Facebook Memories can be good for a laugh or a fond memory, but do you want them popping up all the time and possibly causing embarrassment. Here’s how to customize your Facebook settings to hide them on the mobile app.
1. Open the Facebook app on your phone.
2. Tap the Menu button. On Android it will be in the top-right corner of the screen, and on iPhone it will be in the bottom-right corner.
3. Tap Memories.
4. Tap the Gear icon in the top-right corner to access Memories Settings.
5. You can choose between All Memories, Highlights or None. All Memories means Facebook will show you all your memories from that day, Highlights will only show you special videos and collections, and None means you won’t get notifications for any memories.
If you want something more specific, you can choose to hide memories involving specific users. Follow the steps above, but instead tap People in the Memories Settings page. You can type in a user’s name that you want to hide from your memories. They won’t be notified, and your selections are saved automatically.
You can also tap Dates in the Memories Settings page to hide memories from a specific date range. You can enter almost any span of time — a day, a week, month or an entire year — going back in time to 1900. When you’re done, tap Done and then tap Save.
Have you received a text message that claims you’ve won a competition you didn’t enter? A parcel delivery fee you weren’t expecting? Or a final demand on a bill you’ve never seen? If you get a text out of the blue that either doesn’t feel relevant or too good to be true, ensure you never click on any links.
The call-to-action is a link
Clicking on a link in a scam text message could expose your phone to malware that may compromise its security, or take you to a fake version of a brand or company’s website to gather personal information. Ask yourself, what is it asking you to do, and is there a way you can find out? For example, if it’s an account-based query, visit your account another way, because it could be a scam text.
The link doesn’t look official
If the link looks dodgy to you, the chances are you’re correct. Links that don’t contain any of the company or brand’s normal URL structure, or use link-shorten tools such as bit.ly, are often giveaways. Equally, if the text message has come from a random unrecognised number, you should be wary about what it asks you to do.
It’s a different style to previous messages
Even if the message appears in the same chain as previous messages from a company or brand, it doesn’t mean this latest one is real – scammers can spoof real phone numbers to make them look authentic. So, does it look like all the others you’ve received? Is the style different? Is it asking you to do something they’ve never asked before?
For example, if previous messages have asked you to log into your account via an app, but this latest one says to click a link, it may not be genuine.
All the usual signs
As with email and phone scams, the common traits are the same for text scams. Does it convey a sense of urgency (positive or negative), often coupled with a threat to meet a deadline. Does it contain spelling or punctuation mistakes? And is it asking you for personal details? If in doubt, as mentioned above, ensure you never click on any links.
A digital legacy is the digital information that is available about someone following their death. Someone’s digital legacy is often shaped by interactions the person made and information that they created before they died. This might include their social media profiles, online conversations, photos, videos, gaming profiles and their website or blog.
The Digital Legacy Association believe that only once someone understands the value of their own digital legacy will they be motivated and therefore make suitable plans to address this area.
Digital legacy Planning
There are a number of ways in which we can make plans for our digital legacy and the digital assets that are contained within online accounts and digital devices. This might include granting access to devices (computers, mobile phones etc) to one or more trusted person(s). Granting access might help ensure that photos, videos and important files remain accessible and are not locked behind a password in perpetuity.
Plans for photos and videos saved ‘in the cloud’ on social media and other online accounts can also be made. Planning might involve downloading a copy of your uploaded media and passing on a backup of the media contained within them to someone you trust. It may also involve curating your favourite media, printing a selection of photos, documenting your wishes within a social media will and granting account access to a third party.
Making plans for your online accounts and digital legacy shouldn’t be undertaken by a third party… plans should be made by you. You own the online accounts and devices where your personal photos, videos and other digital assets are held. You also know the password for these accounts. You might also own the photos, videos, money and credit held within them. Some solicitors and for profit organisations will charge a fee to ‘manage’ your digital accounts however this can cause confusion, financial loss and the loss of sentimental photos and videos. If you wouldn’t trust a stranger to organise your personal photos and your possessions of monetary value you might not want to trust a stranger or third party organisation when making plans for your personal photos, videos and digital assets of monetary value.
