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Apple WWDC24: All the big iOS 18 news.Blog
The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (or WWDC for short) has wrapped for another year. And with it came a whole bunch of exciting new announcements and features – from first steps into the world of AI, to big updates to the brand’s operating system. iPhone fans are in for a treat! With each release, Apple always bring a bunch of free, fun and useful updates to their iOS. And that’s set to continue with iOS 18. Check these out… Customisation options. Your iPhone is about to get a whole lot more custom. If you want to pop app icons literally anywhere on your home screen, fill your boots. Drag them wherever and choose exactly how many you have per page. You’ll actually be able to see your background of the family pup now. And let’s be honest, those six rows of four are so 2022 anyway… Photos app. Photos just got a major update, making it simpler than ever to find and relive your favorite moments. The new design features a streamlined, single view with a familiar grid layout. Fresh collections let you browse by themes without the need to organize content into albums, and you can pin collections to keep your favorites easily accessible. A new carousel view showcases daily highlights, featuring your favorite people, pets, places, and more. Autoplaying content throughout the app brings your library to life, letting you enjoy past moments as you browse. The app is fully customizable, allowing you to organize collections, pin frequently accessed ones, and personalize the carousel view with what matters most to you. iMessage updates. It’s a small one in the scheme of things, but you’ll be able to schedule messages ahead of time if you’re in a rush. And when you really need to get your point across, you can underline, italicize, and bold your texts. There’s no excuse for your other half forgetting the milk at the supermarket now. Apple Intelligence. AI is all the rage at the moment. So, it wasn’t going to be long before a tech giant like Apple got involved. Meet Apple Intelligence – the company’s shiny new AI that’ll go toe to toe with systems from Samsung and other Android manufacturers. It’ll be the basis of a lot of their software going forward, and Apple say it’ll “put powerful generative models right at the core of your iPhone, iPad and Mac”. In other words, you can use it to make and do a load of cool stuff for you. You’ll be able to get hands on with their AI on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and any Macs or iPads rocking an M1 chip or later when it launches in Europe early next year. If you haven’t got any of those yet, it might be time for an upgrade! With that said, here are a few of the big AI-based reveals that caught our eye… Siri. How does Siri play into all this then? Well, first off, it’s not going anywhere. In fact, it’s a major part of their AI push. The built-in voice assistant will now be far more front and centre, hovering as a small beam of light around the edge of your screen. It’ll literally only be a quick tap (or ask) away. It’s had a handy upgrade too. Need to find some important info from a work email without digging through half your inbox? Check in with Siri, and they’ll be able to track it down for you. It’ll even be able to pick out pics from your camera roll that have your mate in them. Just say their name and it’ll collect all the snaps of your bestie ready for that Insta upload. It’s seriously clever stuff. If you know anything about AI, you’ll have heard of ChatGPT by now. And to give Siri some extra smarts, Apple have integrated OpenAI’s chatbot straight into their assistant. Now, Siri will work out whether itself or ChatGPT is the right tool for the job. Giving you the best possible answer depending on what you need. Genmoji and Image Playground. We’ve all been there. Those stock Apple emojis really aren’t cutting it. Especially when you need one of a dog on a skateboard. Well, now you can get exactly that. The new Genmoji tool lets you make your very own unique emoji. All you’ve got to do is type out a little bit of text, and bob’s your uncle - now you’ve got a pooch rolling down a hill. And if you need something a bit more advanced, make sure to check out Image Playground. This AI image generator can whip up a picture in an instant, just with the help of a few text prompts. You could say it’s pretty snappy… Got a favourite feature, reveal or moment from Apple WWDC24? Tell us all about it in the comments down below!
Get ready to see the light!Blog
Despite over half the UK feeling like they pay too much for their mobile package, many still live their “mobile life” blindly loyal to their existing network because…well…just because. In our new campaign, we’re on a mission to help the mobile market ‘See the Light' of ‘mobile done right’! Why do UK mobile customers need to see the light? So, what do we mean when we say that UK mobile customers need to ‘see the light’? Well, what about these stats for starters? 20% of Brits are unaware of when their contract ends. Be honest – are you? 28% of those who are aware will be sticking to their current plan without exploring other options. 53% of Brits feel like they pay too much for their current mobile package. But 18% of those won’t consider upgrading their phone or switching networks because they think it's too much hassle. And that’s where we come in! All new customers can save an average of £240 a year on phone plans vs. the major networks. You can also save around £14 a month on SIM only plans too! Switching to us takes a few simple steps, and our plans are packed with amazing features - including the UK’s fastest 5G, Roaming, and Data Rollover – all on our multi-award winning network. On top of that, we've been recognised by Uswitch, Which? and Trusted Reviews for our ‘Great Value’ plans. That's why we know you’ll love us! Do you know someone in need of enlightenment? Know someone who is paying too much for their mobile package and needs to ‘see the light’? Refer them to iD Mobile! We’ll make it worth your while by rewarding you both up to £70 cashback for every successful referral you make. Click here to spread the word. Wait - what about HeiDi the bear? You might have guessed this already, so let us break the news to you gently. HeiDi the bear won’t be part of the new ‘See the Light’ campaign. She’s leaving with our best wishes. Rumours are she’ll be forming a hard-rock band called the iDiettes’. We wouldn’t be surprised to see her at next year’s Download festival.
