to them in advance about your baby’s need to warm up slowly and by offering suggestions for how to successfully interact with your baby when they do meet.

Offer advice to eager friends (who are considered strangers by baby). Recommending that they speak in a calm, soft tone or that they offer a familiar toy can help to ease introductions and let baby relax and feel comfortable. Ask them to give your little one plenty of time to get comfortable before trying to hold or cuddle them.

Introduce baby to new people frequently from a young age. Wear baby facing outward in their carrier (once it is safe to do so) to allow them to become accustomed to seeing new and unfamiliar faces and you can model warm, comfortable interactions with strangers. You can also allow others to hold, play with, and care for your young baby as long as you are comfortable doing so.

Stranger anxiety is normal though, and with the right balance of warmth and comfort it typically passes before a child’s second birthday.

Procedure for detecting a suspicious object that may be an explosive device

- It is strictly forbidden to touch, open, move or take any other actions with the detected object.
- It is not recommended to use mobile phones and other means of radio communication near such an object.
- You must immediately report the discovery of a suspicious item to the police or other competent authorities.

Public transport:
If you find a forgotten or abandoned item in public transport:
1. Interview people nearby. Try to establish whose it is and who could have left it.
2. If the owner is not identified, report the find to the driver immediately.

In the entrance of a residential building:
If you find an unknown object in the entrance of your house:
1. Ask your neighbors. Perhaps it belongs to them.
2. If the owner of the item is not identified, immediately report the find to the competent authorities.

In an institution:
If you find an unknown object in an institution, organizations:
1. Immediately inform the administration or security of the institution about the find.
2. Record the time and place of finding the unknown object.
3. Get people as far away from the suspicious item and danger area as possible.
4. Wait for the arrival of representatives of the competent authorities, indicate the location of the suspicious object, the time and circumstances of its discovery.
5. Don't panic. Report a possible bomb threat only to those who need to know about what happened.
It is also necessary to remember that the appearance of an item may hide its true purpose. The following signs may indicate the presence of an explosive device, other dangerous items:

Signs of an explosive device:
- The presence of wires, small antennas, electrical tape, twine, rope, adhesive tape in the bag, or sticking out of the bag.
- Noise from detected suspicious items (packages, bags, etc.). This may be the ticking of a clock, clicks, etc.
- The presence of batteries (batteries) on the found suspicious object.
- Stretch marks from wire, ropes, twine, fishing line;
- Unusual item placement;
- The presence of an object unusual for the area;
- A specific smell, unusual for the area.

Terrorism: how not to become a victim
Recently, a dangerous weapon has appeared in the hands of terrorists - sacrificial terrorism using suicide bombers. Participation in the sabotage-terrorist struggle of suicide bombers is intended not only to inflict maximum damage with a large number of victims, but also to create an atmosphere of panic, to sow uncertainty about the ability of the state to ensure the safety of its citizens. Methods of carrying out terrorist acts are extremely cruel, they are committed in crowded places with the use of explosive devices attached to the body and cars filled with explosives.
The primary task of a suicide bomber is to disappear into the mass of people and not draw attention to himself. The Moscow events show that on the territory of the Russian Federation, as a rule, women are used by their organizers as suicide bombers-perpetrators of terrorist acts.

When committing a terrorist attack, female suicide bombers dress in clothes typical for the area. Nevertheless, there are a number of characteristic features in their clothes and behavior.

Women have a headdress, while not only a traditional blind scarf is possible, but also light gas scarves, baseball caps. In the summer, the clothes of a suicide bomber do not match the weather: spacious, designed to hide an explosive device on the body.

Characteristic features of suicide bombers are:
• inadequate behavior;
• unnatural pallor;
• some inhibition of reactions and movements caused by a possible overdose of tranquilizers or narcotic substances;
• desire to avoid surveillance cameras (attempt to lower head, turn away, cover face with hand or handkerchief, hide behind taller person).

The terrorist usually has a mobile phone with him to contact the leader in case of difficulties. Since terrorists, as a rule, are not residents of the capital, their characteristic features are uncertain orientation in the area, uncertain possession of a mobile phone, lack of skills in using cards for travel in the subway and land transport.

The nationality of the suicide bomber does not play a fundamental role for the organizers of terrorist actions. Meanwhile, an analysis of the latest manifestations of sacrificial terrorism on the territory of Russia shows a desire to use representatives of remote rural settlements in the southern regions of the country.

