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Safer Internet Day 2010

‘Think B4 U post’ is the key theme for the 2010 Safer Internet Day on February 9th which promotes the safer and more responsible use of online technology. One area that is particularly important to watch when it comes to safety online is internet shopping. All of us know that there are some bad sites out there which defraud customers and this is a growing problem, particularly with the boom in ecommerce.  

But it’s not all doom and gloom as the majority of sites are trusted and have ways to ensure customers stay safe when shopping online. For example, seeing the ‘Trusted Shop’ sign, secure https protocols, safe payment services like PayPal and looking at online shop reviews from websites like Ciao all help ensure that the site you are looking at is safe.

It sounds simple, but you would be surprised at the number of consumers who do not have adequate security in place to ensure the sites they are looking at are safe. Online service “Blippy” enables users to post credit card spend in real time, and whilst it has been surprisingly popular with users, it has also opened up much debate about its security. This is particularly current given the recent increase in credit card fraud – in the UK, a quarter of the adult population has already been defrauded, according to recent research, and in Italy there has been a rise in fraud in the housing industry. In France the government has tried to combat the issue by publishing a series of videos for teenagers on how to stay safe online, and in Spain a campaign called ‘I secure Internet’ has begun addressing the issue of internet safety.

According to research from Microsoft, 79% of teenagers across Europe are actively using social media sites and 43% believe that it is completely safe to post personal information online. Almost two thirds of Europe’s teenagers have been contacted by a stranger via the internet, and as many as 46% have responded to them out of curiosity – although in the UK this figure is much lower as the majority chose to block the comment or request.
 
These findings highlight that whilst there is much to enjoy online, it is still important that people are careful about how they interact and have the right security protection in place. So with this in mind, we at Ciao wish you a happy Safer Internet Day, and for more information please see here

Coffee named Britain’s Number One stimulant

New research out today from Ciao shows that coffee is Europe’s number one addiction – with 47% of respondents saying that they could not live without it!
For Brits the coffee addiction overtakes even our national life blood – tea (28%) and also alcohol (20%). Amazingly not a single Brit selected smoking as their biggest addiction – showing that our caffeine hit is now more important than its nicotine cousin.
We can’t rest on our laurels too much though: Britain is apparently far more attached to the booze (20% named it as their biggest addiction) than our European cousins. In Spain only 4% named alcohol as the thing they couldn’t do without, compared to 4% in Spain, 2% in the Netherlands and a tiny 1% in both France and Italy!
Things are at least looking up for our figures. None of the British respondents named overeating as their worst addiction, compared to 20% of the Spanish, 16% of Swedes, 24% of Italians, 15% of the French and 10% of people in the Netherlands.
Do you agree with the results? What is your biggest addiction? Please get in touch and share your comments here. Alternatively, if you’re looking to give up one of your addictions have a look on ciao.co.uk where there are lots of community discussions offering tips on how to help. 

Smaller budgets equal smaller panties

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, the latest statistics released from Ciao give a unique new insight into recession spending – through our underwear shopping!

Whilst we are no longer officially in a recession, apparently smaller budgets from last year equal smaller panties, with a 100% rise in the search for women’s thongs in comparison to last year’s figures. The same is not true for our waistlines – corsets were four times as popular in 2009 as they were in 2008, suggesting that we may have been hitting the chips to make up for our budgetary restrictions.

Perhaps unsurprisingly designer togs have also seen a huge decrease in popularity – Diesel, Gucci and Prada all made appearances in the ‘most searched for’ brands of 2008, but not a single one made it into the top 15 list for 2009.

Women may be prepared to wear tiny pants but the same is apparently not true for British men – or not anymore. As many as one in ten men searched for thongs in 2008, but the 2009 figures show that only one in a hundred are pushing the boat out with tiny pants. Their increasing conservatism is also displayed in the Christmas search figures: “socks” was the third most popular search term for Christmas 2009, despite being completely absent from the top lists the previous year. At least Britain’s men will keep their feet warm in the snow!

If underwear isn’t top of the list for your loved ones this Valentine’s Day, the Ciao community has a great selection of alternative ideas. A romantic trip to Europe could be the ideal solution, providing culture, knowledge and a well-deserved rest as well.  Visit ciao.co.uk for all the latest escape options – whether it’s San Sebastian beach in Spain or Paris, one of the most romantic cities in the world. Or for something closer to home try Brighton, home of Brighton Pier and an array of unique boutique hotels and restaurants.

If you have any thought provoking opinions on the results, or recommendations on other great destinations for Valentine’s day please get it touch and post a comment here!

Europe on sale!

Every year at the end of December, Europe is flooded with sales in shops across the region. It’s a great time for consumers on the lookout for a bargain, and this year the sales were even better with many countries starting earlier but also lasting longer, with impressive deals encouraging people to shop in the credit crunch. So with discounts still running in many countries across Europe with up to 70% off in some cases, there are plenty of bargains out there for people on a budget! 
 