Tour de France 2024.Blog
Euros 2024 might feel like the talk of the town (or the whole continent) right now, but the biggest event in the cycling calendar starts in just a few days. That's right — the Tour de France! If you're keen to watch all 21 stages of this year's huge 2,170 mile bike race across Italy and France, we've recommended some of the best ways to catch all the action on your phone. From the Grand Départ all the way to the finish. And if you're gearing up for some epic summer bike rides yourself, we've rounded up a few of the best apps and smart watches that'll keep you on track. What is the Tour de France? The Tour de France is an annual multi-stage bike race that mostly runs through the stunning French countryside. It’s the most prestigious event in the world of cycling that attracts top riders from all over the globe, lasting three weeks and featuring gruelling climbs through the Alps and Pyrenees. There are some exciting sprint finishes on the flat stages too! When is the 2024 Tour De France? The 111th edition of the Tour de France will start in Florence, Italy on the 29th of June and conclude in Nice, France on the 21st of July. This year's event will not only mark the first time the world-famous race will start in Italy, but it'll also be the first time the race won't finish in or around Paris (due to preparations for the 2024 Summer Olympics). How can I watch the Tour De France 2024? In the UK, you'll be able to watch live coverage of the 2024 Tour de France on ITV4 for free. If you want to keep up on your phone or tablet, just download the ITVX app for iOS and Android, create an account, and view the event live or on catch-up. If you've got Eurosport 1 on your TV, you'll be able to watch the 2024 Tour de France live there too. To stream their coverage on your mobile device, you'll have to get the Discovery+ app and subscribe to the £6.99 per month standard package that includes cycling and all other Eurosport programmes. What are the best cycling apps? Is all the buzz around this year's Tour de France getting you pumped for a big bike ride? Whether you've already got a thousand few miles under your belt or you're just starting out — here are some of the best bike phone apps you should try for boosting your training and finding new routes: Strava: The superb Strava app lets you precisely track your rides with GPS, analyse your performance over time, and compete with other cyclists on popular routes. There's a big community on Strava too, so you can join clubs and get tips from other enthusiasts. Komoot: Offering customisable route planning, turn-by-turn navigation, and offline maps — Komoot is a great app if you're an adventurous cyclist. It includes valuable info on trail difficulty and surface conditions too, so you’ll always know what you're pedalling into. Wahoo Fitness: This app can be paired with hardware like bike speed sensors and heart rate monitors, letting you accurately track your workouts and monitor your progress. Especially as it can sync your data to other fitness apps, so you can see everything in one place. Best smart watches for cycling. You can also rely on one of the following smart watches and fitness trackers from Currys to train like a pro cyclist: Apple Watch Series 9: The Apple Watch has always been a great all-rounder for fitness folk, and it still rolls with cyclists. Late last year, Apple introduced an update that makes sure a cycling workout automatically shows up as a Live Activity on your connected iPhone. Meaning you can use your mounted iPhone just like a full-fledged bike computer! Fitbit Charge 6: The budget-friendly Fitbit Charge 6 is great if you're a beginner. It offers built-in GPS so you can easily track your routes. Plus, its handy auto-recognition feature can detect when you're cycling so it's recording all the right data. Garmin Fenix 7X Pro Solar: If you want to treat yourself, the Garmin Fenix 7X Pro Solar smart watch will help you really get a handle on your training. On top of its super accurate GPS and fitness tracking, it'll top up its battery when you're out and about thanks to solar charging. Going for over three weeks on a single charge! We'd love to know which UK bike routes you keep circling back to. Share your recommendations in the comments below (with a pic or two if you have them!)
