Police have warned internet users of the latest cyber scam called Cryptowall.

The malicious software, or malware, infects a computer and makes in inoperable until a user pays a 'ransom fee'.

It spreads by infecting website links which are sent via email or accessed through advertisements on trusted websites.

By clicking on the advert and going to a third-party website users may be asked to download a document which is infected.

The website can also be corrupted to run a scan on the user's machine and take advantage of any security flaws before then being able to install the malware.

In some cases, users might think they are installing a video plugin or an update only to discover their computer has been taken over by the software.

Once Cryptowall has taken over it renders the computer unusable unless a fee is paid to the cyber criminals.

PC Chris Dover said that although there have not been any cases reported to Nottinghamshire Police people needed to be aware of the scam to avoid falling victim to it.

He said: "Many of us use the internet as part of our daily lives, for banking, shopping, socialising and entertainment.

"We have to be aware of the potential risks to our computers to avoid cyber criminals winning and people paying hefty fees to have their computers repaired.

"Never click an embedded link in an email from someone you don't know or an untrusted source.

"Keep your computer up to date with antivirus software and delete programs you no longer need or use.

"Additionally, be more cautious about the emails you open and consider running an advert blocker in your browser.

"Finally make backups of your important data and keep them separate from your computer.

"That way, if the worst happens, you should be able to restore your valuable data."

Have you ever been affected by a cyber scam? Get in touch: newsdesk@nottinghampost.com

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Lauren Lovejoy has been crowned Miss Congeniality after winning over her fellow competitors at the Miss Universe Great Britain Final. 

The singer from Gamston, who launched her first video single Dontcha Go in April, overcame considerable adversity to reach the finals – suffering from Asperger's syndrome and being bullied in her teenage years. 

But the 24 year old's spirit shone through at the contest in Cardiff and the other finalists voted her the most congenial, charismatic and inspirational participant of all the 30 contestants. 

"I was so shocked; I couldn't believe it," said Lauren. "I think they thought I was scatty, but I was friendly and happy to help anyone where I could. 

"It was fantastic that at the end so many of the girls voted for me." 

She was also awarded Miss Not In Vain at the contest. The prize is presented to the finalist who is believed to have captured the essence of the competition's Not In Vain message – to empower women and make a difference to charities. 

Lauren was given the award for her dedication to raising awareness of her condition and for showing others to not let it stand in their way. 

Paula Abbandonato, director of Miss Universe, said she was the obvious choice for both awards. 

She said: "She won Miss Congeniality hands down. Most winners get two or three votes from the other girls, but she easily got 80 per cent. They absolutely loved her. 

"Then when I chose the Not In Vain award, Lauren was the standout girl. She had been clear and open about her Asperger's but also wasn't going to let it define her. 

"She showed other young women that they can have goals and reach them regardless of adversity and I think she was the star of the show." 

Her partner Phil Brown, 43, was proud of Lauren. 

He said: "Over the last three or four years, she has put in a lot of hard work to get where she is and get through a lot of traumatic experiences that happened in her past. 

"She makes a big impression and it is not just for herself, it is for other people with Asperger's too to show them what they can achieve. She is an incredible woman." 

Lauren is getting straight back into her charity work having been appointed the ambassador of Autistic Nottingham after the event, along with her existing work with children's charity Strongbones, which helps children suffering from muscular skeletal conditions. 

She said: "I was so pleased when they asked me to be an ambassador. 

 "I am friendly, very patient and love helping people, so this is exactly what I love to do." 

Lauren is also focusing on her music career, with plans to head into the studio and work on an album. 

 The winner of Miss Universe was Grace Levy from Titchfield. She will go on to represent the UK in the 63rd global Miss Universe competition later this year. 

Winning means becoming a representative of the company for one year, travelling the world, meeting heads of state, dignitaries, participating in charity and social events, and appearing on television, as well as living in New York. 

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NOTTINGHAM Forest's game at Sheffield Wednesday next month will be shown live on television.

Stuart Pearce's side head to Hillsborough on Saturday August 30, with the kick-off time now having been moved forward to 12.15pm.

