It is a good idea to take precautions to protect our valuable items such as using the inbuilt security on our phones and computers or using strong locking and immobilising devices on bikes, cars and caravans. But did you know there are national registers that allow you to input your valuables to their databases and apply security tags to allow them to be returned to you if they are recovered?

Immobilise is the world’s largest free register that can be used by the public and businesses. You simply register your valuables and/or company assets and the ownership details can then be viewed by the police on the national property database – NMPR. Immobilise is the only ownership registration service supported by all UK police forces, the Greater London Authority, and the mobile phone industry.

How Immobilise works:

• The Immobilise Property Register is part of the Recipero Crime Reduction Ecosystem – Learn more about Recipero here: Recipero
• Police are able to track and trace owners of stolen or lost items by utilising the data help on Immobilise/NMPR.
• You can purchase additional security devices from Immobilise to help track and protect your belongings from would-be thieves. These include security marking kit, bike RFID tagging device, asset labels and window decals.
• You can register most items on Immobilise – you are not limited to items with serial numbers as you can give detailed descriptions and add photos of the items in question (eg jewellery) – marking the items with UV pen or asset label will give you a uniques identifier for something that otherwise wouldn’t be able to be registered.
• Reporting lost or stolen items is quick and easy and  simply by logging into your account.
• Immobilise is linked with CheckMend – a database which allows traders to check if goods they are purchasing are stolen.
• You can even download property details for a police report or to give to your insurer, simplifying the claims process.

Theft and loss will always happen but taking steps to protect your valuables through Immobilise can help deter thieves and increase the likelihood of your belongings finding their way back to you should they be recovered. As with any security you want to make your valuables as difficult and unattractive to steal as possible – using a database to register your items adds that extra layer of protection.

But an increase in online shopping means we’re at more risk of falling for scams and the National Cyber Security Centre is warning shoppers to be extra vigilant as fraudsters employ artificial intelligence (AI) to dupe victims. ​

This month we’ve put together a helpful list of dos and don’ts to help you stay safe when shopping online during the festive season.

Make Sure Your Device is Secure
However you shop online – whether on your smartphone, tablet or PC, always make sure your device is up to date with the latest operating system. This will ensure you are protected against any security or privacy weaknesses. If you haven’t already, then install a reputable antivirus software and remember to check for updates regularly.

Be Careful Where you Shop
Generally, you’re safer when shopping on sites for well-known big brands – they should have robust security systems to help prevent data breaches. This doesn’t mean you should avoid small businesses, but you do need to take a bit more care- check the authenticity of website links by searching the web address manually (don’t click on links you’ve been sent from 3rd parties). Google has a handy URL checker to help you verify the safety of a link- simply copy and paste the link into the checker. Look at reviews and feedback from trusted sources such as consumer websites like Which? and Trustpilot.

Use a Credit Card to Pay for Goods
Paying with a credit card gives you extra protection if things go wrong. Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act you are covered by credit card protection if you use your credit card for purchases for single items costing over £100 and under £30000.

Debit card transactions are not covered under Section 75, but they do protect purchases under £100 via chargeback. Do not agree to pay for goods by bank transfer.

When you are completing a purchase online always check the site is secure in the browser address bar. Although this doesn’t actually protect your purchase it does ensure you are using a secure connection, vital when you are inputting sensitive data online!

Be Vigilant
Scammers and fraudsters will be upping their game as we head towards December so expect an increase in spammy emails, questionable texts about missed deliveries and dodgy ads on social media. Last year Which? reported that 1 in 6 were targeted by scam ads.

When Things Go Wrong 
If you order a product or service and things aren’t quite right, then in the first instance you should try to resolve it with the retailer. If you need to take things further then check out this useful guide from the Citizens Advice Bureau. It has all the information you need when trying to claim refunds when you pay by PayPal or card.

If you accidentally click a dodgy link then don’t panic – run your antivirus software to do a thorough check of your device and contact a professional IT technician for further advice.

Exam results are in! I hope everyone got the results they wanted and you are all now looking forward to starting the next chapter in your life. For some that might mean heading off to college or university and as we head towards September you are no doubt going through a list of things you need to get before you start your course. Times are hard for many of us right now and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any easier for some time, so this month I thought I’d put together some top tips when looking for gadgets and tech you need to take to uni.

If you are after some new tech to help you with your studies then take a look at this list of some of the best gadgets out now:

Laptop or computer: The pandemic accelerated the move to online learning and even though we have seen a return to in-person teaching a lot of learning may still be delivered online. This means you will probably need a laptop or computer with a webcam and microphone. There's no need to go crazy on a high spec machine if all you’ll be doing is taking notes or writing essays so shop around for a good budget option. Refurbished machines and second-hand deals are also a great option - just make sure you go to a trusted reseller and do your research before handing over any money.

External Mouse: If you go for a laptop the trackpads on them are not great for your wrists so I highly recommend investing in a separate wireless mouse.

Smartphone: I’m sure you already have one and there’s no need to upgrade just for university but I do recommend checking your tariff to make sure it will cover your needs while you are away at university.

Rocketbook: The Rocketbook is a budget friendly gadget that makes notetaking a breeze - simply write your notes with the special pen then upload your notes via the Rocketbook app to have your notes magically digitised ready to upload to your platform of choice (Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive etc).
 
External Hard Drive: Ok, so hardly an exciting gadget but I would say one of the most important. Imagine spending hours on your assignment only to lose it and have no back up.
 
Noise Cancelling Headphones: Trying to get work done in noisy student accommodation is not easy so to help you might want to invest in a pair of noise cancelling headphones. Prices vary so do shop around and try them out before you take the plunge.
 
E-Reader: Traditional textbooks are heavy so e-readers make a lot of sense. Don’t be tempted to get the latest all singing all dancing models though, the basic e-reader will help stop you getting distracted by other things because you can only use it for reading. Added bonus is that ebooks are often cheaper to buy than traditional books  too.
 
USB Drive: Like a small hard drive, USB sticks are great for transferring small amounts of data from one device to another and they are relatively cheap to buy. A handy device to have if you want to share lecture notes etc.

Student Deals
Student life can be tricky financially so take advantage of all the discounts available to you:

• Sign up for deals at UCAS
  If you are going to uni you are no doubt already very familiar with UCAS but just in case you missed it they have a handy sign up to get you great deals on all sorts of things you might want for university. Simply input your details, check the boxes for the things you are interested in and wait for the deals to arrive in your inbox!

• Search for student offers
  Sites such as Student Beans, My Uni Days, Save the Student give you access to discounts just for students on lots of brands.

Funding and Support

• Your college or university will have funding available for students who need it. If you find yourself unable to afford IT equipment you should ask your university about financial support.
• The UCAS website has a wealth of information about financial support you can claim while at university.
• Check the Government website to see if you are eligible for any other financial support to help you with your studies.
• Turn2Us has some great advice and links for help with financial aid and grants.

Shop around for the best deals and don’t panic buy! Check out Which for recommendations and tech to avoid.

If you need any help with your tech needs before you head off to college or university then contact me here.