 Kate Hudson The Almost Famous actress - and Muse frontman Matt Bellamy's squeeze - looked picture perfect in a red, off the shoulder Prabal Gurung Resort 2013 gown, gold clutch and simple hair and makeup at the amfAR Inspiration Gala in Los Angeles this week. It's a very different look from the monochrome, slightly masculine ensemble that she rocked in the past, and we love it.  Ashley Greene The Twilight actress had another great week in fashion after she impressed us in her floor-length, hot pink gown and nude wrap dresspreviously. She wore a white Antonio Berardi Resort 2013 dress at the Third Annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Los Angeles (left) and a vivid red Roland Mouret knee-length frock at Variety's 4th Annual Power of Women event, in the same city. She's teamed both dresses with a trusty pair of elongating nude peep toes.  Cheryl The Under The Sun singer co-ordinated with her beau, Tre Holloway, on the pair's date night to Zuma in London. Both opted for autumnal shades of burgundy for their intimate meal, and Cheryl plumped for on-trend leather. It's not the first time she's rocked the fabric, having worn a leather panel skirt on another date with Tre in the past. This is a look we'll definitely be imitating.  Nicole Scherzinger The X Factor judge definitely won in the show's style stakes last weekend. She looked fierce in a black, mesh Izmaylova Pleione dress for the live shows on Saturday, before changing into a strapless, gold Kristian Aadnevik number for Sunday's controversial results show. It's not the first time the star has impressed with her style – she wowed us last week in an on-trend lacy number, too. Tulisa's got some serious catching up to do…  Linda Evangelista The former model and face of L'Oreal looked chic and stylish in a tweed skirt suit at the 80th anniversary of Chanel's 'Bijoux de Diamants' Collection in New York, which she teamed with plain black heels. We predict a stampede for similar styles in the high street come winter.  Taylor Swift The We Are Never Getting Back Together singer caught our eye twice this week with her London looks. First, she wore a pretty Alice + Olivia skater dress from its spring 2013 collection, teamed with her favourite Charlotte Olympia's 'Kitty' heels, for BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards. Later we spotted her looking pretty in a winter floral dress for her appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show. Despite her boyish name, girly is definitely a good look for Taylor.  Lauren Conrad Fresh from impressing us with her style choices at New York Fashion Week, the reality TV star turned author looked polished in a dotty dress from her Paper Crown collection, teamed with her favourite beige quilted Chanel bag, at the Third Annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Los Angeles. Now if you could start wearing something a little more autumnal Miss Conrad, we'd love you even more - you're making us feel so nostalgic about the summer.  alma Hayek The Savages actress showed off her hourglass figure in an on-trend green dress and trusty nude patent courts for her appearance on The Wendy Williams Show in New York. Judging by this, her autumn style is likely to live up to her summer style.  The Duchess of Cambridge Catherine combined style and comfort for her trip to the North of England this week. Wearing key autumn shades of burgundy and khaki, the Duchess looked polished in her coat made by an independent English designer (left) and in her high-street favourite, Reiss (right) as she attended the launch of the FA's National Football Centrewith husband William. She teamed both looks with her favourite Aquatalia By Marvin K. Collection black boots.  Sienna Miller The Factory Girl actress made her return to the red carpet in style following the birth of her baby Marlowe. She wore a cream Alessandra Rich Spring 2012 dress, which skimmed her post baby figure, coupled with Prada pumps, for the screening of The Girl at the Hamptons International Film Festival in New York. We can't to see more of her red carpet style following her absence from celeb world. |
This week’s 10 best dressed celebrities
Five viruses that changed computing history
 In the past ten years, cyber crime has evolved. Attacks have gone from electronic infections which were often unleashed by accident to carefully targeted attacks used not just by criminals but by nations. Below are five landmark attacks which show how hackers have evolved from mere pranksters to digital gangsters - and how much damage their attacks have caused. Damage: Email systems crash worldwide Motivation: Vandalism The Melissa virus was typical of earlier viruses – a kind of electronic vandalism, written by lone hackers, and designed to secure fame for their geeky creators. But Melissa arrived just as the internet made this sort of 'playful' attack horribly destructive. Named after a Miami stripper, the Melissa virus spread so rapidly that it brought down email servers around the world, including Microsoft's. It caused £48 million (€59m) worth of damage. It spread via a document that supposedly offered passwords to pornographic websites. Its creator, David L Smith, made no money at all from Melissa, but detectives rapidly traced the virus back to him from a post he made on a sex forum, and he was sentenced to 20 months in prison. Zeus – 2006 Damage: Multiple cyber bank robberies, including one $78 million (£48m / €59m) Motivation: Theft The Zeus trojan marked a new dawn for malicious software. It's not designed to crash machines, or win notoriety for teenage hackers. The Trojan – spread largely through infected emails - is designed to infect machines and remain there, unseen, stealing information and then money. In one attack on banks, hackers stole $78 million. Six years later, it's still running rampant around the world, in new 'stealth' versions that are ever more difficult to detect. Customised versions of Zeus are still sold today on illegal cybercrime forums in Russia and around the world. Several million PCs in the U.S. are still infected with Zeus, including thousands within major companies. The trojan records key strokes from infected PCs, and has been used to steal information from companies around the world including dozens of banks, Nasa, and Amazon. 'It was only a matter of time before someone sought to make money off their skills,' says Norton's Director of Security, Kevin Haley. 'Criminal entrepreneurs stepped it up. The second half of the 2000s brought an explosion of banking Trojans. Crime paid.' Koobface – 2009 Damage: Thousands of stolen bank details, earning $1 million (£600k / €760k) a year Motivation: Theft The Koobface worm earned its creators $1 million a year, and ushered in a new era for PC infections – with attacks that spread rapidly through social networks. Koobface is an anagram of 'Facebook' – a tribute to how the worm spread. Today, attacks which spread through contaminated links on Facebook and Twitter are common. Links to videos would prompt users to download a new version of their video player – actually a worm that infected their computer, which earned money by stealing bank details. This sort of attack has become increasingly common. 'The Facebook system doesn't really filter malicious postings,' says Tom Beale, an security expert who works preventing cyber attacks at Vigilante Bespoke. 'Your only defence is thinking, "Would they really post that?" The 'Koobface' gang, which distributed malicious software via fake links on Facebook, are said to be 'adult' webmasters from St Petersburg in Russia. Their network of compromised PCs was estimated to be earning $1 million a year, by siphoning off bank details. But despite Facebook taking the unusual step of publishing addresses, office details and even photographs of the alleged criminals, none has ever been prosecuted. Hydraq - 2010 Damage: Possibly billions in stolen corporate secrets Motivation: Corporate espionage 'Hydraq wasn't the first time malware was used for industrial espionage, but as recent events have made clear, it was also not the last,' says Kevin Haley, Norton's director of security response. The Hydraq Trojan appeared on computers owned by Google employees in China, and stole information including details from human rights activists. It was widely thought to have been part of a state-sponsored attack on Western businesses. Twenty companies were reportedly targeted in the same attack. Google said it was hit by a 'highly sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure'. Part of it was aimed at the Gmail accounts of 'Chinese human rights activists'. Google withdrew its search business from China shortly afterwards. Stuxnet - 2010 Damage: Attack on Iranian nuclear plant Motivation: Cyber warfare The Stuxnet worm appeared in computer equipment in Iran's Busehr nuclear plant. It was a warning that computer viruses could cause very real damage. The worm was so sophisticated that it is thought to have required at least six months to create, and required the resources of a nation state. Many defence commentators have pointed the finger at America and Israel. Security companies suspect that the cyber weapon is just one of a family of similar attacks – and that several have not been detected yet. Stuxnet was designed to make centrifuges at the plant spin out of control, damaging them beyond repair - it was built to spread to relatively unsophisticated industrial computer systems, carried on USB sticks or infected laptops. Many plants are still controlled by similar networked equipment. |
Pictures of the Week
