iShares teamed up with the recent winner and runner-up of the Masterchef TV series to host a live culinary event in the heart of the Square Mile.  On Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th May, Dhruv Baker and Alex Rushmer used their creative culinary flair to help bring to life the role that iShares ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) can play in constructing successful investment portfolios. The event set out to create a buzz amongst the very people that this new fund is targeted at – bankers, investors and fund managers.

Samples of the three different dishes were distributed to the target audience along with leaflets containing further information on iShares.  A team of demo staff promoted the activity at the nearest tube stations each morning.

Both events reached an impressive 11,000 people through leafletting alone and there were a further 4,600 interactions at the rig over both days.

1 in 10 people provide personal bank details in response to unauthorised email requests

Nearly 50% of Brits have fallen victim to fraudulent online bank transactions in the last 6 months, with an average value of £50, according to results of a study into online fraud released today by PC World.

PC world questioned over 4,000 customers to look into online shopping habits and the threat of Cybercrime. Over a quarter revealed they had had unauthorised transactions leave their bank accounts and nearly 20% had had unauthorised money go in!

The findings revealed that a lax approach to online security is leaving many Brits targets for online crime. Despite 6 out of 10 (62%) of participants in the study regularly shopping or banking online an alarming one in five (19%) currently use no form of anti virus software, leaving them completely unprotected from Cybercrime.

In response to the findings, PC World is to launch an exclusive version of Norton 360 V4 internet security software and will trial Cybercrime Clinics at its stores in the most affected areas around the country. The clinics will be a dedicated area in-store where customers can get free online fraud prevention advice from specially trained experts. If successful, the trial is to be rolled out across stores nationwide.

Risky shopping habits

The study revealed that shoppers are regularly divulging sensitive financial information online without taking precautions.

The majority (70 %) provide their bank details online more than once a week but 17% are giving out their details to websites up to 10 times a month for goods and services without taking any measures to check the authenticity of the websites. 15% of shoppers revealed they had been a victim of a phishing scam where internet users are lured into providing sensitive financial details on fake websites.

When questioned, the respondents reveal that they regularly indulge in online behaviours that are known to facilitate Cybercrime, including clicking on links in pop-ups (32%), clicking on links in emails from unknown senders (31%), and purchasing products or services direct from an unauthorised pop-up (9%).

One in ten applicants (10%) has gone as far as to provide bank details in response to an email request.

Cybercrime prevention

Despite the majority (70 per cent) of respondents voicing concerns over the risks of Cyber crime, the study revealed that online shoppers are taking few measures to guard against it.

Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) revealed they had never purchased internet security software and one in ten admitted they don’t check the expenditure on their bank statements despite shopping regularly online.

Helping shoppers protect against cyber crime

In response to the research, PC World has teamed up with leading internet security provider Symantec to develop an exclusive version of its latest Norton 360 internet security software, Norton 360 V4 Gold. The software provides free access to a number of additional security applications and services. These include ThreatFire, a powerful behaviour-based protection against both known and unknown viruses and software that has been specially adapted for netbooks and mobile devices. Norton 360 V4 Gold is available exclusively at PC World and Currys stores nationwide from Thursday 18^th March priced £59.99.

To help online shoppers get the most out of this new software and protect against the risk of Cybercrime PC World is to host a series of Cyber Crime clinics at its stores around the UK, in London, Birmingham and Nottingham. Customers will be able to get free advice on the new software and other simple Cybercrime prevention methods.

Alan Dardis, Head of Trading – Software – at PC World says: “We aim to protect our customers in everything we do online but the number of people affected by Cybercrime, and in particular the lack of precautions some consumers have in place to protect themselves from it, are a cause for concern. We hope that through a combination of this new software and the in-store Cyber Crime Clinics we will help internet users not to fall prey to this online menace.”

