We’re thrilled to announce that Quicksmart IT has a brand-new website — and we’re excited to finally share it with you! Following our recent rebrand, launching a new website that truly reflects who we are and what we offer has been a top priority. And now, it’s here! Clean, modern, and built with our customers in mind, the new site is a true reflection of the Quicksmart IT approach: smart, reliable, and straightforward tech solutions designed to keep your business running smoothly. Whether you're looking to explore our services, get support, or just learn a little more about what we do — everything is now in one place and easy to navigate. We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and this website marks an exciting new chapter for us. Go take a look around — and let us know what you think! 👉 Our New Website #QuicksmartIT #NewWebsite #Rebrand #ITSupport #BusinessTech
In this article, we look at the key actions to take if your mobile phone is stolen, how to protect your data, and ways to reduce the risk of theft in the first place. Phone Theft on the Rise Mobile phone theft is an increasing concern in the UK, with incidents on the rise, particularly in urban areas. For example, in the 12 months leading up to March 2024, approximately 78,000 individuals reported having their phones or bags stolen, marking a dramatic increase compared to previous years. London alone accounts for a significant portion of these incidents, with hotspot areas including train stations, busy high streets, and public transport hubs. A Guide Given the personal and financial information stored on modern smartphones, losing one to theft can be more than just an inconvenience because it can also lead to significant security risks. This guide outlines the essential steps to take if your phone is stolen, how to prevent such incidents, and the importance of mobile phone insurance. Immediate Steps to Take If Your Phone Is Stolen Perhaps the most important steps you can take if your phone is stolen are: 1. Attempt to Locate and Secure Your Device Remotely Most smartphones come equipped with tracking features that allow users to locate, lock, or erase their device remotely: iPhone users : Use ‘Find My iPhone’ ( https://www.icloud.com/find ) via iCloud or the Find My app on another Apple device. Android users : Visit Find My Device to track, lock, or erase your phone remotely. You can use the Find My Device app or go to android.com/find on a browser. You can also use the app on a friend’s phone or tablet. Samsung users : Use ‘Find My Mobile’ ( https://smartthingsfind.samsung.com/login ) to locate or secure your device. If tracking is enabled, you can share your phone’s location with the police, which may help in recovery efforts. 2. Report the Theft to the Police Call 101 or visit your nearest police station to report the theft. Provide them with your phone’s IMEI number, which can help track the device. You’ll also receive a crime reference number, which is necessary for insurance claims. Obviously, it helps to keep a note of your IMEI number somewhere separately in case of this eventuality. You can find your IMEI number by dialing *#06# on your phone’s keypad (see below) or checking your device’s settings. You can also find it on the original packaging or in your purchase documents. Even if you believe the chances of recovering your phone are low, reporting the theft helps authorities identify crime patterns and hotspot areas. 3. Notify Your Network Provider Contact your mobile network provider immediately to block your SIM card and, if possible, blacklist the phone’s IMEI number to prevent it from being used on UK networks. This step also prevents thieves from making costly calls or accessing data services on your plan. Some providers cap unauthorised charges at £100, but only if you report the theft within 24 hours. 4. Inform Your Bank and Other Financial Institutions If you use mobile banking or payment apps like Apple Pay or Google Wallet, contact your bank to suspend these services. This prevents unauthorised transactions and potential financial loss. Some victims of phone theft have lost thousands of pounds when thieves accessed banking apps before security measures were implemented. 5. Change Passwords for Important Accounts Using another device, update passwords for: Email accounts (Gmail, Outlook, etc.) Social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) Banking apps Subscription services (Netflix, Spotify, Amazon) This ensures that even if a thief attempts to access your data, they won’t be able to log in. Understanding Mobile Phone Theft in the UK The rise in mobile phone thefts is a growing concern, with government figures showing a massive 150 per cent increase in snatch thefts over the past year! Organised gangs often target high-value smartphones due to their resale value, both in the UK and overseas. Common Methods of Mobile Phone Theft Snatch thefts. Thieves on bikes or mopeds grab phones from unsuspecting victims using them in public. Distraction techniques . Criminals use diversions, such as asking for directions, while an accomplice steals the phone. Pickpocketing . Crowded areas like public transport hubs are hotspots where thieves discreetly remove phones from pockets or bags. Proactive Measures to Prevent Mobile Phone Theft To reduce the risk of mobile phone theft, some proactive measures you can take include: 1. Staying Vigilant in Public Spaces Avoid using your phone while walking on busy streets or near roadsides. Be aware of your surroundings and hold your phone securely. Stand against a wall or in a safer location if you need to use your phone in public. 2. Securing Your Device with Strong Passwords Use a strong PIN, password, or biometric authentication (fingerprint or facial recognition). Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on important accounts for added security. 3. Registering Your Phone’s IMEI Number Dial ** *#06# ** on your phone to display its IMEI number. Keep a record of this number in case of theft, as it will help your network provider block the device. 4. Installing a Tracking App Ensure tracking features like “Find My iPhone” or “Find My Device” are enabled before an incident occurs. These tools provide the best chance of recovering your phone. 