Be careful! If a suicide bomber senses the attention of others, he can detonate the explosive device immediately. Therefore, in order to protect yourself and those around you, try to remain calm and, without attracting the attention of a person who is suspicious of you, report him to administrative or law enforcement agencies or security services.

FSB of Russia
Address: Moscow, 107031, st. Bolshaya Lubyanka, 1/3
Phone: (495) 224-70-69 (24 hours)
Helpline: (495) 224-22-22
Fax: (495) 914-26-32

Reception FSB of Russia
Address: Moscow, 101000, st. Kuznetsky most, house 22
Phone: (495) 624-31-58

Hostage taking for ransom. What to do?

If someone close to you is taken as a hostage and some action is required as a condition for his release, first of all, make sure that he is alive and unharmed. It is unlikely that you will be given the opportunity to personally see the captured person, but it is simply necessary to talk to him on the phone. At the same time, the blackmailer should firmly state that you will not negotiate anything with him until you talk to the hostage.

While talking:

First, make sure that the person on the other end of the wire is really the person in question. Telephone communication is imperfect, and it is not always possible to identify even a very close person by the voice, so in a conversation try to get information that will convince you that it is really him;
secondly, conduct a conversation in such a way as to make sure that you are communicating with a living person, and not a tape recording;
thirdly, try to calm the hostage by saying that you will do everything in your power to free him as soon as possible;
fourthly, ask if everything is in order with him, how he is being treated, whether they have caused any harm;
fifthly, convince him that it would be better if he does not take any active steps so as not to aggravate the situation and not harm himself;
sixth, in no case do not try even indirectly to find out who captured him and where he is. This kind of curiosity can be very costly.

After that, you can listen to the blackmailer, his conditions. Most likely, we will talk about a certain amount of money in rubles or foreign currency. Regardless of whether you have such an amount available or not, try to ask for a deferral of payment, motivating that there is no such money at hand at the moment (except for the situation when you are immediately told that this amount of money lies with you in the bottom drawer of your desk).

If the negotiations are in person, ask for a second meeting, if by phone - a call back. And during this time, you should quickly decide what to do: fulfill the conditions of the criminal without turning to anyone for help, or still resort to the help of law enforcement agencies or a private firm (keep in mind that at present not all firms that undertake the solution problems of this kind can really solve them).

As international experience shows, blackmailing gives a delay for a very short time, and if you decide to turn to professionals for help, you should do it right away, because in order to develop a plan of joint action and prepare a group specializing in the release of hostages, it is necessary for a while.

It is best to do this immediately, but by telephone, since the possibility of establishing surveillance of your movements from the moment of contact with the blackmailers should not be ruled out. Be prepared for the fact that when you call again, they can state with a confident voice that they absolutely know that you called the police and asked for help. In a personal meeting, such a question can also be asked, and here the matter is complicated by the fact that they only hear you on the phone, but they also see you in a personal meeting. You need to be psychologically prepared for such questions.

If the next telephone conversation with a person who has taken your loved one as a hostage will take place in the presence of law enforcement officers, try to discuss with them in advance the scheme and various options for talking with the criminal. This will eliminate the possibility of delays in answering questions, and there will be no suspicion on the other end of the wire that after each question you are getting advice from someone about what and how to answer.

It often happens that the blackmailer demands at any cost to speed up the exchange time. In this case, try, without losing self-control, to convince him that everything possible is being done, but due to circumstances beyond your control, you are not yet ready to give what is expected of you. Most importantly, do not forget to remind this person that you are much more interested in the successful outcome of the case than he is. You can justify the impossibility of obtaining the requested amount in such a time by saying that the person from whom you wanted to receive money is currently on a business trip and will return in a few days, but without even waiting for his return, you are trying to find this money through other channels. It is quite possible that the pause that you bargain for will make it possible to better prepare the operation to free the hostage, and increase the guarantee of his safety.

When you agree on where and at what time to bring what the extortioner demands, set the condition that this is possible only if you have guarantees that nothing threatens the hostage. Either this will be an exchange, or before transferring the money, you will receive information that the hostage is already in a safe place at the moment.

Don't be led by kidnappers in all matters. The firmer and more reasonable your position, the greater the chance of a favorable outcome.

Do not forget that as soon as you fulfill their request, the hostage will no longer be needed by the attackers, it is possible that they will want to get rid of him as a dangerous witness, so the only right decision in such situations is to seek help from law enforcement agencies and strict adherence to the recommendations of their employees.

