Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

Leith mums overcoming barriers to staying active

A new project, funded by NHS Lothian’s Health Improvement Fund, aimed at mums on lower incomes to incorporate physical activity into their lives and ensure that their children enjoy active childhoods, is helping a group of young Leith mums to stay active. Continue reading Leith mums overcoming barriers to staying active

Unveiling of memorial to Scotland’s war poets

A permanent memorial to Scottish World War One poets will be unveiled by the Lord Provost in Edinburgh’s Makars’ Court today (Friday 23 November), in recognition of their bravery and sacrifice in service as well as the rich body of work which they have left behind for future generations. Continue reading Unveiling of memorial to Scotland’s war poets

Black Friday cyber crime warning for Scotland

  • Online fraud victims in Scotland say they have lost an average £1594.42 each
  • 50% of victims say they have had money taken from their bank account, 13% have had their credit and debit cards cloned

A fifth (18%) of shoppers in Scotland say they have been victims of Internet fraud amid continued high levels of online crime and low levels of cyber security.

As Black Friday and Cyber Monday are expected to kick off an explosion in online shopping ahead of Christmas, with consumers expected to spend £8bn on deals, too many shoppers are still not protecting themselves online.

As a result, online shoppers are losing money due to a combination of internet scams, weak passwords and misplaced trust in websites.

New research from Sophos by Atomik Research shows Scottish consumers remain at risk of online cyber-attacks as they make some basic security mistakes:

·         Over half (56%) of survey respondents don’t choose a different password for each online account, which makes them easier to attack one step ahead of cyber criminals.

·         15% admit to using family members’ birthdays and pet names as passwords despite warnings that such information is readily accessible online – giving hackers vital clues to access data.

Half (50%) of those surveyed who had been victims of fraud in Scotland say they have had money taken from their bank accounts without permission and 13% have had their credit and debit cards cloned.

Two in five (39%) online shoppers in Scotland say they have clicked on an apparently genuine email link that turned out to be fake and a third (32%) say they have fallen victim to a phishing scam – where cyber criminals trick their victims into handing over user names, passwords and credit card details.

Adam Bradley, UK&I Country Manager at Sophos said: “The proliferation of online shopping over the past few years means it has become increasingly easy for cyber criminals to harvest data and personal information about consumers. Everyone loves a bargain, especially in the run up to Christmas, but Brits online need to make it harder for fraudsters by taking a few, simple online security steps.”

Sophos recommends taking the following online precautions before hunting for bargains over Black Friday and Cyber Monday:

·         Use a web filter. Web filters, like the one included in Sophos Home, stop you from browsing to websites that are known to be used for scams, phishing or spreading malware.

·         Use a password manager. Password managers create, remember and enter passwords for you, and they won’t enter your password into a phishing site, no matter how convincing it looks.

·         If it looks too good to be true, it is. Scams make wild claims and use familiar brands or friends and family to make them seem trustworthy. Stay alert – if something seems off, it probably is.

·         Check your bank statements regularly. You can reduce the chance that you’ll become the victim of a scam but you can’t eliminate it, so make a habit of checking how your money’s spent.

Europe’s most popular Christmas markets: Edinburgh ranked #2

On The Go Tours: Europe’s Most Popular Christmas Markets According to Instagram

Where will the map of Europe’s most popular Christmas markets inspire you to go?

As 2018 draws to a close, On The Go Tours have devised an interactive map detailing the most popular Christmas markets that Europe has to offer. But, who will take (north) pole position as the most popular Christmas market of them all? On The Go Tours reveal all. Continue reading Europe’s most popular Christmas markets: Edinburgh ranked #2

Air pollution in Edinburgh

How often do you think about the air around you? Chances are if you live in a city, it’s fairly often, and with reports today revealing that the global life expectancy is 1.8 years shorter than it should be, the pollution in our air is causing more than the occasional cough – with air pollution having a widespread effect across Scotland in general, with it causing 2,500 early deaths each year.

7 steps to protect yourself from the effects of smog (Not just for asthmatics) 

We traditionally think of asthma as causing wheezing and shortness of breath, but in young children in particular the main symptom can be coughing. Symptoms can also be brought on by sudden changes in temperature, exercise, having a cold or being exposed to things you’re allergic to (such as dust or pollen).

Factors that make it more likely in a child, are due to having symptoms just at certain situations:

  • after exercise
  • exposure to pets or cold weather
  • having symptoms just at night or in the early mornings
  • having a history of eczema, hay fever or food allergy
  • a family history of asthma or any of these ‘atopic’ conditions

What is smog?

  • Smog is a dense layer of stagnant air which forms near ground level when air pollution is high. It is more common in built-up cities with dense traffic or in areas near industry with high emissions.
  • Smog is made up mainly of ozone but it also contains other harmful substances, such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and PM10s (small molecules which can find their way deep into our lungs).

How does smog affect your health?

According to Asthma UK, about two thirds of people with asthma find that pollution triggers their symptoms. High levels of pollution have been linked to an increased risk of asthma attacks and low peak-flow readings, so it’s important for asthmatics to keep their inhalers at hand during smog attacks.

How can you protect yourself from smog?

  • Keep up to date with weather forecasts and smog throughout the year. You can find a daily update on air quality at the Air Quality website. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) also has the latest information and includes a useful colour-coded summary of the current situation in all areas of the UK. If you’re travelling and want to know about how smog might affect you in Europe, the European Environment Agency maintains an ozone map on its website.
  • If the air quality forecast is poor, where possible, avoid the affected areas. If this is too difficult, stay indoors and keep your windows closed.
  • Avoid exercising in smoggy conditions, particularly at midday when ground ozone levels are at their highest. Try to change the times you exercise to morning or evening (avoiding rush hour), or exercise inside.
  • If you’re asthmatic or have COPD, carry your inhaler at all times. If you notice any rapid deterioration in your condition, consult your doctor.
  • If you have respiratory conditions and need to travel on smoggy days, avoid congested areas where you may get stuck in traffic jams. Road junctions can be a hotbed of exhaust emissions so keep your windows closed.
  • Keep your own emissions to a minimum. Avoid unnecessary car journeys in cities, don’t rev up or leave your engine running for a long time outside your home on cold days or when stuck in traffic jams.

For more information about asthma, please visit AXA PPP healthcare.