Latest Reporting by Guardian Money
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Reαd carefully: how to spot – and avoid – a homoglyph attack
Scammers are increasingly utilizing homoglyph attacks in phishing emails, substituting standard Latin letters with visually identical characters from other alphabets like Cyrillic. These subtle URL alterations bypass typical warning signs, making fraudulent links appear legitimate to unsuspecting recipients.
It exposes a sophisticated email-phishing technique that evades traditional visual checks by exploiting lookalike characters in web addresses.
‘An intense caramelised toffee flavour’: the best supermarket maple syrup, tasted and rated
Which supermarket syrups ooze with potential? We put 10 of the finest, grade-A bottles to the test• The best supermarket runny honeyThough today’s maple syrups vary dramatically in intensity, complexity and taste, they’re all of decent quality and have that classic and unmistakable flavour. I avoided blended or maple-flavoured syrups for this test, and instead tried only 100% pure, grade-A maple syrups, using Agriculture Canada’s flavour wheel and four-step tasting process as a guide. I poured a...
Domestic datacentres: how computer power can help heat your home
Energy bills are scheduled to rise next month but there are innovative ways to heat your home and save money‘When Giles Gibson turns on the hot tap in his home, the water that comes out of it is not heated by gas but by the tiny datacentre strapped to the tank.Attached to the hot water cylinder in his London home is a compact computer server that generates heat and then transfers it as it operates. Continue reading...
Cowboy traders: can a new clampdown stamp out the builders from hell?
A homeowner recounts losing money to an unreliable builder who requested upfront payments for leftover materials, highlighting common pitfalls in home renovation projects. Consumer advocates and industry observers are considering new regulatory measures, including digital apps and official trader registers, to better protect customers from rogue contractors. However, proposed interventions arrive too late for consumers who have already suffered financial losses from substandard or incomplete building work.
How to flood-proof your home: from water-thirsty plants to deflated footballs
After summer’s heatwaves, prepare for winter of storms and heavy rain, with millions of UK homes at risk of flooding The accelerating climate crisis and this year’s record-breaking El Niño mean that, although the summer’s heatwaves are still fresh in the memory, households in the UK are already being told to prepare for a potentially destructive winter of storms and heavy rain – leaving millions of homes at risk of flooding.Government action is needed to improve flood defences and build reliance...
‘Cost of housing’ crunch looms for low-income families, warns Resolution Foundation
Thinktank calls on chancellor to end housing allowance freeze with typical two-bedroom household facing £158 week shortfall amid rent risesMore than 1.1 million low-income families in rented homes face a “cost of housing” crunch without action from John Healey in next month’s budget, the Resolution Foundation thinktank has warned.Local housing allowance (LHA) has been frozen in cash terms since autumn 2024. Continue reading...
Disabled people in UK need right to travel abroad, say MPs, after ‘ridiculous’ restrictions
Outcry over ‘brazenly discriminatory’ funding practices among NHS care boardsOpinion: An effective ban on disabled people leaving Britain? We will not settle for itDisabled people must have a guaranteed right to travel abroad, MPs and peers have said, as further cases emerged of individuals barred from taking holidays as a result of “ridiculous” rules imposed by local NHS care boards and local councils.Leading figures have called on the government to bring in clear national guidelines to ensure...
The best mattress toppers for a more comfortable night’s sleep, tested
Whether you’re looking for memory foam, wool, cooling or firm, we reveal the toppers we rate – and whether they can really rescue a bad mattress• The best mattresses – tested• The best mattresses for side sleepersA mattress topper is like a slice of cheese in a burger: not strictly necessary, but potentially transformative, especially if your bed has all the cosiness of stale bread. Strap a comfy topper on to a hard mattress, and it could transform the quality of your sleep at significantly less...
Homes with a standout facade for sale in England – in pictures
From a blue-grey converted iron chapel in Cheshire to a shiny black infill townhouse in London Continue reading...
The best resistance bands in the UK to improve mobility and strength on a budget, tested
Loop and tube bands are cheaper than a gym membership and take up less space than weights – our exercise buff put 18 to the test• The best treadmills for your homeMovement breeds motivation, not vice versa. If you want a fast ticket to a regular training habit, you need to remove the friction between you and that first rep. When the sofa looks more appealing than getting a sweat on, it pays to have a simple, quick, convenient way to kick into workout mode. That’s where resistance bands come in.P...