It should be clearly understood that attempts to hide something, to play a "double game", to show unnecessary initiative, can significantly complicate or make it impossible to release the hostage, endanger both his life and your own.

Precautions in a situation where terrorists take hostages

Unfortunately, none of us is immune from a situation where we may be held hostage by terrorists. But still there are a few universal rules, following which you can avoid mistakes and save your life.
In a situation where there are signs of a threat of hostage-taking, try to avoid getting into their number. Leave the danger area immediately or hide. After hiding, wait for the terrorists to leave and leave the shelter as soon as possible and retire.

The exception is situations when you are in the field of view of terrorists or there is a high probability of meeting with them.

If you see an armed or suspicious group of people heading towards you, run immediately. If it was not possible to escape from the criminals, and you were taken hostage, try to remain calm and not show your fear. Do not offer resistance to terrorists, do not try to enter into conversation with them, do not seek to pity them or dissuade them from carrying out their plan. Fulfill their demands and do not react to their actions in relation to other hostages. You shouldn't express your outrage. Do not violate the rules set by terrorists, so as not to provoke a deterioration in the conditions of your detention. You should not, for example, try to contact relatives or law enforcement agencies. This may be perceived by your captors as defiance.

When taking hostages, remember that only at the very moment of the capture is there a real opportunity to escape from the scene. If this was not possible, tune in psychologically that you will not be released immediately, but this will certainly happen.

If an operation to free you (assault) has begun, you must fall to the floor and cover your head with your hands; try to take a position away from windows and doorways. Stay away from terrorists because snipers can shoot at them during the operation. Explosions of walls, doors, windows, fire and smoke are also possible, therefore, it is necessary to determine for yourself the places of possible shelter from damaging elements, remove all synthetic clothing in advance, as it increases the likelihood of burns. It is also advisable to remove belts, straps from handbags and hide them in pockets - these items, if necessary, can be used as a hemostatic agent.

Do not take up arms in order not to be confused with terrorists. If an explosive device is planted next to you or directly on you, if possible, by voice or hand movement, let the intelligence officers know about this, who may approach you during a special operation. Record in memory all the events that accompany the capture. This information will be very important to law enforcement.

A person taken hostage at first cannot believe that this has happened and adequately assess the situation. As the analysis of the behavior of the hostages shows, some of them may have an uncontrollable reaction of protest against the violence committed. It is important not to lose your temper, as in this situation the terrorists often kill the rebels. Terrorists, as a rule, are in a state of extreme stress and therefore are extremely aggressive.

After the shock of the first hours of captivity, the hostages usually begin the process of adaptation - adaptation to absolutely abnormal conditions of existence. However, this is given at the price, first of all, of psychological traumas and disorders. The sharpness of sensations and experiences is quickly dulled, thus, the psyche protects itself. What revolted or led to despair is perceived as commonplace. At the same time, it is important not to lose the human face.

If possible, do not withdraw into yourself, try to look at other people, find out if someone needs help. Even a trifle - an understanding look, a word of support - will contribute to the fact that a contact will arise between you. If a person feels support, it becomes easier for him and everyone who is close to him. However, the hostages, as a rule, fail to avoid outbreaks of apathy and aggressiveness in their relations with each other. They are caused by a subconscious desire to relieve emotional overstrain, but this can further exacerbate the situation, provoke terrorists to aggressive actions.

A common misconception that people who are held hostage often fall into is the desire and attempts to “understand” the kidnappers and arouse sympathy in them. However, this is a harmful illusion. Terrorist sympathies can be your first step towards betrayal of other hostages. Do not think that the militants will perceive you somehow in a new way.

The constant threat to life and the realization of one's helplessness can lead to the development of other mental phenomena. It may seem that you hear the sounds of an assault that seems to have begun, the voices of absent people, you see something strange in the darkness. However, this is not a sign of insanity, but a disorder that will pass no later than two weeks after release.

One should not allow oneself to focus on experiences. There are many ways to get distracted: try to come up with some kind of game for yourself, remember half-forgotten poems, anecdotes, etc. For believers, prayer is a great help. It is very important not to forget about personal hygiene.

Being a hostage causes psychological trauma even to very resistant people. Those released are often burdened by feelings of guilt and shame, loss of self-respect, and various kinds of fears. Remember that this is a normal reaction for former hostages. It takes quite a long time to return to normal life.

Terrorism. How to recognize danger?

