Mobile phone security

Phone theft is one of the most common types of crime: in London, a mobile is stolen every six minutes, according to police data.

Beyond the loss of the device, the risks are also in the stored personal and financial information, which criminals can use to access bank accounts, make unauthorized purchases, or even identity theft. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to minimize these risks.

What can thieves do if they get hold of an unprotected mobile phone?

Access your personal information

Such as emails, text messages, photos, and stored files, possibly gathering sensitive details like passwords or financial data.

Steal your money or make purchases

If your phone is linked to payment apps or has stored credit card details, criminals could make unauthorised purchases or transfers.

Carry out identity theft

Using the information on your phone, they might impersonate you to commit fraud, such as creating fake accounts or scamming your contacts.

Use your social media accounts

To post harmful content, send malicious messages, or scam your friends.

Suggested safety tips for mobile phone users

Be aware of your surroundings

  • Be mindful when inputting your PIN in at a public place, as someone could see it. This could give them access to your phone if they successfully steal it, even if you have activated facial recognition.
  • Keep your device in your pocket, when possible, as thieves are looking for unlocked devices, which are more valuable than locked ones. 
  • Avoid using phone covers that hold your driving license and other cards.

Protect your phone

  • Use a different PIN for your screen lock code and banking apps.
  • Use biometric authentication (face recognition or fingerprint) and activate two-step verification on your devices and apps, when possible.
  • If you have an iPhone, activate enable the ‘Stolen Device Protection’ for extra security when your device is away from familiar locations, such as home or work.
  • Set up tracking capabilities on your phone (e.g., Apple’s ‘Find My’ or Google’s ‘Find My Device’) to allow you to locate, secure or erase the device from another phone or laptop and block it remotely.
  • If available, set spending limits and alerts on your banking accounts to stay informed and minimize risks.

Declutter your digital life: how cleaning your devices boosts speed and saves space

Clear out your digital clutter. Learn how organising your phone, laptop or tablet improves performance, frees up storage and makes your tech feel brand new

By Simon Ward


Spring means many things. The return of nicer weather. A change in your wardrobe. A return to the great outdoors. Heck, some of us might even chance our arm and crack out the barbeque, because why not?

But for many of us, this season also gives us the fear, because one member of our household is about to suggest the two words that no one wants to hear at the exact same time it has just got sunny outside:

Spring clean.

Those words herald a seemingly endless process of clearing out drawers filled with old batteries and keys belonging to homes you once lived in, trying on clothes earmarked for the charity shop and an industrial level of cleaning not seen since 2020.

But we have to admit, it makes sense to do this decluttering once a year to keep our homes in tip-top shape. So why don’t we do the same for our devices?

If you find your device has been getting slower, it can prompt thoughts of needing a new one. Over time, laptops, phones and tablets get bogged down with files and apps that are no longer needed. This slows them down and sometimes makes them unstable to use.

But don’t trade in your tech just yet! Sometimes all you need is to spring clean your device to enhance your device’s speed, extend battery life and free up storage. You won’t even need a pair of marigolds or a feather duster.

According to research by O2, nearly half of British mobile phone users are paying for additional mobile storage. It reveals the true cost of being a digital hoarder: millennials are paying more than six times more than boomers pay (£33.36 vs £4.80) over the course of a year for extra storage.

Read on to discover the benefits of cleaning your devices, including some useful tricks to keep your electronics in tip-top shape!

More space

Is your device running low on space? No matter how much storage space a device has, over time it starts to run out. Apps, app data, downloads, screenshots, saved memes and other content can take up valuable room, so cleaning up old junk will free up space for fun and new stuff. Otherwise, you might find that you can’t take photos or install apps.

Here are a few tips to save device space:

  1. Say no to automatic saving: Check to see which apps automatically save images, apps like WhatsApp can add images to your photo album without you even realising.
  2. Clean out the voice notes, videos and photos from your chat history: These can unexpectedly take up a lot of space on your device, so remember to occasionally have a clear-out and delete any content you don’t need to avoid unnecessary build-up.
  3. Once you’ve listened to it, delete it: Podcast downloads can easily pile up when you subscribe to them weekly, so try to delete episodes once you’ve listened. File sizes can be between 25MB and 50MB per episode, so these can very quickly dominate your device storage.
  4. Steer clear of filming in 4K: This will require significantly more storage space than lower resolutions like 1080p, especially if you like to take numerous videos, because it has four times the number of pixels, meaning more data to store per frame.
  5. Organise and delete unneeded apps: Regularly take stock of how much storage your apps are using. If you’ve not used an app in several weeks, consider whether you really need it.
  6. Delete videos you’ll never rewatch: Gig-goers especially are renowned for taking photos at gigs, and while it’s great to capture those memories, do you really need 20 video clips of one song?

Faster performance

If your computer or phone feels slower than before, it could be because there are too many processes affecting its performance. A virus running in the background can also slow everything down. If you give your device a spring clean, apps will start up and run faster and more smoothly – and you’ll also remove any threats to your tech.

All this background noise on your device can also contribute to slower WiFi when you try to connect, so the benefits to your device’s performance are numerous.

Here are a few tips for faster performance:

  1. Empty the cache: Regularly clear your app and browser cache to free up memory and keep things running smoothly.
  2. Update your software: Running the latest versions of your apps or software ensures your device benefits from performance fixes and speed optimisations.
  3. Limit background processes: Disable unnecessary background app refresh or startup items, especially on older devices.

