Latest news with #OliviaStringer
The Sun
15-07-2025
- The Sun
Map reveals UK's 10 best lidos to take a dip in this summer with 1930s art-deco pool topping list – some are even free
Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, THE UK'S 10 best lidos have been revealed, with a 1930s pool with its own sauna topping the list. With the school holidays just around the corner, and more sunny days on the way, many parents will be looking for ways to entertain their kids on the cheap. Lidos provide hours of fun for the whole family, with many having spots to sunbathe and even free entry. 1. Brockwell Lido The AA analysed 164 UK lidos and outdoor pools based on reviews, search volume, Instagram tags, entry, parking fees, temperature and hours of sunlight, and Brockwell Lido came out on top, with a score of 82.9/100. 9 The south-west London lido features a 1930s art deco, Grade II listed building, a large 50m pool and even it's own cafe. Those not keen on swimming can even visit the sauna, and there are plenty of spots to sunbathe too. 2. Tooting Bec Lido Just down the road from Brockwell is Tooting Bec Lido, which came second on the list, with a score of 76.41. 9 This lido is one of the oldest in the UK, having been built in 1906 and is the UK's largest freshwater swimming pool, measuring 91.4m in length. It has a cafe, plenty of space to sunbathe and even a separate pool for kids. 3. Sale Water Park A Greater Manchester gem, Sale Water Park is third on the list, with a score of 76.34. The man-made lake was created from a former gravel pit used in the construction of the M60 motorway. It is popular for water sports such as kayaking, sailing and windsurfing, and you can swim in the lake during designated swimming sessions. Look around historic 200-year-old lido with stunning seaside views abandoned for decades 4. London Fields Lido Over in East London, London Fields Lido came fourth on the list, with a score of 71.13. 9 The popular swimming spot opened way back in 1932 and is one of the capital's only heated pools, meaning it is open all year round. It has a sundeck and a cafe, with swimming lessons and fitness classes held in the pool. Swimming safety advice Experts have revealed some of their top advice for both adults and kids heading to the water this summer: How to stay safe at the beach Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI said: "If you find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip, try to relax and float until you are free from the rip and you can then swim to safety. "If you see someone else in danger, alert a lifeguard or call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard." How to stay safe at the swimming pool Tiny Hearts Education, former paramedic and CEO Nikki Jurcutz said: "Always put your little one in bright or contrasting colours that would be easy to find in an emergency. "It only takes 20 seconds to drown, little tips like this could save a life". An Auqabliss spokesperson added: ' Swimming toys such as noodles, dive rings, floaties and beach balls can be dangerous if left in the pool. ' Children may try to grab these from the pool's edge and fall in." How to stay safe at a waterpark Ali Beckman, Puddle Ducks Technical Director, said: "Never send a child down the slide on their own, not only are they going to be entering the slide pool area independently, they then have to exit the pool and wait for an adult. "And wave pools should be avoided until your child is really confident with water going over their faces and you know they are able to regain their feet independently. ' Waterparks are often very busy places and it's easy to lose sight of a child in a split second." 5. Thames Lido Thames Lido in Reading comes fifth on the list, with a score of 70.34. First opened back in 1903 as the Ladies Swimming Bath, it is one of the oldest in the UK, and underwent a huge renovation in 2017. 9 As well as a pool, the facility also has a small spa and a restaurant. 6. Hampstead Ponds Hampstead Ponds on Hampstead Heath came in at number 6, with a score of 67.54. There are three ponds, ladies', men's and mixed ponds, with the single gender pools open year round, and the mixed pond only open during the summer. 9 Only those over eight are able to swim in the ponds, and under 15s must be accompanied by and adult. 