The fixture will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Forest have three away games in the first month of the campaign, with trips to Bolton and Bournemouth to come prior to that.

Stuart Pearce's side face Blackpool in the opening game, at the City Ground, on Saturday August 9, while they are also at home to Reading on Saturday August 23.

Forest also face an away game at Tranmere in the first round of the Capital One Cup, during what will be  busy opening to the new season.

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FUNDRAISERS say they are overwhelmed with the "phenomenal" effort to recoup £6,000 stolen from a cancer support centre. 

Readers rallied round when they heard a safe containing the money had been stolen from Maggie's just hours after the charity's annual summer fair on Sunday. 

Well-wishers stepped forward to donate after the Post appealed for help on our website, bringing the total so far to more than £5,600 with gift aid.

Fundraising manager Laura Grant said a huge thank you to everyone who donated.

 She said: "We are overwhelmed by the support in the community. It goes towards restoring faith in human nature at an awful time. "On Monday we struggled to make sense of it but the response has been phenomenal." 

Thieves broke into the distinctive green building, in the grounds of Nottingham City Hospital, on Sunday at around 10.45pm. Along with the safe they grabbed the centre's computers. 

As well as donations, including £3,000 from a former Nottinghamshire resident and Post reader in Japan, Maggie's has been flooded with offers of help to repair the damage to the property and messages of support, both on its own Facebook page and the Post's.

 Cancer patient Jenny Rhodes, who ran a stall at the summer fair, said: "We will bounce back from this. Nothing is going to spoil the love and happiness Maggie's gives to us."

 The 48 year old from Gedling, who has incurable breast cancer, was in tears at the start of the week but today she was overjoyed by the response to the appeal.

 "I am astounded. Out of bad comes good," she said. 

"There are some genuinely good people in Nottingham.... and Japan." 

Reader Joan Simpson, 90, from Bilborough, rang the Post to condemn the culprits. "I had a breast off when I was 83 and three weeks ago I found out that the cancer has come back.

"When I heard the news about the break-in I was so disgusted with these people. It has really upset me.

 "My daughter Yvonne has made a donation today. I feel much better knowing that more than £5,000 has been raised." 

As previously reported by the Post, reader Doug Morton, who teaches in Japan, donated £3,000 to the appeal after seeing the story online. The 35-year- old, originally from Wysall, was disgusted by the theft. 

He said: "I still can't understand why someone would steal from Maggie's and the community like this. Let's hope they get caught quickly." 

The stolen safe also contained registration forms and payment for the charity's forthcoming 5k Moonlight Walk in Mapperley Park on July 18. 

Anyone who registered for the event over the last week is asked to contact Laura on 07970 043949. 

Police have launched an investigation into the break-in. 

 To donate to the Maggie's appeal, visit the website www.justgiving.com/Laura-Grant12

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After eight months of vacuum packed mushroom omelettes the returning troops from Afghanistan were ravenous for some decent, and solid, grub.

More than 200 soldiers from the 9th/12th Royal Lancers descended on the Red Hot World Buffet, at the Corner House, in Trinity Square, on Tuesday July 1 for a free all-you-can-eat feast.

The Grantham-based regiment returned from their final tour of Afghanistan two weeks ago and had chosen Nottingham to let their hair down and waist bands out.

Staff Sergeant Lea Broomfield, who has lived in both Eastwood and Stapleford, was over the moon to be home and was looking forward to spending time with his family.

The 41-year-old is one of the regiment's oldest serving soldiers and is the self-proclaimed "dad" of troops.

He said: "I feel pretty good about myself considering I am keeping up with a lot of 18 year olds but I do feel a bit out of it sometimes when they are talking about the latest music or clothes.

"My oldest girl is 18 so I do feel like a bit of a dad to them sometimes.

"I miss my family and friends a lot when I am away but it is also the little things as well like the fact I come home and have missed a whole series of Big Brother or Britain's Got Talent.

"You get into the habit of watching things you can see most of, in only a couple of weeks."

SSgt Broomfield was one of around 200 soldiers to take part in a series of four "homecoming parades" which have taken place in Leicester, Derbyshire, Chesterfield and Northampton.