5. Disabling Message Previews on Lock Screen To prevent thieves from accessing authentication codes or personal messages, disable message previews on the lock screen. This setting can be found in your phone’s privacy settings. The Importance of Mobile Phone Insurance Investing in mobile phone insurance can help mitigate the financial impact of theft. For example, many policies cover things like: The cost of a replacement device. Unauthorised usage charges. Loss or accidental damage. If you don’t have standalone phone insurance, check whether your home insurance policy includes mobile phone cover. What More Could Be Done to Help Tackle the Problem of Mobile Phone Theft? To further combat mobile phone theft, additional measures that key stakeholders could take may include: Mobile phone companies strengthening anti-theft features, such as theft detection locks and offline device locking, to make stolen phones unusable. Police enhancing tracking and retrieval efforts, conducting targeted operations in theft hotspots, and improving cooperation with tech firms. Insurers offering incentives for users who enable security features and register IMEI numbers. Regulatory bodies mandating IMEI registration and enforcing stricter penalties for handling stolen phones. The launching of public awareness campaigns, educating users on security best practices and theft prevention. By working together, these measures may also help deter theft and protect users from financial and personal data loss. Checklist – Steps to Take If Your Mobile Phone Is Stolen Here’s a handy checklist of essential steps to take if your mobile phone is stolen, ensuring you act quickly to protect your device and personal data. Attempt to Locate and Secure Your Device Remotely : Use Find My iPhone/Find My Device to track, lock, or erase your phone. Report the Theft to the Police : Call 101 and obtain a crime reference number for insurance purposes. Notify Your Network Provider : Request to block your SIM and blacklist the IMEI number. Inform Your Bank : Suspend Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and mobile banking apps. Change Passwords for Important Accounts : Secure email, banking, and social media accounts. Register Your IMEI Number : If you haven’t already, find your IMEI by dialling ** *#06# ** and store it safely. Consider Getting Mobile Phone Insurance : Check if your phone is covered under an insurance policy to reduce financial loss. Print this checklist and keep it in a safe place in case your phone is stolen. Taking proactive steps to secure your phone and knowing what to do in case of theft can protect your personal data and finances. Stay alert, stay informed, and stay safe. What Does This Mean for Your Business? Losing a mobile phone to theft is more than just a frustration, as it can lead to serious security risks, financial loss, and personal inconvenience. With phone theft becoming more common, particularly in busy urban areas, knowing how to respond effectively is essential. Acting quickly by locking the device remotely, reporting the theft to the police and network provider, and securing financial accounts can significantly reduce the potential damage. However, the best way to stay protected is through prevention. Taking simple precautions, such as keeping your phone out of sight in high-risk areas, using biometric security features, and ensuring remote tracking is enabled, can make all the difference. While no measure can guarantee complete safety, being proactive about security can lower the risk of falling victim to opportunistic thieves. Mobile phones have become central to daily life, storing vast amounts of personal, financial, and business data and information. By taking steps to secure your device before it is stolen and knowing exactly what to do if the worst happens, you can stay in control even when faced with a crime that is becoming increasingly common.
OpenAI has launched Sora, its AI-powered video generation tool, and GPT-4.5, its latest and most advanced language model, in the UK, marking a major leap in artificial intelligence technology and sparking debate across creative and technological industries. What is Sora and Why Has It Only Just Arrived in the UK? Sora is OpenAI’s revolutionary text-to-video generator that can create up to 20-second-long, 1080p resolution videos from simple text prompts. It can also work with existing footage to extend, remix, or blend clips into new creations. The tool has been available in other regions since December 2024 but was withheld from the UK and Europe due to regulatory concerns around AI-generated content, data privacy, and intellectual property rights. Now, after adjustments to comply with local laws, OpenAI has finally made Sora available to UK users from 28 February 2025. Who is Sora Aimed At and How Can You Get It? Sora is aimed at digital creators, filmmakers, advertisers, and even casual users looking to experiment with AI-generated video content. It is currently available exclusively to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users. The Plus plan, at $20 per month, allows limited video generation, while the Pro plan, at $200 per month, provides significantly higher resolution and longer-duration videos. OpenAI has also promised future pricing plans for different levels of users. Sora’s Features and Capabilities Sora offers a range of tools that make AI-powered video creation both intuitive and highly customisable. These include: Remix – Remove or reimagine specific elements in an existing video. Re-cut – Extend frames to complete a scene. Storyboard – Arrange and edit video sequences on a timeline. Loop – Trim and create seamlessly repeating videos. Blend – Merge two videos into one smooth clip. Style Presets – Apply distinctive styles like ‘film noir’ or ‘papercraft’ to generated videos. Sora says that these and other features mean that creators can develop unique video content quickly, without the need for complex editing software or extensive production teams. Sora’s Impact on the Film, TV, and Advertising Industries Sora appears to be poised to disrupt traditional content production. For example, by reducing the need for physical sets, location shoots, and expensive post-production work, the tool presents a more cost-effective