World Laughter Day 2024.Blog
World Laughter Day is an annual event celebrated on the first Sunday of May. The day is dedicated to promoting laughter as a universal language of peace and understanding. Laughter has been scientifically proven to have numerous health benefits, both physically and mentally. It reduces stress, boosts the immune system, and improves mood. In addition, laughter is a great tool for bringing people together and breaking down barriers between different cultures and societies. What is World Laughter Day? The idea of World Laughter Day was first proposed by Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of the Laughter Yoga movement. Laughter Yoga is a unique concept that combines yoga breathing techniques with intentional laughter to create a joyful and uplifting experience. The first World Laughter Day was celebrated in 1998 in Mumbai, India, and since then, it has become a global phenomenon. On World Laughter Day, people come together in public spaces to laugh, play games, and have fun. The day is celebrated in over 100 countries around the world, with events ranging from small gatherings to large-scale festivals. The goal is to spread the message of laughter and its positive impact on society. Apps that’ll make you laugh and promote mindfulness There are also many apps that promote laughter and positivity. Here are two apps that you can use to celebrate World Laughter Day and promote a healthy mind: Laugh My App Off (LMAO) Laugh My App off (LMAO) is the new way of getting your “HAHA’s and LOL’s” on the go! It’s been scientifically proven that laughter is the best medicine and with Laugh My App Off, it is guaranteed to give you the best quips and jests all day long. iOS - Android Smiling Mind This app is a mindfulness and meditation app that is designed to help you reduce stress and improve your mental wellbeing. It offers a range of guided meditations, mindfulness exercises, and relaxation techniques. The app also includes a laughter exercise that you can use to boost your mood and promote positivity. Smiling Mind is available for free on both Android and iOS. iOS - Android Giveaway Time! We’re giving one lucky winner the chance to win a £100 Currys gift voucher. This month we want our Community members to come together and make each other laugh! So, we’re asking you to post your favorite Joke below, and we’ll randomly select a winner. When posting your joke, please be mindful of other members. Any jokes deemed to be offensive will be removed and members may be banned from using the Community in the future. Entries close at 23:59 on 19th May 2024. Winners are chosen at random, and we'll announce the lucky iD community member shortly after. We’ll notify the winner by direct message here on the Community, so please keep an eye on your inbox. Good luck!
Phishing: Don't take the bait!Blog
National Fish & Chip Day is coming up on June 7. But we’re interested in a whole other type of fishing. You’ve probably heard of phishing – cyberattacks where criminals pose as someone they’re not to steal your personal info. They’ll nick anything they can get their hands on, from passwords to your credit card number. So, if you think that text from your ‘bank’ looks a bit fishy, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Hopefully, our tips will help you to avoid being caught hook line and sinker by the fraudsters… Why does phishing exist? It’s because it’s an easy – and very effective – way for cybercriminals to steal valuable info and money. It doesn’t require much technical skill to pull off either. By creating messages that look legit and play on fear and urgency, attackers can lure victims into a digital trap. It’s low cost, with a high reward. Plus, by throwing their net wide enough, they can target thousands of people at once. Who do attackers pretend to be? They’ll use the identity of a person or company you trust. This could be a bank, a music streaming service, or even your boss at work. The aim is to make something that seems so legitimate, that you follow their instructions without questioning it. You might get an email from ‘Netflix’ telling you that your payment didn’t go through, and that you need to update your details. These messages will look pretty convincing too, using official logos and language that sounds professional. But don’t take the bait! How to spot phishing calls and texts. Phishing isn’t just limited to emails though. It can also happen through a phone call or text message. Here’s how to spot a phishing attempt: Unexpected contact – Be careful if you get a call or text completely out the blue. Especially if it’s asking for personal info or telling you to do something ASAP. Sense of urgency – Phishing tries to create a sense of panic, convincing you to act quickly. Requests for personal information – Legitimate companies and brands won’t ask for sensitive details like passwords over the phone or text. Generic greetings – Messages that use generic intros like ‘Dear Customer’ instead of your name can be a big red flag. Unusual instructions – Don’t listen if the message asks you to do something odd, like install a piece of software, or visit another website. Check the number – If the call or text comes from a number you don’t recognise, be careful. Scammers can spoof numbers to make them look authentic. How to reduce phishing attempts. ​​​​​ While it’s hard to completely avoid being targeted, there are a few steps you can take to reduce the risk: Use email filters – Most email services have a spam filter that can catch lots of phishing emails. Make sure this is switched on and updated regularly. Educate yourself – Stay up to date on the latest phishing tactics. Knowing what to look out for can help you to stop being scammed. Turn on two-factor authentication – This adds an extra layer of security to your account. To get in, you (and the potential hacker) will need a password, plus a second bit of info – like a code that’s sent to your phone. Keep software updated – Download the latest security updates on your computer and phone. Be sceptical - Always question how legitimate any strange messages are, even if it looks like they’re from someone you trust. Verify their details before you do anything. How to report phishing. If you run into phishing, it’s important to report it. This helps the authorities to track down and stop scammers. Here’s how to file a report: Forward emails – If a phishing email lands in your inbox, forward it onto the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) at report@phishing.gov.uk. The NCSC investigate these reports and take action to block malicious sites. Report texts – For phishing texts, forward the message to 7726 (which spells SPAM). Your mobile carrier should then look into it. Contact the organisation – If the phishing attempt looks like it’s from a proper company, contact them to let them know. Most companies have special channels for reporting it (which you can usually find on their official website). Report to Action Fraud – You can report phishing to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. Head to their website or ring them on 0300 123 2040. Tell your bank – If you’ve given out any financial info (or think you have), get in touch with your bank immediately. They can help secure your account and monitor it for any suspicious activity. Giveaway Time! We’re giving one lucky winner the chance to win a Ninja Double Stack SL400UK Air Fryer. So on a lighter note – and in tribute to National Fish and Chip Day – what’s your go-to order at your local chippy? Let us know down below, and we’ll randomly select a winner. Entries close at 23:59 on 17 June 2024. We'll announce the lucky iD Community winner of the Ninja Double Stack SL400UK Air Fryer shortly after. We’ll notify the winner by direct message here on the Community, so please keep an eye on your inbox. Good luck!