 Huge crowds of tourists pack on to the Badaling Great Wall of China on Wednesday as extended national holidays brought many attractions to a virtual standstill. The China Tourism Academy estimated there would be 362 million travelers on the move this holiday.  Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing as he is driven through the crowd for his weekly general audience, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, on Wednesday.  he largest wall of Virginia Creeper in Britain is turning a blaze of red as the mild weather sees this year's autumn leaves produce some spectacular colours at St John's College, Cambridge. The vine, which climbs 10 metres high to the top of the four-storey building and is 60 metres wide, has become one of the most famous autumn sights in the University city.  An 11-year-old boy from Russia's north has stumbled upon a well-preserved wooly mammoth, in what scientists described as the best such discovery since 1901.  mergency personnel respond to the scene of a train derailment in Hanford, California, on Monday. Two cars and the locomotive of the train car derailed after colliding with a big rig truck in California's Central Valley. At least 20 passengers suffered minor to moderate injuries, authorities said.  Crocodile hunter Steve Irwin's eight-year-old son Robert has proved he is a chip off the old block after he fed dangerous freshwater crocodiles for the first time. Brave Robert Irwin smiled after feeding garfish to the dangerous reptiles in public view at Australia Zoo in Queensland.  Indian policemen use a water cannon to disperse Congress party workers who marched to Madhya Pradesh state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's residence to protest against alleged corruption and the deteriorating law and lack of order in the state, in Bhopal, India, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012. |
iPhone 5 review
 The new iPhone is here – but is Apple in danger of delivering too little with its latest upgrade?The excitement of the rumour mill, the titillation of every leaked photo led to higher than ever levels of expectation over the iPhone 5 features, and while the announcement was greeted with some derision at the lack of perceived headline improvements, the record sales tell an entirely different story. Given the underwhelming changes to the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 5 launch really needs to re-energise customers to prove Apple can repeat the game-changing trick it managed with the iPhone 4. The iPhone 5 price is predictably high, so consumers will need to bear that in mind too when looking for their next smartphone. So is the Apple iPhone 5 the greatest smartphone ever, one that finally see Apple ascend to the top spot in our 20 best mobile phones chart? Or is it a case of too little, too late? DesignWe'll begin in the traditional manner: how the thing actually feels in the hand. With the iPhone 5 there will be many types of prospective buyer: the upgrader from the 4 (or more-money-than-sense iPhone 4S upgraders), those tired of their Android handset and those taking their first steps in the smartphone market and want to get one of them iThingies their friend/child has. Well, all of those picking up the iPhone 5 will have the same reaction: this thing is amazingly light. You've probably heard the numbers by now (20 per cent lighter than the predecessor, as well as beating most of the opposition too at 112g.) It's an odd sensation, but it actually detracts from the experience when you first pick it up. We've praised the weighty feel of the iPhone in the past, lending it a premium feel in the face of toy-like phones, and it's almost disappointing that Apple decided to join that clan. However, through extended use this problem quickly disappears, as the overall effect of the phone is still a chassis designed for strength, it just sits more anonymously in the pocket. You'll obviously see the change in height too – the iPhone 5 stands 123.8mm tall to allow for the larger 4-inch screen. In truth, those not familiar with the iPhone 4S probably wouldn't notice the difference, which is why it's a good move from Apple to include the larger screen if it's not going put people off that hate larger phones. The decision to stick at 4-inches is Apple's admission that while it recognises people are all over the idea of having more screen real estate to play with it doesn't want to move away from the thumb-friendly nature of the device. Through a mixture of moving the centre of gravity slightly as well as repositioning the screen within the bezel, it's still possible to scroll your thumb mostly around the whole display one-handed, which Apple is clearly keen to keep hold of. However, we're not convinced of that argument any more, and the power button was still a little out of reach when using the phone normally, as was anything in the top left-hand corner of the screen. # This was no issue in reality, as scooting the phone down a touch in the palm is a natural action. But if that's the case, then why not offer a 4.3-inch screen at least? There's more to a phone than a screen these days (although increasingly less and less) and the general construction of the iPhone 5 is excellent to say the least. We've tested both the ceramic white version and the anodised black, and the two tone effect on the back of the phone is stunning, both visually and under the finger. It doesn't beat the sheer beauty of the HTC One S, with its micro-arc oxidised back and rounded lines, but it's well-set in second place. The two sections of