7. Clevedon Marine Lake Number seven on the list is Clevedon Marine Lake, in Somerset, which got a score of 67.10. The tidal pool holds 15,000sqm of sea water which flows in on the tide, and opened back in 1929. 9 It's completely free to enter, and you can also paddle board and canoe in the lake. 8. Hampton Pool Hampton Pool in London is eighth on the list, with a score of 65.36. The heated pool is open all year round and the lido even hosts concerts in the summer. 9 9. Walpole Bay Tidal Pool Walpole Bay Tidal Pool in Margate, Kent is number nine on the list, with a score of 65.21. Built back in 1937, the pool is Grade II listed, and covers four acres, making it the biggest tidal pool in the UK. 9 Located on Margate Beach, it's free to enter, and open all year round. 10. Guilford Lido The final lido in the top 10 is Guildford Lido in Surrey, which has a score of 64.56. The outdoor pool first opened in 1933 and has so much for kids, including water slides, interactive toys and a mini golf course. 9
The Sun
09-07-2025
- The Sun
Horrifying invisible ‘tap trap' trick lets crooks spy through your CAMERA if you make simple mistake
Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, A TERRIFYING new trick lets criminals spy through your device's camera, if you make a simple mistake. The worrying trap uses a malicious app to lure users into granting permissions to their camera, location and notifications, without their knowledge. 3 3 Harmful app disguised as a game The harmful app disguises itself as a harmless game, that involves you just tapping on your screen to complete a task, for example killing bugs or chopping fruit. These 'fake games' are often downloaded from third party app stores as they don't undergo the same security checks as official stores such as Google Play, so to lessen your chances of falling victim to the scam, always make sure to download apps from official sites. The attack, called TapTrap affects Android devices and works by secretly opening another screen, such as a prompt to grant the app permissions to your camera or location. Usually, when the screen changes on Android devices, an animation appears, such as the new screen sliding or fading in. However, the malicious app can tell the system that a custom animation should be used instead, that is long running and is completely transparent, meaning that the new screen is completely hidden from you. Hidden screen So, imagine you click on the newly downloaded game and start clicking on various parts of the screen to kill bugs or whack moles. Without your knowledge, it then opens another invisible screen which asks you to grant permission to camera access, notifications or location access. Any taps you make whilst the animation is running will go to the secret invisible screen, not the game. The game will then lure you in to tapping on specific parts of the screen, meaning you are actually tapping on the button that will grant the app access to your camera or location. TapTrack can even trick you into enabling the "Device Administrator" permission, which allows the malicious app to remotely wipe your entire device. FBI Issues Urgent Warning: Delete Scam Texts Immediately to Protect Your Information How to protect yourself An easy way to protect yourself from this scam is to disable system animations in your device's accessibility settings. This will prevent malicious apps from being able to open invisible screens, but will also disable animations on your device. Thankfully, Google has promised that it will fix this issue in a future update. 'Android is constantly improving its existing mitigations against tapjacking attacks", a Google representative told BleepingComputer. "We are aware of this research and we will be addressing this issue in a future update. "Google Play has policies in place to keep users safe that all developers must adhere to, and if we find that an app has violated our policies, we take appropriate action." This comes after McAfee warned that one of the easiest ways to tell whether your device has a virus, is if it feels "physically hot". The warning reads: "When you accidentally download apps that contain malware, your device has to work harder to continue functioning. "Since your phone isn't built to support malware, there is a good chance it will overheat."