Mental Health Awareness Week: Keep Active for a Healthy Mind.Blog
Mental Health Awareness Week, which takes place from May 13th to May 19th each year, is a powerful reminder of how important it is to take care of our mental well-being. Whether it's happening right now or in a few months, this week is all about getting real about mental health and finding ways to put our well-being first. The goal is simple: let's create a world where we've got each other's backs and no one feels afraid to ask for help when they need it. And guess what? One of the best things we can do for our mental health is to get moving! Exercise isn't just great for our bodies; it's like a superpower for our minds too. It can help us stress less, feel less anxious or down, and give us a boost in confidence and brain power. Whether you're into a relaxing walk, some gentle yoga, or a heart-pumping workout, getting active releases those feel-good endorphins that lift our mood. Now, I know starting a fitness routine can feel overwhelming, but don't worry—just take it one step at a time. Set small, achievable goals and find activities you actually enjoy, like dancing, swimming, or exploring the great outdoors. The key is to make it fun and rewarding! But here's the best part: You don't have to do it alone. Grab a buddy, rope in your family, or join a local fitness group to stay motivated and connected. Working out together not only makes it more enjoyable but also helps us feel supported and understood. And hey, technology is on our side too! Check out these four awesome apps that can help you stay on track and turn fitness into a social experience: Headspace This app is like a personal zen master, offering guided meditation and mindfulness exercises to help you de-stress, focus better, and find your inner peace. Strava Track your workouts and join a vibrant community of fitness lovers who will cheer you on every step of the way! Fitbit This cool app and device duo keeps an eye on your activity, sleep, and more, giving you personalized tips to smash your goals. Calm With a huge library of guided meditations, soothing stories, and calming tunes, this app is like a spa day for your mind. So, this week, let's make a promise to put our mental well-being first. By staying active, supporting each other, and using the tools available to us, we can become stronger, happier versions of ourselves. Remember, it's not just about individual journeys; it's about creating a world where we build each other up and shatter the stigma around mental health. Together, we've got this!
Google’s AI-mazing Pixel 8a!Blog
Google’s new entry-level A-series Pixel phone is anything but basic. The affordable Pixel 8a is packing the exact same chip that powers the Pixel 8 Pro, bringing with it a whole load of AI smarts made to make your life easier. Let’s find out everything it can do… What are the Google Pixel 8a's coolest AI features? The Google Pixel 8a puts plenty of power in your pocket with several cutting-edge AI features: Pixel Camera with Magic Editor:The 64 MP camera already takes amazing-looking snaps, but the Magic Editor takes everything up a notch. Move objects around, change the background, and delete photobombers like they were never there! Best Take:Did someone blink at the very last second? No problem. Best Take merges similar photos into one so that everyone looks their best. Photo Unblur:You can bring blurry pics to life with the Photo Unblur sharpening function, even if they weren’t taken on a Pixel phone. This means you can tidy up your old photos too. Night Sight:Take perfect pics late into the evening and those early hours with Night Sight. It produces clear and vibrant photos even in low light, including bright starry skies with Astrophotography. Audio Magic Eraser:Don’t forget to sort out your audio too! You can reduce any distracting car and wind noises in your video and boost the sounds you actually want to hear. Circle to Search:Want to search for something fast? Just draw a circle around an image, video, or bit of text and Google AI will find it in no time. Live Translate:Use the camera to translate signs, menus, and messages in seconds. Making the Pixel 8a a perfect travel companion for adventures abroad. Call Screen:Tired of spam calls? Pixel 8a helps filter out nuisance, time-wasting calls so you only hear from the people you want to speak to. Gemini Nano:You can ask Pixel 8a to read web pages out loud for you, and even translate them. And you’ll save tons of time by writing messages with your voice too. Google Pixel 8a key specs. All that Google AI makes for one seriously clever phone. But the Pixel 8a has even more tempting features… Full HD+ OLED display:The Pixel 8a makes movies, shows, and games look incredible with its detailed 6.1” touchscreen. And with a 120Hz refresh rate, it'll keep everything running smooth. All-day battery:Pixel 8a’s Adaptive Battery lasts for more than 24 hours, so you’ll spend less time charging and more time playing. Need it to last even longer? Just turn on the Extreme Battery Saver mode to stretch it for up to three days of use! Built-in VPN by Google:This will protect you and your data when you’re online, no matter what app or web browser you're using. Durable design:Google’s new phone can handle everyday spills, slips, and dust with its IP67 protection rating. The OLED display is scratch-resistant too, with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. 