Battery for days

Wouldn’t it be nice if your battery lasted longer? Well, cleaning your device can significantly extend your battery life. Remove unnecessary apps, potential malware and processes that consume your device’s battery, and you won’t need to recharge as often.

Here are a few tips to improve battery performance:

  1. Delete battery-draining apps: Some apps or applications constantly run in the background and hog battery power on your laptop, phone or tablet. Ditch the ones you rarely use, especially social media or location-based apps.
  2. Lower screen brightness: Your display can be one of the biggest battery consumers. Turn down the brightness or enable auto-brightness to save power.
  3. Turn off unused features: Disable Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS or mobile data, if you’re not using them. They quietly drain your battery, even in standby mode.

Less risk to privacy

Many apps run in the background even when you don’t actively use them. They might also have access to user data including your location, contacts, browsing history and photos. Deleting apps you don’t need will remove unwanted data collection and free up some space too.

Here are a few tips to protect your privacy:

  1. Uninstall unused apps with excessive permissions: Old or rarely used apps may still have access to your location, contacts or camera. If you don’t need them, delete them.
  2. Review app permissions: Head into your settings and check what data your apps can access. Remove and revoke anything unnecessary.
  3. Clear browsing history and cache: As well as speeding up your device, regularly clearing your browser history and cookies can prevent websites from tracking your activity.
  4. Remove old accounts and stored logins: Go through your saved passwords or auto-logins and delete accounts you no longer use. Old accounts can be entry points for hackers, especially if you’ve used the same passwords on multiple accounts.

Taking care of your device also means protecting it

As viruses and malware can slow down your device, removing them can make everything run smoother. That’s why running a security check is crucial when spring cleaning your device. But cleaning your device from potential malware is only reacting to existing threats. Protect your newly cleaned devices against any future threats with antivirus software.

With a protected device you don’t need to worry about security issues. Installing security software automatically detects any malware on your device, making spring cleaning your device easier while protecting you online. Now, that’s a win-win!

15 Best Websites for Seniors in 2025: Dating, Health, + More

Written by Julia Olech Cybersecurity & Tech Writer

Although over 70% of seniors use the internet almost every daymany websites aren’t easy to use if you don’t have much experience in the digital world. It’s not surprising that almost 80% of seniors say they often need help navigating many sites!

Figuring out which web pages are safe and useful can be confusing if you’re not a tech expert, so I put together a list of the best 15 websites for seniors and their loved ones. These pages will connect you to online communities that share your interests and help you find resources on healthcare, jobs, beauty, spirituality, money management, games, and more. Visit as many of them as you please and don’t forget to save this page for future reference! 

https://www.wizcase.com/blog/best-websites-for-seniors

Google Keep

Google Keep is a note-taking service included as part of the free, web-based Google Docs Editors suite offered by Google.

Quickly find your notes and lists by using the search bar in Google Keep. You can filter by text or note features, such as colour, labels and images.

Search in Google Keep

  1. On your phone or tablet, open the Google Keep app.
  2. In the top right, tap SearchSearch.
  3. Type the words or label name that you’re looking for, or click an icon to filter your search results:
    • Types: Filter notes by reminders, recordings, URLs or other types.
    • Labels: Filter notes by labels that you’ve given them.
    • Things: Filter notes that fit into categories, such as books, music, travel and more.
    • People: Filter notes that you’ve shared with specific people.
    • Colours: Filter notes that you’ve tagged with a certain colour.
  4. When you have your results, tap a note to open it.

Tip: You can search for text in photos, such as images of receipts, by typing the words in the photo. (Available in English only.)

Comparing eSims

eSIM is a digital SIM card that can be installed on a device to allow users to activate a cellular plan without a physical SIM card.  Not all smartphones can take an eSim, so it is worth checking if yours is compatible before purchasing.

Benefits of eSIM

  • More secure: eSIMs are less likely to be lost or stolen because they can’t be removed. 
  • More durable: eSIMs are less likely to be physically damaged than traditional SIM cards. 
  • Travel: eSIMs can be used for international travel without having to carry physical SIM cards. 

Here are 3 brands of eSIM that I have tried out

Airalo

This requires the Airalo app. Select the country or region for which you need it and select the package that suits you for amount of data and length of time. In order to get this eSim I needed to take a selfie with ID and I found it impossible to get this accepted through the Airalo app so I gave up.

Saily

Requires the Saily App to be installed. From the App you select the type of plan you require and on payment you will receive a link to install the eSim. I found the eSim price very reasonable and it was very easy to buy and install.

Holafly

Does not require an App. The eSim can be purchased from https://esim.holafly.com/ and you will receive either a QR code or a manual installation code by email or whatsapp. Scanning the QR code will automatically install the eSim on your phone or you can add it manually by going to SIM manager.

Working with PowerPoint and Google Photos

To insert photos from Google Photos into your PowerPoint presentation:

  1. Click on the photo in Google photos then click on the 3 dots at top right
  2. Choose download from the options, this will save it to ‘downloads’ on your desktop
  3. Go to Powerpoint, create a new slide and click on ‘insert’ and ‘pictures’
  4. Select ‘insert picture from this device’
  5. From the file list displayed click on downloads and your photo should be there, click on it.

How to stop Facebook memories

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 NoneAll 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

How to spot a text scam

The text isn’t relevant to you

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.

What is a Digital Legacy?

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. 

Useful Social Media Apps

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.