The Sun
09-06-2025
- The Sun
Warning over ‘dodgy' Fire TV Sticks used to watch Sky Sports and Premier League games for as little as £6
Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, BRITS are being warned that they could face jail time for using "dodgy" Fire Sticks that offer Sky Sports and Premier League games for as little as £6. A growing number of people in the UK are believed to be switching to illegal streaming devices, but the Federation Against Copyright Theft has warned that this could lead to users having their ID stolen or their credit card details handed to criminals. 1 Posts have begun flooding social media sites advertising modified Fire Sticks for just a few pounds. According to The Mirror, one mobile number was used for over 800 Facebook posts, with Brits urged to contact the number via WhatsApp to get their hands on the illegal piece of tech. Some posts advertised all Sky channels plus streaming sites such as Netflix and Disney Plus for as little as £2.50 a month. In comparison, if you were to pay for Sky Sports, it would set you back by at least £50 a month. Some dodgy sellers are even claiming that their service is legal, with one fraudster claiming to be from a company called IPTV. They claimed that the company is a "online service to provide channels on Fire Stick, smart TVs, android TVs, mobile phone as well." However, IPTV is just a general term for Internet Protocol Television. And although may Brits are tempted by the budget prices of these illegal devices, the criminals providing them may end up in jail before they've had a chance to follow through on the deal. Back in January, a Fire Stick scammer who was streaming illegal TV to thousands of people, was jailed for two years. And Kieron Sharp, chairman of the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) said that dodgy Fire Stick users are breaking the law too, and could end up being prosecuted. Amazon Fire Stick trick lets you find lost remote instantly using hidden 'ringer' According to FACT, watching an illegal stream is an offence under the Fraud Act 2006, and has a maximum penalty of five years in prison. However, consumers are more at risk from the Malware that comes with illegally modified devices. Kieron warned that scammers could use the devices to hack your bank account or even hijack your camera and microphone. People should be warned about this", he said. Where to buy a Fire TV Stick Fire TV Sticks are an easy way to add streaming to an older television. They're manufactured by Amazon, but you can buy them from a number of different stores. * If you click on a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue. UK Amazon Argos Currys John Lewis Very US Amazon Walmart Bestbuy Target "There's a real risk of having your identity stolen or similar. "If you give over your credit card details, you are giving them to criminals. "They could get access to the camera on your TV, if it has one, or microphone. "There is no safety or security with what you are getting with these modified devices." Amazon has said it has made changes to Fire Sticks to make it harder for criminals to modify them. An Amazon spokesperson said: 'Pirated content violates our policies regarding intellectual property rights, and compromises the security and privacy of our customers. 'We remain vigilant in our efforts to combat piracy and protect customers from the risks associated with pirated content, which includes prohibiting apps that infringe upon the rights of third parties in our Appstore, and warning customers of the risks associated with installing or using apps from unknown sources.'
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Aldi is selling a garden essential for a bargain price – it's a huge £55 cheaper than a similar B&Q product
Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, GARDEN lovers better set their alarms, as Aldi is launching a summer essential for a budget price. Spring has been a scorcher so far, with Brits up and down the country taking to their gardens to relax in the sun. 3 And with another bank holiday on the horizon, transforming your garden into the perfect place to switch off and unwind is a must. Aldi's Belavi folding chair, is the perfect budget buy for making sure you can kick back and relax in style. The £24.99 chair comes in a sleek black design, meaning that it will easily fit in with any garden aesthetic. The recliner can be easily adjusted depending on your needs; lay it back whilst reading a book in the sun, or have it upright whilst enjoying drinks with friends. Plus, it can easily be folded up, meaning you can transport it to the beach of a festival, without any hassle. The chair will be landing in stores on Thursday, May 22nd, as part of Aldi's weekly Specialbuys deals. Each Thursday and Sunday, the bargain retailer stocks the middle aisles of its stores with a whole host of themed products, from beauty dupes to garden gadgets. However, you'll have to be quick to be in with the chance of nabbing this purse-friendly product, as Specialbuys are only available whilst stocks last. Aldi's folding chair is a whopping £55 cheaper than a similar product at B&Q. The Trespass Glenesk Folding Garden Chair is priced at £79.93, and comes in a chic grey design. Aldi's $4.99 Gardenline Plant Supports: Affordable Spring Gardening Must-Have! Although both products can easily be reclined, the B&Q product also comes with an adjustable headrest. It is also flame retardant, and can hold weight of us to 120kg. However, the B&Q product is not available in stores, and can only be ordered online. And for those struggling as temperatures remain high, Aldi is also set to launch the Ambiano Portable Air Cooler with LED lights for just £14.99. When's the best time to shop at Aldi? WHEN it comes to shopping at Aldi, the best time to do so depends on what you want to buy. For reduced items - when shops open Red sticker items are rare at Aldi's 830 UK stores, but the supermarket says that none of its food goes to waste so there are some to be found - if you're quick. A spokesman for the supermarket said: "All items are reduced to 50 per cent of the recommend sales price before stores open on their best before or use by dates." That means you have the best chance of finding reduced food items if you go into stores as soon as it opens. Opening times vary by shop but a majority open from 7am or 8am. You can find your nearest store's times by using the supermarket's online shop finder tool. For Specialbuys - Thursdays and Sundays Specialbuys are Aldi's weekly collection of items that it doesn't normally sell, which can range from pizza ovens to power tools. New stock comes into stores every Thursday and Sunday, so naturally, these are the best days to visit for the best one-off special deals. For an even better chance of bagging the best items, head there for your local store's opening time. Remember: once they're gone, they're gone, so if there's something you really want, visit as early as possible The handy buy will hit the middle aisle on Sunday, 25 May. Or if you can't decide, there is an automatic colour changing option, available on the easy-to-use control panel button. The handy cooler features a washable filter and a removable water tank. It is fully portable and comes with a handle for easy transportation. And you can stretch the buy as far as 1.5 metres with the accompanying type C charging cable.
