Life

Marie Louise McConville: The World Wide Web will have to twirl on without me

Marie Louise may give up Facebook after a scary experience with scammers
Marie Louise may give up Facebook after a scary experience with scammers Marie Louise may give up Facebook after a scary experience with scammers

I've never been one for technology.

Usually, if there's a new fad I'm the last to learn about it, get it, buy it, download it or stream it (I don't even know what that means).

I don't really go in for fancy-dancy gadgets or follow trends, even now in 2017 I still don't know what Netflix actually is.

At home, we don't have Sky TV, we have Freeview although sometimes I do wish we could record, pause, rewind and fast forward through the adverts but we don't and I'm fine with that. I've found we don't actually need it and the kids are happy with their DVDs when needed.

I don't have online banking and I rarely buy anything online preferring to stick to actual shops.

And don't even get me started on social media.

I'm not on Twitter, I don't really understand Snapchat and haven't a clue about WhatsApp.

Whilst I have an iPhone, I've never actually downloaded an app and wouldn't know how to.

I can make a call, I can text and I can search the internet but mostly I use it for Facebook.

I'll be honest, I get a bit scared when I think about all this social media guff.

I've never been one for putting lots of photos of the kids up on Facebook and really only use it to catch up with people and stay in touch. I've heard real horror stories of photos of kids being lifted and used for sinister reasons. So, I pretty much avoid doing it.

However, I'm now thinking about giving up Facebook because this week, I got a bit of a scare.

I was sitting in work the other morning when my friend asked me if I had sent her a friend request. I thought this was strange because she and I have been friends for well over 10 years and are already friends on Facebook.

The next minute, I got an e-mail from my best friend's husband (I could make a joke about this but I won't) who told me he had also received a friend request from me and he attached a screen grab of the request and there it was, an offer was from `Marie Louise McConville'.

I have to admit, I got a bit panicked then.

I had heard before of accounts being targeted by scammers and hackers but nothing like this has ever happened me before.

So I set out to change my password and thankfully my friend's husband reported the issue to Facebook.

In the meantime, I put a status up to tell people to not accept this odd friend request as it was not from me and should be deleted.

Within minutes, I received messages from lots of friends telling me they had already accepted it and were now rushing to delete.

I apologised that this had happened but really it was beyond my control.

So, while I was having a meltdown at my desk that this fake account in my name would be used to troll people, bully people, extort people or generally cause chaos, I received an e-mail from Facebook itself.

I was informed that they had "removed the profile that your friend reported because it goes against our community standard on identity and privacy. We’ve let the profile owner know that it has been removed, but not who reported it.

"Thanks for helping us keep Facebook a safe and authentic place. If you see anything else that concerns you, please let us know".

I have to say, I was impressed with the company's quick response however that was not the end of it.

In the next few days, this happened repeatedly and I am still dealing with it now.

I mean, I know it could have really bad consequences.

I don't really put much personal stuff up on my page and I'm very careful about photos. However, when I think of the damage which could be done, I get really stressed.

I don't like the idea of any stranger having a poke through my info or pretending to be me, so now I'm thinking of just leaving Facebook.

After all, I'm more of a traditional girl at heart. I like face-to-face chats and I like flicking through actual photos in my hands.

The big World Wide Web may just have to continue to spin without me - scammers and all.

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Competition

The sun finally made an appearance this week, so how do you fancy popping out to enjoy some nice grub to add to the feelgood factor?

Boston Grill, which opened recently at Lisburn Leisure Park, between the Omniplex Cinema and the LeisurePlex, is offering customers a top stateside menu.

Serving from 9.30am at the weekend, you’ll find a full range of breakfast items to set you up for the day, including eggs Benedict, French toast and the traditional Ulster fry.

If you’re more interested in lunch and dinner, how about nachos, sticky hoisin duck wings and sharing platters, which make great starters.

Boston Grill is definitely a meat lovers’ dream with a variety of locally sourced prime cuts of steak alongside sizzling plates and pasta dishes fusing Italian and American heritage but there's also veggie options.

So, why not get stuck in?

To celebrate the arrival of Boston Grill, I have two £50 vouchers to give away to two lucky readers.

If you fancy winning a voucher, simply email your name, address and telephone number – along with the answer to the question below – to competitions@irishnews.com

Closing date for entries is Tuesday, April 11 , 2017

(Q) Where is Boston Grill situated in Lisburn?

Normal Irish News Rules Apply

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What's Hot?

Pamper - With Summer on the horizon, it's time to get our skin sun-ready so why not check out Lidl's Cien beauty range? The collection offers a range of products including Herbal Bath Soak (65p), Aqua Rich Gentle Face Wash, (£1.29), Facial Mask (39p) and Time Control Moisturising Cream (£1.29). Go treat yourself.

Food - If you're looking for something to do tomorrow, check out The Argory in Co Armagh where a Good Food Market is taking place with artisan food and drink stalls selling everything from chutneys and jams to chocolate, homemade cupcakes and fudge. On from 11am-4pm

Animated Fun - If you're in search of a laugh at the flicks this weekend, check out The Boss Baby. Featuring the voices of Alec Baldwin and Lisa Kudrow, the movie tells the story of a suit-wearing briefcase-carrying baby who sets out to stop a dastardly plot.

So Not!

Quit - Actor, Adam Thomas has announced he is quitting the Dales after playing Adam Barton on Emmerdale for eight years. The 28-year-old, who was a big hit on I'm A Celebrity last year, is hoping to pursue his own TV show

Flop - Scarlett Johansson's new sci-fi thriller Ghost In the Shell is a box office flop after it only took $19 million in its opening weekend in North America. Based on a classic 1995 Japanese film, the movie reportedly cost $110 million to make.

The Dales - Emmerdale is just so sad at the moment with Ashley's dementia storyline. While I think the soap has handled this important issue wonderfully, I just find it so hard to watch. It's just so heartbreaking.

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Competition

The winners of the Translink competition are Margaret Bunting, from Bellaghy and Paul Gill, from Lisburn

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Easy Peasy Recipe

This week’s Easy Peasy Recipe is Soda Bread

You will need:

6oz self-raising wholemeal flour

6oz plain flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1/2 pint buttermilk

To Make:

Preheat oven at 200C/Gas Mark 6.

In a bowl, mix the flowers, salt an bicarbonate of soda

Add the buttermilk and mix constantly to form a dough

Lay on a floured surface and knead, forming it into a round loaf shape

Place on top of a baking sheet on a baking tray

Cut a cross on top and bake for about 30 minutes

Leave to cool before slicing

Do you have an Easy Peasy recipe you would like to share?

Are you the queen of quiches, magnificent at muffins or can you turn out some nice scones?

If so, then we want to hear from you.

You can send your name, address, contact number and recipe (plus photo if possible) to:

Easy Peasy Recipes,

Marie Louise McConville,

Irish News

113-117 Donegall Street,

Belfast,

BT1 2GE

or

m.mcconville@irishnews.com

Paul Donnelly

The Irish News Ltd.

+44 (0)28 9033 7487

+44 (0)7855 835 145