To learn how to make plans for your own online accounts and devices visit our tutorial hub.
Digital legacy App
There are a small number of apps that can help the general public make plans for their online accounts. Some of them charge a fee for use. The MyWishes app is free to use and allows users to document all of their accounts and print out an exhaustive list in a ‘Social Media Will‘ document.
In 2024, social media is more dynamic than ever, and lines demarcating social platforms are blurring. We know established giants like Facebook and YouTube, evolving alongside rising stars like TikTok and Threads. This article explores the top 6 social media apps and sites ranked by monthly active users.
1. Facebook
For all its faults (and there are a lot of them), Facebook is still comfortably the most popular social network in the world.
With more than 2.95 billion users, it’s the place to go if you want to easily connect with most of the people from your current or former life. Facebook Marketplace has also become one of the most popular ways to buy and sell items locally.
2. YouTube
If you want to learn how to do something, watch a documentary, or just giggle at pure entertainment, YouTube is the place to go. It rose to popularity thanks to its long-form video content library and easy, free access.
3. Instagram
If you enjoy exploring captivating images and short, snappy video clips, then Instagram is undoubtedly the ideal social network for you. Surprisingly, a whopping 57% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 30 have an account on Instagram.
Perhaps unfairly, the network has developed a reputation for being superficial and full of selfies.
4. TikTok
Compared to older apps like Twitter and Facebook, TikTok is a fresh-faced social media app.
There’s clearly significant demand for short-form video; TikTok is one of the most downloaded apps in both the App Store and Google Play Store. While it’s a fun app, there are some TikTok security risks to be aware of.
5. Snapchat
Snapchat is almost exclusively a young person’s hangout. The site revolves around sharing self-destructing images and videos, though there’s also a messaging tool and lots of gamification features.
6. X
X (formerly Twitter) is another network that has received a considerable amount of negative coverage. However, if you want breaking news, instant reactions, and access to your favorite sports stars, celebrities, and journalists, X is an unrivaled resource.
A smartphone can be a very expensive purchase, especially if you want a high-end model like an iPhone 15 Pro Max or a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but there are ways to reduce the cost.
That can mean waiting for the ideal time to buy, getting some money out of your old phone, choosing a different handset to the one you might have been considering, or various other things.
To help you out, we’ve highlighted five tips for saving money when buying a phone.
1. WAIT FOR THE BIG SALES
Many smartphones can often be found for reduced prices during sales, with the biggest two arguably being Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
2. SHOP AROUND FOR THE CHEAPEST PRICES
If you don’t want to wait for a sale then it’s worth at least shopping around, as not all stores or carriers will charge the same amount for a phone. Some may also have offers outside of the major sales periods listed above, so keep an eye out for that too.
3. TRADE IN YOUR OLD DEVICE
One easy way to take the sting out of the price of a new smartphone is to trade in your old device towards it. Many carriers offer trade in programs, and sometimes they even have special deals where you’ll get increased credit when trading in your old device.
4. BUY A PRE-OWNED HANDSET
Just as you can sell your old phone to save some money on a new handset, you could also choose to buy someone else’s old phone, since this will be cheaper than a new handset. There are also plenty of refurbished options available from sites such as Ebay.
5. GET AN OLDER MODEL
Ok, so you might not want to buy a pre-owned handset, but it’s equally worth considering a new but older model. So rather than buying an iPhone 15 you could buy an iPhone 14 for example.
QR codes have become a popular way to open websites and pay for products and services. But not all of them are secure. Cyber criminals can use QR codes to steal personal and bank details. Here we tell you what you can do to avoid QR scams.
Quick response or “QR” codes are like barcodes. When we scan them with a mobile phone camera, a link to the information they hold appears.
In today’s digital world, QR codes are used to browse restaurant menus, to connect to public Wi-Fi, to pay for parking, and to redirect users to a website.