The Sun
06-05-2025
- The Sun
Urgent warning to parents on WhatsApp over worrying message that tricks users into handing over cash
Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, PARENTS are being urged to stay vigilant as a Whatsapp scam targeting mum's and dad's is becoming increasingly prevalent. Scammers pretend to be the victim's children, beginning their messages with 'hi mum', or 'hi dad'. 2 2 They then claim to have lost their phone and be locked out of their bank account, praying on the parents' concern for their children's safety. Eventually, the fraudsters beg the mum or dad for rent money, with parents often forking out as they genuinely believe the texts are from their children. These messages often arrive via WhatsApp or text message, with scammers also sometimes pretending to be close friends or parents. According to Action Fraud, these types of scam messages led to a financial loss of £226,744 in the UK between 2023 and 2025. Scammers were most successful when pretending to be sons, followed by daughters and then mothers, according to data collected by Santander. Chris Ainsley, Santander's head of fraud risk management has warned that the the scam is now becoming more believable thanks to the use of AI. He told The Independent: "We're hearing of instances where AI voice impersonation technology is being used to create WhatsApp and SMS voice notes, making the scam seem ever more realistic. "If you're ever asked for money out of the blue on any social or communication platform, verify the request by picking up the phone." These scams, known as 'smishing' (a combination of SMS and phishing) begin with a friendly message, pretending to be someone close to the recipient. If the messages are ignored, the senders often send repeated messages, using generic details to try and strike up a conversation, and make the recipients believe they are talking to family members. The scammer will then claim that they urgently need money as they don't have access to their bank account, and will ask for money to be transferred to an unrecognised account. For anyone worried that they are being targeted by this scam, experts recommend contacting your loved one via their real number, and waiting a while to see if they respond. You could also ask a question that only your loved one would know the answer to, or set up a code word in advance to ask the sender for if you worry they are not who they say they are. If you have already sent the cash over before releasing you are the victim of a scam, you should call the bank straight away to stop the payment. What is phishing? HERE's what you need to know: Phishing is a type of online fraud It's typically an attempt to nab some of your data Phishing generally involves scammers posing as a trustworthy entity For instance, fraudsters could send you an email claiming to be your bank, asking for details Scammers can also set up fake websites that look like real ones, simply to hoodwink you Phishing can take place over email, social media, texts, phone calls and more The best defence against phishing is to be generally sceptical of weblinks and emails, especially if they were unsolicited This comes after WhatsApp closed down on three mobile devices, with affected users blocked from sending or receiving messages. From Monday, only users with iPhones capable of supporting iOS version 15.1 and newer are able to use the messaging app. The models affected by the switch off are iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. All of these models were released over 10 years ago, so if you have purchased a phone in the last decade, you should be unaffected. Explaining the reason for the shutdown, WhatsApp said: "Devices and software change often, so we regularly review what operating systems we support and make updates. "Every year we look at which devices and software are the oldest and have the fewest users. "These devices also might not have the latest security updates, or might lack the functionality required to run WhatsApp. "Before we stop supporting your operating system, you'll be notified in WhatsApp and reminded a few times to upgrade."
