IT Blog by Colin Fyfe


As laptop and portable computer devices become more popular, the risk of theft of these devices from home, university campus or handbag increases too. Some of the most sought after items for thieves include your home tech, so it pays to be one step ahead on crime from the get go. Pre-emptive measures can be taken to both secure your kit and help identify it to police. Another interesting and free software tool could even send you a picture of the thief and a map showing their home address.


The Kensington lock is a cable that can affi x securely to most laptops and tablets, sadly not to Ipads. It creates a visual deterrent and a very robust anti-theft mechanism that would thwart most thieves. This is also handy for the family laptop that seems to gravitate to the children’s bedroom.


A basic measure that can be taken to aid retrieval of stolen kit is simply to list the serial numbers of the hardware in your home. Such a simple action could aid any investigation and could reap rewards in the long term. It is also worth remembering to keep laptops out of plain sight from windows.


Finally, some free software can be installed that can track and take a mug-shot of any unauthorised user of your device if you are unfortunate enough to have your computer stolen. This is of course a pre-emptive measure too. Google search for ‘preyproject’ – top of the search list you can see instructions and further details. Check my twitter feed @colcom for a link


to some articles showing a feckless thief caught out by this software – great!


Tax return deadlines and penalties


There are some key dates each year when you must send in your tax return and make payments. If you miss them you may have to pay interest and penalties. Deadlines for sending in your tax return:


31st October: all paper returns


If you send a paper tax return, it must reach HMRC by midnight on 31st October.


You only have longer than this if you received the letter, telling you to send a tax return, after 31st July. In this case, you’ll have three months from the date you received that letter.


31st January: online returns Your online tax return must reach HMRC by midnight on 31st January.


You only have longer than this if you received the letter, telling you to send a tax return, after 31st October. In this case you’ll have three months from the date you received that letter.


Find out more information at www.direct.gov.uk or www.hmrc.gov.uk Langbank Camera Club


The October meeting, held in the Langbank Church Hall, featured a presentation by Mr David Walker from Kilmacolm. His subject was ‘The hidden treasures of Glasgow’ and consisted of a selection of Mr Walkers’ slides and his experiences and personal recollections of Glasgow life.


The monthly competition subject was ‘The Glasgow Transport Museum’ and the best three, judged by Mr Walker, included Gary Ramanathan’s Tram 543 to Dalmarnock with Alistair McKenzie’s two photographs taken outside the museum focussed on the building architecture with refl ections, curves and lines.


The next meeting will take place on Monday 14th November and the competition entries should be on the ‘Glasgow Kibble Palace Botanical Gardens’. For those interested in seeing more photographs from the Club’s gallery, and what’s happening in the Club please check the website www.langbankcameraclub.weebly.com.


Reminding children to THINK! before they cross the road


A new THINK! campaign to help children stay safe on the roads has been launched by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning.


The £700,000 campaign, which will run on television and in cinemas, is aimed at children aged six to eleven, and spells out the dangers of not taking care on the roads. Television adverts will highlight the importance of fi nding a safe place to cross the road while the cinema campaign will remind children of the importance of making sure they can be seen when they are out after dark.


In 2010 more than 19,500 children were injured on the roads and 55 were killed.


Mike Penning said: “Britain’s roads are among the safest in the world and the number of children killed or seriously injured is 72 per cent lower today than twenty years ago. However, every death on the roads is a tragedy and we are determined to reduce these numbers further.


“That is why - despite the need to cut the defi cit - we are continuing to invest in child road safety campaigns to help children to understand the importance of crossing the road safely.


“The television and cinema advertising campaign we are launching today will help to give children the skills and knowledge they need to stay safe as they grow more independent.”


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