And it seems as if consumers couldn’t wait for the sales to begin across Europe. Italy has seen record breaking queues in front of fashion stores as the trendy Italians look to grab a bargain. In Germany, it seems as if home electricals were more popular, as people were seen queuing for hours outside shops, often to leave with two or three vacuum cleaners! And in the UK as we all know, the sales started early in December with keen shoppers out to grab a bargain. Not forgetting Spain, where the two month “rebajas” period began early this year. However, if recent statistics are anything to go by, people are still spending less on sales this year than previously. So does it still matter when the sales period begins?

What do you think? Do you wait for the end of the January sales when prices go down even further, or do you believe bargains can be found throughout the year? Sometimes better deals can be found online – check out ciao.co.uk and try to find the best value deal to support your hunt.  And if you are looking for some extraordinary sales, why not check out blogs and sites like Secret Sales where exclusive designer sales are held with up to 80% off!
 
Good luck, and have fun finding a last minute deal!

Have you found love on Ciao?

Have you found love on Ciao? In the run up to Valentine’s day, we’re looking for Ciao members who have met their match through building friendships in the Ciao community. Whether you have found love on Ciao or have any other Valentine’s day story from the community to tell, please get in touch - we’d love to hear from you! If your story is particularly interesting, we will publish the best story here on our social media news and twitter on Valentine’s day (but will of course ask for your permission first). So what’s stopping you? Please share your story with us - we look forward to hearing from you here

Taking Europe by storm

As last week’s winter snow arrived in the UK, bad news came along for the whole of Europe just a few days later. Not only did many of you have trouble getting to and back from work but the “big freeze” was actually the worst Europe had seen in over 30 years. And despite heavy warnings, not all European countries were well prepared.
 
In the UK, salt stocks used to grit the roads began to run out, and gas supplies also became worryingly low. The UK Government warned people not to travel on the roads and to stay inside if possible. Cautiously, the German Government declared a disaster alarm last weekend, as its so called snow storm “Daisy” was followed by a downpour and the costal embankments were close to breaking point. In some regions of Italy the disaster alarm was also raised but, soon after local governments had the situation under control. Fortunately though, the poor weather did not affect the whole country. In France, the Government was unable to clear the highways of the vast quantities of snow and the police were forced to close some of county’s border crossings to German trucks, leaving over 300 drivers stuck out in the snow. And in the southeast of France around 2,400 households were left without electricity. Interesting though is how “coolly” the Spanish dealt with the white powder - although it is still covering many streets, life is already back to normal, largely because the Spanish Government distributed heaps of salt which helped to avoid any problems.
 
Public transport was hit in almost every country. In Milan, only the underground remained in service, while in the UK, many train cancellations caused major chaos. One Eurostar train even got stuck in the tunnel between Paris and London.

But travel disruptions do have their bright side, or at least they did for students, as all over the continent some schools were shut down and exams postponed. And when was the last time you saw so many snowmen in towns and cities?
 
If you were taking the weather forecast seriously, you may have bought lots of tinned and packaged food in case you got snowed in and were unable leave the house. If you did bulk buy, what are you doing with all of your emergency supplies now? If you’re lost for ideas, how about looking for some cooking books on Ciao to help you find some tasty and wholesome recipes to warm you up on a cold winter evening? Or you could even throw a party and share the extra food with your friends!

If the idea of having a party appeals to you, why not check out the party kits on Ciao to help you celebrate in style?! This way you can have heaps of fun and make some space in the cupboards for new supplies if you want to stock up in case another storm is about to hit your country!
 
So how have you been affected by the snow? Please let us know all about your snow experience! Did you build a snowman? If so, we’d love to see your pictures or videos and we’re holding a competition to find Europe’s best snowman. All snowmen images can be sent to Ciao here up until the competition closes next Wednesday 20th January. If you have a video of your snowman, you can directly upload it on our Ciao product site “snowman” here.

The best rated snowman review will receive a little prize from Ciao and the best picture will be published on our Twitter profile. We are looking forward hearing from you!

Comscore names ciao.co.uk Britain’s number one Comparison Shopping site

Microsoft’s Ciao is named the most visited price comparison site for the first time

Figures released from Comscores show that Microsoft’s shopping community, ciao.co.uk, was the UK’s most visited comparison shopping site in November 2009. Comscore’s statistics show that a total of 2.97 million unique users  visited the site in the course of the month, demonstrating Ciao’s role as an essential tool for the British consumer. Rival Shopping.com’s UK site, the previous number one, had 2.25 million visitors in the same period.

2009 saw a number of significant milestones for the Ciao UK site, led by its integration into Microsoft’s groundbreaking Bing.com search engine. Several new features also launched over the course of the year, including an option allowing members to suggest new products for the ciao.co.uk website and offering them extra incentives to be the first reviewer. Towards the end of the year Ciao also gave members the ability to log into the site using existing Windows Live IDs.