For cyber criminals, the QR code fad creates an opportunity to steal people’s identities or hack into their bank accounts and make off with their money.
QR code scams
QRshing is a form of phishing. It uses QR codes to send users to a fake website that spreads malware or elicits confidential information. Cyber criminals posing as real companies send phishing emails with a QR code and ask users to scan it. Then, they attempt to obtain information or spread virus-infected files.
Another common scam is the false QR code stuck on top of an original one, like in restaurants and street advertising. False QR codes can even be found on parking meters, linking to a credible but fake payment site to steal money or credit card information.
Scams that use inverted QR codes are also gaining traction. Scammers first create a malicious code and then use it as a presumed payment method. But the code does exactly the opposite: it solicits money from whoever scanned it. Instead of paying the merchant for an item or service, the malicious QR code makes the merchant pay the scammer. This type of scam is also used to steal personal information and bank details.
How to avoid a QR scam
Before scanning a QR code, like in a restaurant or some other public space, check that it hasn’t been tampered with or got a sticker placed over an original code.
Installing anti-virus software to verify original QR codes that do not contain malicious links will help you avoid having a virus or other malware downloaded onto your mobile.
Double-check the preview of the QR code link. When you scan a QR code, a preview of the URL should appear. Make sure the website address is legitimate. Look for a padlock symbol and an address that begins with “https://”. Only those URLs are secure.
Think twice if the app or website you’re being directed to asks you to provide personal details. If it does, make sure it’s authentic.
Here are a few suggestions to help people who have problems with vision when trying to use their tablet or phone.
Siri – for iPad or iPhone
I have found the simplest feature to use is Siri, by holding down the home button for one second you can activate Siri and ask it to read emails or messages.
To have Siri start reading the Mail’s Inbox list say, “Hey Siri, check email.” Besides “check,” other variations you can use include “show,” “read,” “view” and “display”. You can also have Siri check for new email with, “Hey Siri, check for new email.” Siri will also read a list of emails in the Inbox from a contact, for example say, “Hey Siri, check email from Sam.”
When an email list appears Siri will announce a number if fewer than 25, or say, “You have at least 25 emails” if that number is 25 or more. Siri will then start reading the day or date, sender and subject of the first email in the list. Siri will pause and ask either, “Do you want to hear the next one?” or “Want to hear one more?” You can also specify how many emails to read from the list using a cardinal number, for example say, “Read 5 emails.”
In the pause after Siri asks if you want to hear another you can say, “Read it” to have Siri read the content of the last email read from the list. You can also specify an ordinal number from the email list to have Siri read its content, for example say, “Read the 6th one” or “Read the 3rd email.”
To dismiss Siri say, “Quit,” or synonyms or variations such as “cancel,” “bye,” “see you” or “so long.”
Voiceover – For iPad or iPhone
Since Siri is unable to manage or delete emails you’ll need to use another tool such as Apple’s gesture-based screen reader VoiceOver. It’s easy to use once you understand how it functions and what gestures to use to perform actions. It is transformative technology allowing a person with visual impairment full use of their device.
A few basic gestures:
Note, once an item is selected you can perform an action gesture anywhere on the screen to activate it, not just from directly over it.
Place a finger on the screen and drag it around. VoiceOver speaks each item under the finger. Lift the finger to leave that item selected. You can also tap an item once to select it.
Once an item is selected double-tap it to activate it.
Here’s how using VoiceOver might be used to read and delete email:
Say, “Hey Siri, open Mail,” then, “Hey Siri, turn on VoiceOver” and “Hey Siri, bye.” If Mail opens on the Mailboxes screen, slide one finger around and when Inbox is selected lift the finger and double-tap anywhere on the screen to activate it, taking you to the Inbox screen. VoiceOver will begin speaking the capsule of the first message in the list. If not, drag a finger to select the first message.
If you know you don’t want to have the full content of the email spoken, you can perform an action on it. With the email selected, from anywhere on the screen, flick one finger quickly up or down. Continue the flick gesture in the same direction until you hear the action you want to perform. With each flick of the finger the actions will cycle: Mark as Read (or Unread depending on state) > Flag > More > Delete > Activate (default) ↩. Double-tap to perform the selected action.