Most often, the fight against terror is a war without a front line. Terrorists can at any moment be among us under the guise of ordinary citizens. Are there signs by which it is possible to identify terrorists and their criminal intentions to prepare a terrorist act in order to take the necessary preventive measures?

The activities of terrorists are not always evident. But it may well seem suspicious and unusual. If signs of strange behavior are obvious, you must immediately report this to law enforcement agencies.

For criminal purposes, terrorists usually use typical factory-made and home-made explosives, ammunition, pyrotechnics, and other dangerous substances and mixtures capable of exploding under certain conditions.

Terrorists also actively use various improvised explosive devices: improvised booby traps; mines surprises imitating household items or things that attract attention.

Concealed under clothing and in carry-on baggage is the most common way to bring terrorist items to the scene of a terrorist attack. Most often, this channel is used for the delivery of firearms. Firearms in assembled and disassembled form have well-known, quite specific and recognizable forms of units, parts and mechanisms. Explosive devices and radioactive substances can also be delivered under clothing and in hand luggage.

Carried explosive devices, both manufactured and improvised, may be camouflaged to look like household items. In practice, there were flashlights stuffed with explosives, hair dryers, fans, lamps, radios and tape recorders, electric shavers, coffee cans, canned food, thermoses, etc.
Be careful, try to remember the signs of criminals, the distinctive features of their faces, clothes, names, nicknames, possible scars and tattoos, speech and behavior patterns, etc.
Don't try to stop them yourself - you could be the first victim.

Be extra vigilant and beware of people who are clearly out of season; if you see a person in summer wearing a raincoat or a thick jacket - be careful - terrorists most often hide bombs under such clothes; it is best to stay away from him and draw the attention of law enforcement officers to him;

Beware of people with large bags and suitcases, especially if they are in a place that is not suitable for such luggage (at the cinema or at a holiday).

Try to move as far as possible from those who behave inappropriately, nervously, frightened, looking around, checking something in their clothes or luggage.

If you cannot get away from a suspicious person, watch his facial expressions; experts say that a criminal preparing for a terrorist attack usually looks extremely concentrated, his lips are tightly compressed, or move slowly, as if reading a prayer.

Never pick up forgotten things: bags, mobile phones, wallets; do not accept any gifts from strangers, do not take things with a request to transfer to another person.

Actions in the event of a terrorist attack

Always be aware of the situation around you, especially when you are at transport facilities, cultural, entertainment, sports and shopping centers.

If you find forgotten things, without touching them, notify the driver, employees of the facility, security service, police. Do not try to look inside a suspicious package, box, or other item.

Do not pick up abandoned items, no matter how attractive they look.

Explosive devices (in beer cans, cell phones, etc.) can be camouflaged in them. Do not kick objects on the ground outside.

If the security forces and law enforcement agencies suddenly become active, do not show curiosity, go in the other direction, but do not run, so that you will not be mistaken for the enemy.

In the event of an explosion or start of shooting, immediately fall to the ground, preferably under cover (curb, market stall, car, etc.). For greater safety, cover your head with your hands.

If you accidentally learn about an impending terrorist attack, immediately report it to law enforcement agencies.

If you become aware of an impending or committed crime, immediately report it to the FSB or the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Author: Vitaly Tsvetkov. Material from the Regional News website (www.reg-vesti.ru)

Dangers on the Internet for children SkyDNS

Dangers on the Internet lie in wait for children from the age of three. It is at this age that every second child begins to actively use various gadgets that provide access to the world wide web. Watching your favorite cartoon, downloading a game, listening to a fairy tale is only a small part of children's activities on the Internet. But not all content is safe for children. Without proper parental control, a child may be in serious danger, not only psychological, but also physical.

The role of the Internet in the modern world

We cannot underestimate the role of the Internet in our lives. With its help, we search for information, send documents, photos and videos, conduct business, communicate and make purchases. Remotely, you can get an education, improve your skills, find a job. And all this happens in a place convenient for us: at home, on the street, at school or in the office.

But such opportunities are fraught with a lot of dangers. They are especially susceptible to children and adolescents, whose psyche is not yet prepared for the flow of negative information.

Vulnerable children's psyche, especially in the transitional age, is under tremendous stress. This is the school, the first love, the control of parents and teachers. If you add virtual reality to the psychological pressure in real life, then the result will be serious health problems.

There is another problem of the Internet, which is discussed by scientists, in particular VG Marach. And this is where the scientist Marach sees the danger of the Internet: the inability to think independently, the inability to make new independent discoveries due to the universal availability of any kind of information.