pigmented glass at the top and the bottom of the phone add a pleasant effect, and the sapphire glass is meant to be thoroughly durable, to complement the Gorilla Glass on the front. Apple knows consumers get furious when they drop and iPhone, and is clearly seeking to stop the smashes before they happen with a tougher exterior - although it seems the anodised black version is more prone to scratching, which means sadly you'll have to think about getting a cover for that beautiful frame. The same industrial band around the outside is in effect again as on the iPhone 4 and 4S, with small sections removed where the antenna joins. Apple has gone for a more advanced form of antenna here, meaning the days of lost signal are gone, and generally increasing the power of your call connection and GPS lock on too. There are other big design changes here too: the headphone jack has moved to the bottom of the phone, and the iconic 30-pin connector has been retired in favour of the new Lightning port, giving a headache to all those that have invested in chargers, docks and other accessories over their iPhone lives. You can buy an adaptor, but it's going to be pricey: £25 or $30 when it lands in October. And unless you want to keep it permanently attached to the bottom of the iPhone 5 you'll need to buy a few, which is far from ideal. However, let's not harangue Apple too much for this: a smaller connector is not only easier to use (you can plug the smaller cable in either way round, and the connection feels more solid), but you're rewarded with a thinner and more compact phone to boot. The decision to move the 3.5mm headphone jack to the bottom is an odd one, as while it allows you to slip the phone into the pocket head-first when listening to music, which is a more natural action, it's a real pain in the posterior for some apps that will only work in landscape a certain way up. Using it this way means your headphones experience will be one of having to jiggle the jack around two fingers. It's not the most comfortable way to hold a phone, and even when using the phone in portrait mode, the jack gets in the way somewhat. There are other smaller design changes to the iPhone 5 too, such as the iSight front-facing camera moving to the middle and the home button being noticeably more robust to help reduce instances of a broken portal to your home screen. But enough about what the phone looks like - the killer question is how the thing feels in hand. And we'll sum it up by saying: smooth. It's a little slippery, and we were always worried we would drop the darned thing. But that's the only negative thing about the design (apart from the low weight initially) as it sits in the palm nicely and allows you to do it all with one hand, including hitting the top-mounted power/lock button with ease. That lock button is actually still loose, as it was on the iPhone 4S, meaning when you shake the phone around you can hear it clicking away, which undoes a lot of the premium feel Apple is going for. Make no mistake, the iPhone 5 is one of the most beautifully crafted phones out there - but when you're paying £529 ($199) up front for the thing, we'd hope this would be the very minimum Apple would be doing. And while it looks nice, from the front it doesn't really add much to the design of the iPhone - it's certainly not the same as the jaw-dropping design of the iPhone 4 compared to the 3GS... it's another evolution in the iLine. It's not bad, but for those that hoped the iPhone 5 would be another step change there's a good chance they'll be disappointed about the look... until they feel the lovely back on offer. There was a real chance here for Apple: remove the bezel and give the front of the screen a look that's similar to the OLED TVs from the likes of Samsung or LG… but instead we're treated to the same lines as before. You always get the feeling that Apple saves what it can for the next iteration of the iPhone, and while there's nothing wrong with the current construction we can see the edge-to-edge screen becoming something amazing on the iPhone 6. |
Money down the drain – the cost of lazing in the shower
 The average person takes nine minutes in the shower and has five showers a week, new research from E.ON has found. Women also typically take longer in the shower than men, the report. But by reducing your average shower time by two minutes, the average home could save £20 a year, on top of the environmental benefits of saving water and energy. By timing our showers on a typical day, I found that my husband spent just seven minutes washing, while I lazed under the water for a whole 12 minutes. Being slightly obsessed with finding ways to save on bills, I decided to cut more than two minutes off my daily shower. If my husband can manage just seven minutes then I decided I would not spend more than that. After investing in a dedicated shower timer (and then replacing it with my existing egg timer because it was easier to work), I was ready to go. For the last three days, I have set a timer for seven minutes, thinking that