7 years of updates:You won't have to think about upgrading the Pixel 8a for a while, as Google promise seven years of Feature Drops and security updates. The best is still to come! To find out even more about Google’s new device that really puts the "smart" in smartphone, check out ourGoogle Pixel 8a product page. Is it worth upgrading to the Google Pixel 8a? If you’re coming up to the end of a contract on your Google Pixel 6a, it would make a lot of sense to move to the new Pixel 8a. While the phones look similar, the Pixel 8a packs plenty of upgrades under the hood. The new phone’s rapid 120Hz refresh rate is twice as fast as the Pixel 6a’s 60Hz, making swipes and fast-paced gameplay on the Pixel 8a look a lot smoother. It also offers 8GB of RAM rather than 6GB, so everything should feel a bit sharper and more responsive. But if you love snapping photos, then getting the Pixel 8a is a no-brainer. It’s rocking a 64MP main camera that makes photos look much better than the Pixel 6a’s 12.2MP camera. And with the new AI editing tools made possible by the Pixel 8a’s Tensor G3 processor — it’s just a big improvement all-round. You’ll also be able to take photos for longer without worrying about the Pixel 8a’s battery running out. It’s way more efficient than the Pixel 6a and allows for wireless charging too! Which Google Pixel 8a feature would you love to try the most? Is it the Magic Editor that can help you create perfect photos? Or is it the Pixel 8a’s Live Translate feature that can interpret stuff on the spot? Just share your favourite in the comments below!
How to prevent fraud and nuisance texts and calls.Blog
Nuisance calls and texts are to take you away from that Netflix episode, platform game or group chat. Recently, we’ve been made aware of several fraudulent calls and texts affecting iD customers, so it’s worth knowing how to report it and prevent it from happening again, should you be affected. Whether it’s a bogus call about an ‘accident’ that you never had, a ‘smishing’ text claiming to be from someone they’re not, or even a legitimate company trying to sell you stuff you’re not interested in, there are a few things you can do to stop it. We’ll show you how. What is ‘smishing’? ‘Smishing’ is essentially phishing via text message. These messages fraudulently claim to be from reputable organisations like network operators, energy companies or retailers, in order to get the recipient to give personal information like passwords or bank details. Unfortunately, it’s a common practice because on the whole, we tend to be less diligent with our texts than our emails. If you receive a text that makes you suspicious, don’t tap on any links that are included. And if you’re certain that the message was sent to you fraudulently, always report it to https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/. Here’s what you can do to prevent pesky communications on your phone: Be careful what you’re ticking When you sign up to anything online, look out for tick-boxes that say things like “I give permission for third parties to contact me by phone” or “I give you permission to contact me by phone”. Don’t tick them if you don’t want to be contacted! The same thing goes for all kinds of communications, be they email or text. For example, some comparison sites make you enter your personal details when you look for an insurance quote, and it’s easy to end up finding yourself on a mailing list. Whenever you buy or subscribe to something online, always double-check about the type of communications you consent to. Register with the Telephone Preference Service The best way to prevent nuisance calls is to register your number with the Telephone Preference Service. Doing this adds your number to their database of phone numbers that opt out of sales and marketing calls. It’s illegal for companies to call numbers registered with the Telephone Preference Service, so it should scare companies away and stop them bothering you. You can register both mobile and landline numbers. However, it only prevents live sales and marketing calls, not pre-recorded messages, abandoned calls or market research. You’ll need your phone number, postcode and an email address to sign up on the Telephone Preference Service website. You can also sign up from your mobile by texting ‘TPS’ and your email address to 85095. Or you can call them to register on 0345 070 0707. It’s free to register with the Telephone Preference Service. If anyone asks you for money to sign up, it’s a scam - you should report it to the Consumer Service. If you get sales calls after you’ve registered with the Telephone Preference Service, it may be because you gave the caller your number. Go ahead and tell the individual caller you don’t wish to be contacted again, and hopefully they should stop calling you. If they don’t, see ‘Report a nuisance call or text’ below. You may still get calls from companies that don't follow the regulations. If you do find yourself getting these calls after you’ve signed up, report it to the ICO Block nuisance calls You can block persistent calls from the same number on your phone. It varies between operating systems, but usually involves opening your call list and choosing the number you want to block (usually by pressing an info button next to the number - be careful not to call it). Then you should be shown an option to block that number. Alternatively, some smartphones are clever enough to detect that the number coming through is a scam call and let you know as it happens, giving you