‘I feel invisible’: over-50s reveal harsh realities of trying to get a job
Readers describe feelings of rejection after submitting hundreds of applications but getting a handful of interviewsHundreds of job applications, exhausting searches and relentless rejection – the experience of attempting to get back into the workforce after losing their jobs in their 50s and 60s has proved an ordeal for some Britons.For some, those efforts prove fruitless and lead jobseekers to reluctantly take early retirement. Others may have to rely on benefits to pay the bills while they co...
Amazon to launch Ring ‘neighbourhood watch’ app in UK amid US privacy fears
Doorbell firm aims to replace WhatsApp or Facebook groups with platform where people can post about safety or lost petsAmazon’s doorbell camera maker Ring is to launch its Neighbours community app in the UK in an attempt to supplant neighbourhood WhatsApp or Facebook groups.The service is intended as a modern equivalent of a community message board, where neighbours can post about safety, community matters or lost pets. Continue reading...
UK inflation rises to 3.1% as motor fuel prices jump by almost a quarter
Annual increase in August comes as Bank of England prepares for decision on interest ratesBusiness live – latest updatesUK inflation has returned above 3% as soaring fuel and transport prices triggered by the Iran war heap renewed pressure on British households.Figures from the Office for National Statistics show inflation as measured by the consumer prices index rose from 2.9% in July to 3.1% in August, driven by motor fuel prices rising by almost a quarter. Continue reading...
Barclaycard sent me a bill for someone else’s account
It told me a year ago I had applied for a credit card – now it is it telling me my payment is overdueA year ago I got an email from Barclaycard stating that my “application was successful” for a credit card. I had made no such application. I immediately reported this to Barclaycard. More emails arrived and I made repeated phone calls to customer service.I was assured it was a simple typo rather than fraud, and that my email address would be removed.
Revealed: the UK towns with the fewest jobs for young people
Rotherham has 46 online vacancies for every 1,000 young people but there are 288 in Cotswold district council areaYoung people in Rotherham face a local jobs market with the fewest suitable opportunities in Britain, according to a report that warns stark regional divisions are fuelling a crisis in youth work.As ministers push to combat rising youth unemployment, the analysis from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) showed young people faced a tougher challenge in some parts of the co...
Expect even more potholes on UK roads after summer heatwaves, says RAC
Extreme weather has made brittle road surfaces more likely to crack, increasing strain on infrastructureThe UK’s dilapidated roads are expected to get even worse, with motorists warned to expect a jump in the number of potholes as result of the country’s hottest summer on record.Potholes are commonly assumed to be caused by cold or wet weather, but long periods of heat can also create long-lasting damage on the roads, according to the RAC. Continue reading...
British bosses to be forced to meet with employees who request flexible working
Under new workers’ rights, employers will have to ‘properly consider’ proposed shift changes and explain decisionsCompany bosses will have to sit down with workers who request flexible working and justify their reasons for any refusals under new rights announced by Louise Haigh on Tuesday.The first secretary of state told the TUC conference that employers would have to “properly consider” requests for flexibility and offer a face-to-face meeting under new rights for workers. Continue reading...
UK state pension set to top £13,000 a year as wage growth slows to 3.9%
Data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that UK wage growth slowed to 3.9% amidst a renewed cost of living pressure linked to the conflict involving Iran. This economic environment presents a notable challenge for the Bank of England as officials prepare to make their upcoming decision on interest rates.
The best iPhones: which Apple smartphone is right for you, according to our expert
Looking for a new iPhone or a good deal on a refurbished one? Samuel Gibbs has tested and rated Apple’s smartphones, including the best for camera quality and battery life• How to make your smartphone last longerThe best iPhone may be the one you already own. There’s generally no need to buy a fresh phone just because new models have been released, as hardware updates are broadly iterative, adding small bits to an already accomplished package. But if you do want a replacement handset, whether ne...
Leading UK retailers ‘breaking law’ by not refunding customers for returned goods, Which? finds
An investigation by the consumer group Which? revealed that several major UK online retailers are failing to comply with consumer protection laws regarding returned items. The retailers routinely neglected to reimburse customers for standard delivery costs on unwanted purchases, and in some cases, withheld refunds for the returned goods entirely.