at least that way I'm not costing more than my other half. I thought it would be easy. It's not. Getting clean and getting out in seven minutes flat means there's no time for staring into space, vaguely wondering whether to have muesli or porridge for breakfast. There's definitely no time for using that '3 minute miracle' conditioner I like. It's bad enough waking up to an alarm, but having to leap out of the shower at the sound of a bell is even worse. A price worth paying I doubt very much that I will keep the timer in the bathroom. I also don't think the financial savings are that impressive – £20 a year by cutting back two minutes in the shower isn't actually that much. For a household where everyone showers every day, it's less than 0.05p a day. I like small savings that add up, but this one doesn't seem that impressive to me. However, I do like the idea of cutting down on wasted water from an environmental point of view. According to the Environment Agency, the average UK family uses 500 litres of water a day, including communal appliances – that equates to 1.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year. That's quite a strong argument in favour of cutting down. In short, I'm going to ditch the alarm but I'm also going to make a concerted effort to speed up my showers. Ways to cut water use Even though the savings made by cutting two minutes off your shower aren't that huge, reducing water use in your home more generally can save money. Here are some tips for cutting back: Fix your drips – According to the Energy Saving Trust, a dripping tap can waste more than 5,500 litres of water a year. Be more efficient - Attach a flow regulator to your shower and cut the water it uses (Don't try this with electric showers though as they could be damaged). Reuse unused water – Don't throw away leftover water, instead, poor them into houseplants. The same goes for running the tap to get it hot – catch the water and use it elsewhere. Don't run the tap unnecessarily – Turn it off while you brush your teeth or shave. Also, most modern showers are hot straight away, so don't run them before getting in. Consider turning off the shower while lathering up – and use a shower puff or sponge as they lather up really quickly. Buy efficient models – When you come to replace your bathroom fittings, consider investing in more efficient models like low-flush and duel-flush toilets – saving up to six litres per flush! More efficient appliances like washing machines also use less water and electricity. Ask for help – Some water companies will issue free cistern hippos and other water-saving devices, get in touch with yours to see if it offers any help. Turn down the temperature – This isn't to suggest you should have a freezing shower, but turning down the dial a few notches can save real money and you'll soon stop noticing. Also, it's better for your hair and skin. Think about where else you can shower. If you work out or go for a regular run, you might need more than one shower a day. But if you could time your fitness regime so you shower at the gym, the pool, or even at work if there are facilities, you could really make a difference to your water and heating bills. |
The worst make-up mistakes you can make for a job interview
 There's enough pressure for women to look perfect at all times, but if there's one situation to pay attention to beauty rules and make up mantras, it's in a job interview. And a new survey that reveals employers' beauty-based bugbears will make you think twice about cancelling that manicure. Perhaps surprisingly split ends ranks the second worst beauty blunder as interviewers connect this with laziness. These were followed by smudged mascara (party animal) and fake tan (likely to swan off on hols at any moment). But women also have to be careful not to overdo their expertly quoiffed look. Heavily pencilled brows, too much perfume and bright red lipstick all suggest overconfidence and one per cent of the employers polled saw the perfectly made-up as a threat to their job! On the other hand, no mascara was also seen as a negative. Debenhams Beauty Director Sara Stern says: "Clearly the application of make-up and fragrance is just as important as making sure your outfit is clean and ironed ahead of an interview. It seems a more natural-looking middle ground is the way to go for sure-fire success." |
Get a flatter stomach in 24 hours
 Follow the Slim Down's bloat beating top tips for a flatter stomach over night….. 1. Curb the curries 2. Pick up a pineapple 3. Treat yourself to tea 4. Drink It down If your bloated tummy is linked to your time of the month try drinking more water. Research shows that bloating and water retention are often linked to dehydration so make sure you sip down at least eight glasses of water a day. 5. Chew on it 6. Start grazing 7. Put your best foot forward Take regular exercise. Research shows even a short 20-30 minute brisk walk four times a week can improve your bowel function. 8. Have an apple a day |
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