Drag one finger down the message list to select another email. To go to down another page in the list use a three-finger swipe up. Use a three-finger swipe down to go back up.
To have VoiceOver speak the content of a message, select the message and double-tap anywhere on the screen to go to the message screen. To speak the entire screen from the top use a two-finger swipe up. To speak the entire screen from a selected starting item, drag a finger to where you want to start and use a two-finger swipe down. Use a two-finger tap to pause speaking. Two-finger tap again to resume speaking.
To delete an email from the message screen, drag a finger to the toolbar at the bottom and select Delete. Double-tap anywhere on the screen to delete the message.
Speaking email – Android phone or tablet as well as iPad or iPhone
If you are visually impaired, Speaking Email might be perfect for you. The app reads out the contents of your inbox one email at a time, moving on to the next automatically. It skips over email signatures, disclaimers and other email-specific clutter – making for a smooth and seamless reading experience.
It is fully operable by voice commands for daily usage, such as checking emails, replying and managing mail. It can be set up to wait for your command at the start and end of emails. You can even tell it to “ignore” and emails from that person will be skipped over in future.
Another useful App for Android is Lookout. To get info about your surroundings, use Lookout. It uses the camera and other sensors on your Android device to tell you about objects and text nearby.
You can use the 7 modes in Lookout for different activities.
Text: Point your camera at any text to read it. If the text isn’t read clearly:
Rotate your device between landscape and portrait.
Move the text closer or away.
Lookout will alert you when no text is detected.
Explore (beta): Point your camera around you to hear about what’s in your environment, like objects and text.
Explore mode is still in beta and is less accurate than other modes.
Food labels: To scan barcodes or recognize the front of a food product, hold the product’s label in front of your camera and slowly rotate it.
Food labels mode is only available in some countries. The first time you select Food labels mode, follow the prompt to download additional data. This download lets Food labels mode recognize food labels, get results faster, and work offline.
Documents: Read full pages of text.
Hold your device in portrait mode and move your device slowly.
To take a picture of the entire document, listen to Lookout’s real-time guidance.
To read the text in view, you can use the “Take snapshot” button. Sometimes Lookout can read a snapshot better than a live camera view.
Currency: To read currency, point your camera at one banknote at a time.
This mode is only available for US dollars, Euros, or Indian Rupees. It doesn’t recognize coins.
Images: Capture, upload or share an image and get a d
Lookout detects text and objects in the image.
To help Lookout identify the image, hold your device, move it slowly, and listen to Lookout’s real-time object identification.
To capture an image, tap Capture or Selfie. You can also upload or share an image to Lookout.
To download a captured image, on your screen, tap Download.
You can get detailed descriptions of your image in English.
If you use English in the US, UK, or Canada, to ask follow-up questions and get AI powered answers, you can use the keyboard or your voice. To share your satisfaction with the Q&A results, tap Thumbs up or Thumbs down.
Poor lighting, blur, low resolution, and occlusion can affect the image capture and description results. The image contents and composition may also impact the results.
Find: Selectan object to be found from a prefilled list of objects.
To choose an object, at the top right, tap Choose the item you want to find.
The default setting is “Seating & Tables,” the chair icon.
To help Lookout find the object, hold your device, move it slowly, and listen to Lookout’s real-time object identification
In the UK, one in every five minutes spent online is on social media platforms. They are where we catch up with friends, shop, job hunt, or even look for love with many of us using these sites/apps on a daily basis. Each day the average UK internet user spends 39 minutes on sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Tinder, WhatsApp and LinkedIn. Some of us may be spending even more time online as we find ourselves at home more often than we’d like to be. Unfortunately, some scammers are using the platforms that we know and trust to trick people into parting with their money.
We’ve compiled a list of the top four scams seen taking place on social media.