the option to block the number right then and there. What to do if you think it’s a scam call Scams usually involve people being tricked into giving money. If you think a caller is trying to scam you, just like with smishing texts, report it to Actionfraud straight away. Stop getting nuisance texts If you’ve given your number to a company in the past, they may send you texts. You can usually tell them to stop sending you texts by replying ‘STOP’ to the text message. Only reply with ‘STOP’ if the sender tells you who they are in the text, or they’re identified in the sent-from number. If you don’t recognise the sender of the nuisance text, or it’s from an unknown number, don’t reply. If you do, it lets the sender know your phone number is active and they might hassle you even more. Registering with the Telephone Preference Service won’t stop you getting nuisance texts When you do get a nuisance text, forward it to 7726 - this spells ‘SPAM’ on your phone keypad. Doing this reports the sender to iD Mobile and you won’t get charged for the text. As we mentioned before, you can also report nuisance calls or texts to the Information Commissioner's Office online. They can take action against whoever made the call. You’ll need to know the number the nuisance called from, and the date and time they called. You should be able to find both in your call history. Those are a few of the best things you can do to stop annoying calls and texts from coming through. Give them a go and see how you get on! Let us know in the comments below.
Stop! Think Fraud.Blog
Fraud is the most common crime affecting adults in the UK – and it can happen to anyone. In fact, fraud now makes up 41% of all crime. That’s why iD Mobile is backing the UK Government’s Stop! Think Fraud campaign, which is packed with useful tips to help keep you safe. We’ve pulled together the most important info below – have a read and make sure you’re following these simple steps. The more you do, the harder it is for scammers to target you. 1. Use a strong, unique password for your email. Your email holds a lot of personal info, and if a fraudster gets access, they could use it to scam you – or even people you know. Worse still, your email can be a ‘gateway’ to other accounts. If scammers crack it, they could reset your passwords and get into your social media, shopping, and banking accounts too. To keep your email secure, create a strong password using three random words – and don’t use it for anything else. Avoid anything guessable like your pet’s name or birth month. Adding numbers and symbols makes it even stronger. 2. Turn on 2-step verification (2SV). Also known as two-factor authentication (2FA), this extra security layer helps keep criminals out – even if they get hold of your password. It works by sending a one-time code or PIN to a device only you have access to, like your phone. You’ll usually only need it when logging in from a new device or changing settings, like your password. If you get the option to set up 2SV, do it – you’ll be making life twice as hard for scammers! 3. Use your browser’s password manager. If your web browser offers to save your passwords, let it! Password managers create and store strong, unique passwords for all your accounts. They’re easy to use, tough to crack, and mean you won’t have to remember multiple passwords. Spotting the warning signs of fraud. Fraudsters are professional tricksters – they’ll often pretend to be someone you trust. Every year, millions of people get scam messages or phone calls. If you get an unexpected request for money or personal info, be cautious. Don’t reply or click links straight away.Instead, contact the company or person directly using details from their official website. Report suspicious emails and messages. Phishing emails Phishing is when scammers send messages trying to steal your personal info. These emails might include dodgy links that download viruses onto your device or take you to fake websites designed to steal your details. In 2021, 80% of British adults remembered receiving a scam text or email. If you spot a phishing email, don’t delete it straight away – report it! Forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk to help stop the scammers. Scam texts and calls Fraudsters might send texts with dodgy links or call you, pretending to be from a trusted company. Reporting them helps providers block the scammers. To report a scam text, forward it to 7726, then send the sender’s number when prompted. To report a scam call, text 7726 with the word ‘Call’ followed by the scammer’s number. Suspicious ads? Report them too! Fake celebrity endorsements, too-good-to-be-true offers… if you spot a dodgy ad, report it to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) by searching ‘ASA scam report’ online. If you’ve been a victim of fraud, act fast. If you think you’ve been scammed, take action immediately: Tell your bank – they can investigate and help protect your money. Report the fraud – visit www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. Reporting fraud means it will be passed to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau to investigate and help to prevent other people falling victim. In Scotland? Contact Police Scotland on 101. Over to you… When it comes to preventing fraud, there’s real power in communities like ours. So please comment below if you’ve got any other good tips to help prevent fraud and stop scammers. We’d love to hear your suggestions.