Main types of Internet dangers:

Internet addiction. In children, this addiction happens because of excessive passion for games. This is especially true for games with a multiplayer audience, where players communicate with each other and interact in the course of the story. It is worth sounding the alarm when the game becomes an integral part of the child's life: he begins to refuse food, refuses to study, plays at night, shows aggression if he is forbidden to play. It is difficult for children to get out of Internet addiction, therefore, the sooner it is detected, the less harm it will do.
Cyberbullying and trolling. There are a lot of aggressive users on the network who bring out the emotions of opponents. Not everyone can adequately answer and stand up for themselves. What is the danger of trolling on the Internet? Bullying, intimidation, ridicule, reproaches strongly influence the behavior of the child. He becomes withdrawn, irritated, loses faith in himself and his talents. Inner experiences are reflected in learning.
Websites with viruses (phishing, miners). A malicious virus causes damage to equipment, slows down work and reduces overall performance. In addition, miner viruses can get onto the computers of Internet users, which will spend device resources on mining cryptocurrency. In addition, there are many phishing sites on the network, with the help of which scammers steal users' personal data: bank card numbers, passport data, and so on.
Propaganda of terrorism, Nazism, aggression. Adolescents are very easy to manipulate, which is what attackers use. On the net, you can find sites where they openly call for certain types of violence. In addition to appeals, video clips with scenes of cruelty and murders are posted. Such content is shocking and causes psychological trauma to the child, which may subsequently affect his health.
Obscene language, obscenity, rudeness. There is practically no censorship on the Internet, therefore, when communicating on various forums and social networks, children see obscenities, vulgar jokes, and rude treatment. Absorbing new information, the child can easily learn obscene phrases and jokes, and begin to be daring to adults.
Alcohol, drugs, tobacco. Distributors of illegal substances are constantly looking for new customers. They tell you what a wonderful feeling you get from using drugs or alcohol, attracting naive teenagers. They are rubbed into trust and in case of problems in life, they will always come to the rescue with an excellent “remedy” for any trouble. The resources on which such figures trade are constantly blocked by Roskomnadzor, but at the same time they are not getting smaller.
Sites of category 18+. A porn site can be accessed by accident by clicking on an unremarkable link or a pop-up image. Of course, sooner or later every child will face the adult side of life, but it’s not for nothing that this topic was given an age limit of 18 years. This means that acquaintance with erotica and pornography should be postponed until the right moment.
Lotteries, casinos, sweepstakes. On many sites there are advertisements for online casinos. It attracts with a bright picture, which draws the attention of the child. Most of these casinos only lure money, promising a guaranteed huge win. But in fact, scammers find out the data of bank cards, electronic wallets, hack them and withdraw funds. For the same purpose, "distribute" free lottery tickets. The child must understand that it is strictly forbidden to play for money on the Internet without the permission of the parents, as well as to enter bank card details on suspicious sites.
Social networks. The danger of social networks is that strangers can ingratiate themselves with a child, become a real "friend" to him, and then involve him in criminal activity. Even adults cannot always identify intruders, and even more so children. For them, all those who agree with their thoughts, desires and interests are good. The attacker may ask for financial assistance from the child, referring to a hopeless situation. Flaunting friendship and support, a scammer can force a child to break the law, and at best, only lure out money.
Pedophiles. They also try to make friends with the child first, to show that they are on the same wavelength. The pedophile gradually fishes out the necessary information: school, class, address. Moreover, he will not necessarily meet with the child in person. He may ask to send a photo or video of an intimate nature. Posing as an employee of a modeling agency, it is not difficult to take possession of the treasured photo, because every third girl dreams of becoming a model. Having received one photo, the criminal will begin to blackmail the child and ask for new ones. Frightening that he will show the received photos to classmates or parents, the pedophile gets what he demands.

How to avoid the dangers of the Internet

It is impossible to keep track of every action of the child and protect him from all the dangers of the Internet. But it is quite possible to reduce the risks. For this, a special SkyDNS content filtering program has been developed. It allows you to block entire categories of sites with prohibited topics. The solution works both on stationary computers and on tablets, smartphones and laptops. Thus, most of the inappropriate content will become inaccessible to children.

The content filter will help increase your child's safety and protect them from negative information. The danger of communication on the Internet will be minimized, and children and parents will be able to use the worldwide network without any fear.

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