and accessible alternative. Tyler Perry, a leading figure in the US film industry, has already expressed concerns about AI’s impact on traditional filmmaking, citing Sora’s potential to replace entire studio sets with AI-generated scenes. It’s no surprise, therefore, that advertising agencies have been quick to adopt AI-generated content, with major brands such as Coca-Cola using AI to create full advertisements. David Jones, CEO of Brandtech Group, has described the shift as a “tectonic disruption” in marketing, comparing it to the digital photography revolution that made companies like Kodak obsolete. Criticism and Ethical Concerns Despite its impressive capabilities, Sora has drawn some criticism, particularly around copyright issues. For example, many artists and filmmakers fear their work may have been used to train the AI without permission. The UK creative industry has pushed back against government plans to allow AI firms to use copyrighted material without consent, with high-profile figures like Sir Paul McCartney and Dua Lipa signing an open letter opposing these policies. Also, while OpenAI has included safeguards such as metadata tags and visible watermarks to distinguish AI-generated content, there are still concerns about potential misuse, including deepfakes and misinformation. OpenAI Also Introduces GPT-4.5, Its Most Advanced Language Model Yet In addition to releasing Sora in the UK, OpenAI has also just announced the introduction of GPT-4.5, codenamed ‘Orion,’ its latest language model. GPT-4.5 is designed to be more powerful, accurate, and emotionally intelligent than its predecessors. Unlike previous models, OpenAI says GPT-4.5 is better at recognising patterns, responding naturally to user prompts, and producing more reliable and nuanced answers. OpenAI claims it has significantly reduced “hallucinations”, the AI’s tendency to generate incorrect information, making it more dependable for research, writing, and business applications. Who is GPT-4.5 Best For? The model is particularly well-suited for creative writing, programming, education, and customer service applications. It demonstrates improved reasoning capabilities, making it more effective at problem-solving and strategic decision-making. Businesses can use it for automated customer interactions, while students and professionals can leverage it for research and content creation. How to Access GPT-4.5 and What It Costs GPT-4.5 is currently available to ChatGPT Pro users at $200 per month. OpenAI plans to roll it out to Plus and Team subscribers next week, with further availability for Enterprise and Edu users to follow. Developers can access GPT-4.5 through OpenAI’s API at a premium rate. The model’s increased computing power makes it more expensive to run than previous versions, leading to speculation about whether OpenAI will continue offering it long-term. Strengths and Limitations OpenAI says GPT-4.5 excels in areas requiring creative thinking, emotional intelligence, and complex reasoning. It also claims that GPT-4.5 outperforms many rival models in factual accuracy tests, responding with fewer errors than previous GPT iterations. However, it seems that GPT-4.5 falls short in AI “reasoning” benchmarks compared to competitors such as Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 and DeepSeek’s R1, which are designed to think through complex problems more methodically. Also, the model’s high operational cost has raised concerns about accessibility, with some questioning whether OpenAI will maintain support for GPT-4.5 in its API or shift focus to newer models in development. Ethical Concerns and Controversy A major point of debate surrounding GPT-4.5 is its ability to persuade and manipulate. For example, OpenAI’s internal tests found that the model was particularly good at convincing other AI models to donate virtual money or reveal hidden codewords. While OpenAI has stated that GPT-4.5 does not pose a “high” risk in this area, the findings have raised concerns about AI’s potential use in social engineering scams or misinformation campaigns. Also, OpenAI has faced scrutiny over its transparency, after it quietly removed a statement from GPT-4.5’s white paper that said the model was “not a frontier AI model.” This has led to speculation that the company is downplaying the risks associated with GPT-4.5’s capabilities. What Does This Mean For Your Business? OpenAI’s decision to bring these tools to the UK offers new opportunities for content creators, businesses, and researchers. However, their arrival may also reignite ongoing debates about AI’s ethical implications, its impact on traditional industries, and the risks of misinformation. Sora, with its ability to generate high-quality video from simple text prompts, is undoubtedly a real game-changer for filmmakers, advertisers, and digital artists. It democratises video production, making it more accessible to those without extensive technical expertise or large budgets. However, this democratisation comes at a price, as concerns over copyright infringement, job displacement, and AI-generated misinformation continue to loom large. While OpenAI has implemented some safeguards, the potential for misuse remains, especially in a world where distinguishing between real and AI-generated content is becoming increasingly difficult. Similarly, GPT-4.5 appears to offer another step forward in AI’s reasoning, creativity, and problem-solving capabilities. For example, with enhanced accuracy and more nuanced responses, it is a valuable tool for businesses, educators, and writers. However, questions persist about its long-term accessibility due to its high cost, as well as its ethical implications. The model’s ability to influence and persuade, coupled with OpenAI’s lack of transparency regarding its full capabilities, raises concerns about the risks of AI-driven manipulation. Both Sora and GPT-4.5, therefore, appear to highlight the double-edged nature of AI progress. While they offer incredible potential to revolutionise industries and improve productivity, they also introduce complex challenges that society must address. Regulation, ethical oversight, and clear transparency from AI developers will be essential in ensuring that these tools are used responsibly.