How to protect your online identity
Fraud is on the rise. Every year, 4.6 million people in the UK fall victim to it. And though it’s easy to believe it won’t happen to you, scams are getting smarter. Whether you’re connecting with loved ones or shopping for essentials, our online identities make life easier – so it’s more important than ever to protect them. Read on for our top tips on how to keep your online identity safe. You’ll be a pro in no time. 1.Keep your software up to date Don’t ignore those pending update pop-ups. Software updates include important security patches to emerging online threats and new features to keep your information safe. And the sooner you do it, the sooner those pesky reminders will cease. 2.Check your social media settings Switch your social media profiles to private and ensure you’re only connected to people you trust. Your latest sunset picture might not go global, but you’ll be a step closer to safer selfie-taking. And when setting up a social media account, try not to include information that you wouldn’t want to share with strangers. 3.Monitor your finances and credit score Keep tabs on your finances to stop fraudsters in their tracks. Look out for new credit cards, loans or transactions on your accounts that you’re not aware of. If you do find anything suspicious, report it to your bank immediately. It’s also worth checking if there’s any false info on your credit report , including your National Insurance number, address, name or employer’s name. You can request a free copy of your credit report from Equifax or Experian, the credit report agencies. 4.Enable two-factor authentication Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security when logging in to online accounts. It sends a code to your mobile phone or email address that must be entered to log in. For even better protection, use an authentication app like Google Authenticator. 5.Install anti-virus software Anti-virus software works in the background to protect your device from malware. It can screen your downloads, regularly scan your computer for viruses and keep you safe as you browse the internet. 6.Be wary of public WiFi Free WiFi – hooray! But before you join, ensure that the source is legit. Connecting to an unsafe WiFi network is an easy way for opportunists to monitor and steal your banking information, personal details and more. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to protect yourself. 7.Only buy from reputable sites Found a bargain? If you’re not familiar with a website that you want to purchase from, it’s a good idea to do your homework. How are they reviewed by other users? What’s their Trustpilot score? Above all, look for ‘HTTPS’ at the front of the website’s URL if it’s asking for personal or financial info. It means you’re on a secure connection, away from potential prying eyes. 8.Use strong passwords Been using the same password variation for years? It’s time to switch it up. Weak passwords are an identity thief’s dream, especially if you use the same password for every account. Once the thief knows your password, they can log in to your financial accounts and wreak havoc. Ideally, your passwords should be at least 10 characters long, including upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. And make sure it’s totally unrelated to your personal info too. Avoid birthdays or pet names! 9.Learn to spot scams Some phishing scams are easy to identify, but others often look legit. Be careful when clicking on links. For example, if an email says it’s from your bank, has all the right logos and knows your name, it could be from your bank – but it might not be. Simply find the site yourself via a search engine – not through the link you were sent. That way, you’ll know for sure you’re on the right page and not a mocked-up fake. Unfortunately, fraudsters often use emotion to target vulnerable people. Some opportunists pose as family and friends to trick victims into sending money or personal details, whilst romance scammers use the prospect of a relationship to do the same. Be cautious when using dating apps, don’t share personal details and don’t send or receive money. Here at iD Mobile we’ll often add the last 4 digits of your mobile number to any emails related to your iD Mobile account, so it’s best to double check that those details are correct before clicking on any links.
How to stop phone distraction!Blog
Exam season is upon us. Are you a student? Or the parent of a student? If so, you’ll be aware of one of the major challenges – staying focused on studies rather than getting sidetracked smartphones. According to a 2019 study by RescueTime, the average person spends 3 hours and 15 minutes on their phone every day, with many checking their phones 58 times a day. This can be a real drain on concentration and derail studies. So let’s try and stop these distractions with some top tips and advice! How to manage screen time. Whether you’ve got an iPhone or Android, there are settings you can change to manage screen time and stop distractions. iOS Screen Time. If you’ve got an iPhone, Apple's Screen Time feature is a powerful tool to help manage device usage. To enable it, go to Settings > Screen Time. Here, you can limit phone use to essential apps during certain hours – very handy. Screen Time also provides detailed reports on your usage, helping you identify the biggest distractions. Digital Wellbeing for Samsung and other Androids. Digital Wellbeing is built into lots of Android devices, including Samsung phones. To enable it, go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls. You can then easily monitor your phone usage, set app timers, and use Wind Down to reduce screen time before bed. Samsung's version includes additional features like Focus Mode, which can pause distracting apps when you need to get down to serious studying. How to use Focus Modes and notifications. Focus Mode is another useful feature found on both iPhones and Android devices. Here’s how to use it: iPhone Focus Mode. On iOS, you can customize Focus Modes