Purchase scams
Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat are all amazing ways for us to keep up with our friends and families, especially in the current climate. They’re also where many people find the latest clothing trends, phones, or games console for what appear to be competitive prices. But how can you tell if these goods really exist and are going to be delivered?
If you have to send money prior to receiving the goods, try and arrange to send it via a secure platform such as Paypal (and don’t use the friends and family feature if you are sending the funds to a stranger) or offer to pay a deposit before the item is sent. If a seller refuses, this may be an indication that it is a scam. If you’re looking at splashing some serious cash (such as for a car or holiday), we would recommend doing thorough research on the seller, such as checking to see if they have online reviews and also requesting to see documentation, such as an invoice before handing over any money. If the price seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
Impersonation scams
“Hey, I need a favour. I’m struggling to pay my rent. Would you be able to transfer £300 to me and I’ll pay you back on payday? ”
What would you do if you received this message via Facebook Messenger from a friend or family member? You’d want to help them if you could, but bear in mind that many social media platforms can be hacked, and fraudsters will reach out to contacts asking for money, appealing to people’s good nature. They may even read through previous messages sent by the hacked person’s account so they know how to mimic their tone of language, making their message seem even more convincing. The best way to avoid this scam is a good old fashioned phone call to your friend on a trusted phone number to confirm that it genuinely was them sending the request.
Romance scams
So you’ve swiped right on Tinder and found the perfect match for you! You have great conversations and spend weeks messaging back and forth. Then out of the blue, they ask you for £1,000 because they need to help a sick relative abroad with their medical bills.
This is just one scenario that a fraudster might use to try and persuade you to send them money. They may also play with your emotions by advising they are sick/in danger or try and convince you they are in love with you.
Scammers will often use pictures of models found on Google on their dating apps/website profiles to make them appear to be the ideal man/woman so if possible try and do a video call to make sure you are speaking with the person in the pictures. If they are avoiding phone or video calls with you, this could be an indication that they are not who they say they are.
Do some research on this person – you can check their Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin pages and if things don’t add up, this may also suggest you are not speaking to a genuine person. Anyone can fall for a romance scam, they are often complex and can take place over a long period of time, so don’t be embarrassed to express any concerns with a friend or family member.
Investment scams
’Get rich quick’ or ’double your money’ investment posts encouraging you to invest in foreign exchange (AKA Forex), cryptocurrencies and binary options are plastered all over social media, and are particularly prevalent on Snapchat and Instagram at the moment. These investments almost always don’t exist. Genuine investment companies would never approach clients over social media and would always be registered on the FCA register.
I recommend the TFL Go app. As well as showing the bus stops in the immediate vicinity it has a journey planner function. Both of these are easy to use. Give it a try.
Get started on your journey with TfL Go
Use our live map to see your route – or search any place or address across London
Get live bus, train and tram times and the quieter times to travel
Get live updates on all bus, Tube, London Overground, DLR, Elizabeth line and tram lines
Check walking and cycling routes for all or part of your journey
Use step-free mode for planning accessible journeys. This includes information on toilet locations, platform access and live lift status
Christmas is a time when it’s so easy to get distracted – presents to buy, family and friends to feed and, often, it involves more travelling than the big fella with the beard. But when there’s so much going on, it’s easy to let your normal common sense lapse. Scammers know that all too well, meaning the holiday season is a prime opportunity for them
How to spot scam websites
Have you ever been on a website that just feels a bit off? Something about it that doesn’t feel right? One of the most prevalent scams during the Christmas season are fake websites. Scammers create sites that mimic well-known retailers, offering enticing deals and discounts to make you want to click. These scam websites can be very convincing. But interacting with them gives criminals either your personal details, your money or both.
While losing money is bad for obvious reasons, criminals stealing your personal details is no laughing matter either. If they get vital information, such as your name, login credentials or credit card number, they can use them for identity theft or sell these details to other criminals on the dark web.
How to avoid scam websites:
Stick to online shopping sites you know and access them only through their official websites.
Check the website URL (web address) for any mistakes.
If it’s an online store you don’t know or haven’t previously used, check their contact information and returns policy, as legitimate shops don’t hide them.