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For more information please contact:

Nathan Kemp 0207 543 4670 nathank@talkpr.com

James Fick 0207 544 3735 james.fick@talkpr.com

About PC World

• PC World is Britain’s largest specialist chain of computing superstores
• The superstores offer more than 5,000 product lines including extensive ranges of PCs, laptops, printers, software, peripherals and accessories from the major brands, as well as many PC World exclusive products
• In-store PC Clinics offer on the spot advice and service. Component Centres offer a ‘one-stop shop’ for customers with advanced technical knowledge, providing a vast choice of PC components and upgrade products at competitive prices
• In 2007, PC World won Retail Week’s Product Innovation of the Year award, for its Data Recovery service
• Every PC World store has an in-store business centre staffed by experienced business specialists
• They offer local companies face-to-face help and advice with choosing the best IT solutions
• There are 157 stores in the UK and 10 in the Republic of Ireland.

Yesterday I spoke at Lets Get Digital! An event for independent filmmakers to get an insight into how to use digital to promote and fund their projects.

I have a keen interest in film making and have always loved independent film, so I was asked by Shooting People and Birds Eye View (a film festival) to come down and give a 20 minute overview of the types of tools available to people to reach audiences. I also added a little insight into how brands are starting to work with digital film in order to reach wider audiences, VW and Absolut being the two examples I used

I’ve posted the two here to give you an idea of the sorts of content brands are producing to engage audiences in a much more discrete way.

VW’s The Fun Theory – Piano Stairs

Absolut’s ‘I’m here’ a Robot Love Story, Directed by Spike Jonze

Harriet Fleuriot, performance artist, film maker and digital marketer introduced the audience to Social Media, I went into a little more detail about the different types of tools available and the manner in which to communicate to audiences online.  With Pilar Barrio from Momentum WW rounding up with a little more detail about how to monetise your content and work with brands and agencies to get your idea ‘out there’.

It was certainly an eventful day with a small and engaged audience of film makers, sound technicians, set dressers and people who were eager to get into digital.

I must admit  I am excited about the side navigation of my Gmail account updating to include Google Buzz.  I wonder if it will be as successful as Google Wave (wink wink nudge nudge)?

Interesting deck on brands and social inclusion. Brand audiences that are in constant flux and need addressing on a case by case basis with today’s changing media, like molecules and their surrounding matter, forever changing.

Its a great metaphor, who doesn’t love a great metaphor?

I think this digital proposition could be developed into something truly amazing as they are focusing on human endeavour and extreme sports that people feel really strongly about.

Look at their video content and see.

What do you think?

Happy 6th Birthday Facebook.

What did we ever do without you?

Amazing 3D content without the silly glasses.

The image is taken from two slightly different angles and shaken to give the 3D effect.  I’m thinking a little bit of photoshop magic has taken place here too.

Posh has done a shoot for Glamour where she has fun playing at being a housewife.  Oh yes, it’s so much fun pretending to carry shopping bags and mopping the floor.  I’m beginning to feel strong dislike for all WAGs now…

Lee (from Steps) has sold a story about how he had a relationship with the bird JT shagged, but wasn’t famous enough for her.  A kiss and tell on the kiss and tell girl.  That’s a new one.

Clare Short went on the rampage at the Iraq enquiry (metaphorically, not literally) – favourite quote “The Americans were gung-ho at the tie and Bush flew out to his silly ship”

Jordan continues to show what a classy lady she is by not so secretly marrying Alex in Vegas

Coleen Nolan has quit as the face of supermarket Iceland.  I reckon Jordan might be a good replacement at this rate

Tesco asked a woman for some ID in order to buy a slice of quiche.  I’m not really sure why, and neither are Tesco if their statement is anything to go by.

Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell have posed nude for Love magazine

Surfing the net endlessly has been linked to depression.  Surely this is a bit obvious – if your life is that dull that you spend all your time online because you have nothing else to do, then you’re bound to be a bit depressed

Nice piece for Mastercard – some lady won an exclusive gig from the Pet Shop Boys in her living room as part of their priceless campaign