to suit different times of the day. Go to Settings > Focus to set up modes like Work, Personal, and Sleep. Each mode can be customised to allow notifications only from specific apps and contacts, reducing the temptation to check your phone. Android Focus Mode. You’ll find Android's Focus Mode in settings, under Digital Wellbeing. It lets you pause distracting apps with a single tap, and you can set it to turn on automatically during certain hours - so you can stay focused when you need to. Samsung Focus Mode. If you’ve got a Samsung Galaxy phone you’ll find Focus Mode under Settings > Digital Wellbeing and parental controls. Similar to the standard Android's version, it lets you pause apps temporarily. You can also set routines that trigger Focus Mode based on your studying schedule. Managing notifications. Notifications are a major source of distraction. Both iOS and Android allow you to manage notifications by going to Settings > Notifications. You can then choose which apps can send you notifications, select quieter notification styles, and even turn off notifications for specific apps entirely. How to uninstall distracting apps. One of the most straightforward ways to reduce phone distraction is to uninstall apps that are especially distracting or time-consuming. We’re talking about all the big social media apps, games, and even certain messaging apps.Removing them not only reduces temptation, but also helps free up storage and improve phone performance. Here’s how to uninstall them: iPhone: Tap and hold the app icon until it jiggles, then tap the ‘x’ and confirm deletion. Android: Tap and hold the app icon, then drag it to the ‘Uninstall’ option that appears. Helpful apps to reduce distraction. Okay, so this might sound counterintuitive, but… there are some really good apps designed to help reduce phone distraction. Here are three that are worth checking out: Forest. Available for iOS and Android Foresthelps you stay focused by planting a virtual tree that grows while you stay off your phone. If you leave the app to use your phone, the tree dies. Over time, you can grow an entire forest. If you study hard enough! StayFocusd. Available for iOS and Android If you can overlook the annoying spelling, this is a great app for blocking access to distracting websites and apps. You can set daily limits for each app, schedule block times, and even use a strict mode that prevents changes during certain periods. Cold Turkey. Available for iOS and Android Cold Turkeyoffers one of the strictest blocking systems. Once you block an app or website, you can’t access it until the timer runs out. It’s perfect if you’re looking for an uncompromising way to eliminate smartphone distraction. Try rearranging your Home Screen. Another simple but effective way of reducing distractions is to rearrange your phone Home Screen. Move all your distracting apps off the main page, and replace them with apps that aid productivity – such as calendar apps, note-taking apps, or study-related tools. You can even use Focus Mode (see above) to have different Home Screen layouts for different times of the day. For example, during Study Focus Mode you can set your Home Screen to only display study-related apps - and hide things like social media sites and games. We wish all students the best of luck during exam season. Do you have any of your own tips for reducing phone distractions? Any good study advice you’d like to give? Feel free to share in the comments below!
WhatsApp to stop working on millions of phones.Blog
If your iPhone or Android smartphone is running on an old operating system, now is a good time to update. Find out how... We love WhatsApp at iD Mobile, and we’re not the only ones. The messaging app has 300 million daily users worldwide and a million daily registrations. It’s a great way to share memes with mates and stay in touch with family. Over the past month or so, we’ve seen a number of articles claiming that WhatsApp will stop working on many handsets from late January. If you have an old smartphone that runs on an old OS, unfortunately, it’s true. And if you use a Windows phone, you may have noticed that WhatsApp has already stopped working. Since WhatsApp are no longer developing for these older operating systems, according to WhatsApp, some features might stop functioning at any time. They also went on to say that if your phone runs on any of the affected software. Plus, you won’t be able to create a new account or reverify an existing one. Don’t worry though! We’ll tell you exactly which phones will be affected, and what you can do to keep your mates’ group chat alive and kicking: Android The new update will affect any Android phones running software older than Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Since this version was released in 2011, the chances are you’ve updated your OS since. If you’re not sure though, simply go to Settings > General > Software Update. Or, for some phones, go to Settings > About Phone. The WhatsApp update should only impact phones that are over 10 years old, but many of these devices can still be updated to a newer version of Android. To see if you can install a more recent OS, just head to ‘Software Update’ in your Settings. You’ll still be able to use WhatsApp on your phone once it’s up-to-date. iOS (Apple iPhone) iPhones running iOS 8 or earlier will be affected by the WhatsApp update at the end of January. Some iPhones will be able to update to iOS 9, but not all. The iPhone 6s and later models are safe, but if you have an older model, it could be affected. Here is a list of older iPhones and whether they can update to iOS 9: iPhone 6 / 6 Plus – Can update to iOS 9 iPhone 5 / 5s / 5c – Can update to iOS 9 iPhone 4s – Can update to iOS 9 iPhone 4 or older – Cannot update to iOS 9 and will lose WhatsApp functionality That’s everything we know about the upcoming WhatsApp update. Is your phone on the list of handsets that’ll no longer receive WhatsApp support? Then maybe it’s time to upgrade. Head over to iD Mobile to check out all our great deals!