Search for reviews on trusted review sites. Watch out for exclusively positive reviews from profiles that sound fake, such as Amy113 and Tim231.
How to spot too good to be true deals
We’re all hunting for the biggest bargains this Christmas, especially with the cost of living. But our search for great offers can lead to taking bigger and bigger risks. While many Christmas shopping deals are genuine, some are just too good to be true. Scammers may advertise products at unrealistically low prices to lure shoppers.
But let’s face it, no one is going to sell a new iPhone for £100. Once a payment is made, the scammer disappears. Alternatively, you’ll get something totally different than what was promised. Another trick is to offer a discount for a very limited time. For example, saying a sale ends in just 10 minutes. This trick is used to make you buy fast and carelessly, so you don’t have time to validate the seller’s authenticity.
How to avoid too-good-to-be-true deals:
Be sceptical of deals that seem too good to be true, and very short-lasting deals.
Shop with well-known, reputable retailers.
If you do see a deal with a retailer you’ve never shopped with previously, do you know someone who has previously shopped there who could recommend them?
Like with fake websites, check trusted review sites and check social media for any complaints.
Use price-comparison websites to ensure the deal is consistent with the market price.
How to spot delivery scams
When time is short, online retailers are convenient. But while you might gain time in skipping the high street, you’ll often lose it again waiting for the deliveries to come. That can cause anxiety, especially if you need to head out on other errands, and scammers will seize on that apprehension. That’s why they’ll try their luck sending fake delivery notifications as a text message to your phone – even managing to mimic the company’s name in the sender line.
These scam messages seemingly come from the likes of FedEx, DHL, Evri or other well-known delivery companies claiming they have a package waiting for you. To arrange a delivery, they will ask you to install their app or click the link in the message. However, these apps or links are malware that may steal your bank credentials and eventually your money.
How to avoid delivery scams:
Verify the tracking number independently through the official carrier’s website.
If you need to arrange a delivery, do it from the carrier’s web page or on the phone.
Do not install applications outside of official app stores and have antivirus installed.
Never click on a link. Again, anything that needs to be verified can be done independently through official channels.
Be cautious when providing personal information in response to unsolicited delivery notifications.
How to spot email scams
Your inbox will be filled with emails this time of year from lots of high street or online retailers featuring great Christmas offers and deals. But amongst them will also be scam emails. Scam emails combine many of the tricks mentioned above and are one of the most common ways that scammers will use to try and steal your money and personal information.
They are disguised as coming from well-known brands and direct you to scam websites with enticing offers or delivery notifications. Another typical trick is to tell you that your payment or credit card was declined, and to change it, you just must enter your credit card number again. Scam emails can also lure you to download malicious attachments.
How to avoid email scams:
Always double-check the email sender’s address. Legitimate retailers use domain names that match their brand.
Be wary of unsolicited emails and don’t click on suspicious links. Instead, visit the retailer’s official website directly.
If an email says that your payment or card was declined, go to the service in question through their website, not the link in the email.
Don’t open suspicious attachments. If your antivirus warns you, do not skip the warning.
How to spot social media scams
We spend a lot of time on socials, and these platforms can be a great way at finding deals, discovering new products (#TikTokMadeMeBuyIt) or entering giveaways or competitions. But, you’ve guessed it, because these are popular online pastimes, scammers will try and lure you in on social media platforms, often through fake contests.
You’ll have seen these posts or received direct messages like these in the past. These posts promise free products or gift cards in exchange for personal information or sharing the post.
How to avoid social media scams:
Verify the legitimacy of the social media account or page before participating in any giveaway or contest.
Be cautious when asked to provide personal information in exchange for freebies.
It’s important to recognise that scammers are active all the year-round. While they may amplify their efforts during Christmas, they don’t take a holiday for the rest of the year. Whether it’s Christmas or any other time of the year, remember to remain informed, stay safe, and safeguard your financial well-being. Happy shopping, and may your online journeys always remain free from scams.