Stephan Musikant, General Manager, Ciao Commerce Division at Microsoft said of the news: “The people who visit our site like it because they can do more than just search for prices; they can write and film reviews of past purchases and offer advice to other people looking to take a wise decision on a given product or service. The strength of the site is in its community, which is filled with people who are genuinely passionate about shopping. The developments we’ve added to the site over the last year – including the incorporation into Microsoft Bing – have all been designed to improve visitors’ access to information and increase the engagement from the community. We believe that the Comscore figures demonstrate the success of these developments and we look forward to building on them in 2010.”

*ComScore MediaMatrix / November 2009 measured in terms of the aggregate unique visitors in the UK

So…how about those New Year’s resolutions?

2010 has only just begun and already some of us seem to have forgotten all about the New Year’s resolutions we made just a couple of weeks ago. The most popular resolutions each January are often old time classics such as to “quit smoking” or to “do more exercise” and with the popularity of online debate and social networking, less traditional resolutions such as to “blog more” or to “shop more online” to save money are also becoming increasingly common.

As we all know New Year’s resolutions are easy to make but a lot harder to stick to and according to a survey carried out by dairy brand Clover, four out of ten Brits abandoned their resolutions by 2nd January and more than of us half failed to last even a full week.

However, if you are one of the determined few who is keeping strong but feel like you need extra support to keep on track, then don’t worry because help is at hand. Why not log onto ciao.co.uk to see how our community is coping with its New Year’s resolutions?

For instance, if you’re determined to quit smoking you can get plenty of support on Ciao. Or if you’re keen do more exercise in 2010 but the thought of going to the gym leaves you weak at the knees why not think about more adventurous approaches to get fit? Team sports and group activities can be one of the best ways to keep you motivated and are usually a lot more fun too. And as it’s January there are also plenty of deals to be had, so now is the perfect time to get a group of friends together and arrange an exciting trip away. For a few suggestions check out group skiing trips, or if you don’t have any holiday coming up the Wii fit or the Wii Olympic sports game are great alternatives.

If you are one of the many whose New Year’s resolutions have fallen by the wayside, all is not lost because there is also a great New Year’s Resolution Generator website with a range of resolutions to suit everyone. And on Ciao there are also plenty of tips and tricks to help you get back on track for a happy and successful 2010.

So, how are you getting on with keeping your New Year’s resolutions? And have you any advice to offer for when the going gets tough? We’d love to hear how you’re doing and if you have any top tips please share them with us!

Winter Warmers!

It’s simply that time of the year: it’s freezing cold, your bones are aching from the incredibly low temperatures and there is very little you can do about it! Thus, we at Ciao decided to give you some helpful tips on how to keep yourself warm during the bad weather.

From vegetarian to delicious beef soups you can find on Ciao loads of recipes for the most discerning cook, from tomato, butternut squash, to pea soup, you name it!

If looking for a more professional approach, why not checking our book section, and try one of the 500 hundred soups from Susannah Blake or the bible of Debra Mayhew . They are just perfect to get you started!

And for those with no time to cook, we have just the perfect warmer! A great selection of reviews on the most wanted hot chocolates in the market is available now for you.

For the healthy ones, check the reviews on Green & Black's Organic Hot Chocolate and the must have Slim fast hot chocolate, perfect for those who gained a few pounds over Christmas.

What about coffee and tea? We have hundreds of products and reviews on how to make that nice cup of tea this winter, as well as coffee makers to start the year on the right foot.

So before you decide on what brand suits you best, or what the ideal winter warmer is for you, head over to Ciao and let us know which one is your favorite!

Celebrating the New Year in style with Ciao!

New Year’s Eve is one of the most hotly anticipated nights of the year. Whether you’re planning to stay in or go out and celebrate, the 31st is a great excuse to let your hair down and see the New Year in with style. But if you haven’t decided what to do or where to go this time round, don’t panic!, because there are so many different activities going on across the UK to choose from. To give you some inspiration and ideas we have included some of our favourites below.

For many people New Year’s Eve is all about having fun and traditionally London is the most popular place to visit in the UK on the last day of the year. On the 31st December thousands of people visit Big Ben to count down the last few minutes before midnight. There is also a hugely impressive fireworks display on the River Thames which begins just as the clock strikes 12 and with the London Eye also lit up to showcase a range of bright and flashing colours, London really is a magical place to go out and enjoy yourself.

But even if fireworks aren’t your thing and you fancy staying inside away from the crowds, London is still one of the best places to be. There are such a vast number of pubs, restaurants, bars and clubs across the capital that there is bound to be one that’s right for you. And as an added bonus, most venues also stay open later than usual; often well into the early hours of the morning, helping you to make the most of the biggest party of the year!

However it’s not just London that has lots to offer on New Year’s Eve as most of the UK’s biggest cities up and down the country will also be holding their own outside concerts and fireworks displays. Some of the best attended venues include Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Leeds and Newcastle.

Alternatively, why not visit one of Europe’s capitals to see what they’ve got in store?  Paris, Berlin, Rome and Madrid are all party hot spots on New Year’s Eve.

What are you up to this New Year’s Eve? Are there any special events going on in your town or city? If you have any handy hints or tips for how to make the most of New Year’s Eve we’d love to hear from you! Why not head over to Ciao and let us know what you think?