Officer Commanding of B squadron and the Brigade Reconnaissance Force in Afghanistan Tom McDermott, 35, said: "Unfortunately we didn't get to parade in Nottingham so we have chosen it as the place to have our night out.

"It is a great feeling after a long week, and indeed a long eight months to sit down have some great food and a couple of beers.

"It is good chance to take stock of where we are before we all go off in our separate ways and catch up with our families."

The squadron which was mostly deployed by helicopter targeted specific threats in Afghanistan such as suicide bombers.

Former Nottingham University student Lieutenant Felix Dieppe, 24, is the third generation of his family to serve in the forces.

He said: "Joining the army was always something that I wanted to do and I am proud to have served with such a brilliant regiment which has had such a successful tour of Afghanistan.

"I have really enjoyed the experience but it wasn't without its trials and tribulations and we did suffer some casualties and unfortunately one soldier did die.

"Coming home and seeing the support of the area helps you remember why you are out there."

General manager of the Red Hot World Buffet Kieran Bailey invited the troops to dine for free at the restaurant after he was approached by one of the Lieutenants to see if they could bag a group discount.

He said: "They were coming back from the homecoming parades which they said in some ways were even more stressful than Afghanistan.

"I just thought: They have been in Afghanistan for eight months which is at a huge risk to their lives and a huge sacrifice, if I can't feed a few of them for free then I should go away and think about myself."

Have you served in the armed forces? Get in touch: Newsdesk@nottinghampost.com

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Jurors trying a woman who allegedly murdered her long-term boyfriend in Mansfield are now considering their verdict.

Michelle Swift, 48, of Ladybrook Place, Mansfield, has denied the murder of Emiel Blankert on December 13 last year.

Her trial at Nottingham Crown Court heard that she allegedly delivered "a significant blunt-force injury to his abdomen". 

The prosecution says Swift may have used some sort of blunt weapon or her foot or feet to deliver one or more kicks or stamps. 

Mr Blankert, 48, who had been in a relationship with Swift for 17 years, died days after the alleged attack.

The court heard that neither Swift nor Mr Blankert, who were both alcoholics and drug abusers, recognised at the time how serious the injury was. 

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FIREFIGHTERS will join hundreds of thousands of other public sector workers taking strike action next Thursday. 

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in England and Wales will walk out for nine hours from 10am to 7pm. 

This will be the 15th time the FBU has walked out in a long-running dispute over pensions. 

On the same day, local government workers, teachers and civil servants will also be on strike over a range of issues, including attacks on pay and pensions and workloads. 

 Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: "The FBU has wanted to settle our dispute for a long time, but the government at Westminster is simply not listening.

"We are therefore proud to take strike action alongside our colleagues in other unions on 10 July. 

"The fact that this government has united so many workers to take strike action against them is a testament to the failure of their policies.

"They are destroying our public services and wrecking the lives of millions."

Fire minister Brandon Lewis has said: "The deal gives firefighters one of the most generous pension schemes in all the public sector and the proposals protect the earned rights of a higher proportion of members than any other public sector scheme.

"An equivalent private pension would be worth over half a million pounds and require firefighters to contribute twice as much."

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Eating ice cream could be the answer to slimming our waistlines, with a new diet catching the imaginations of scientists from the University of Nottingham. 

The Ice Diet has been championed by American gastroenterologist Dr Brian Weiner, who claims he shed pounds by eating sorbets and crushed ice drinks. 

He was backed by a group of Australian medical researchers in Sydney who found cool conditions were conducive to weight loss, with men burning calories 40 per cent faster when they slept in chilly rooms. 

Now researchers from the university are gearing up to test the theory over the summer months. 

Professor Michael Symonds from the School of Medicine has faith in the study after his own research into brown fat. 

He said: "Brown fat is good fat tissue that is only present in small amounts in the body. 

"It is full of uncoupling protein 1, which when activated creates 300 times of heat per gram than normal fat tissue. We may only have 100g in our bodies, but that could account for 10 to 20 per cent of heat production." 

Up until eight years ago, this type of fat was only thought to exist in babies to help them adjust to the difference in temperature from the womb to the outside world. 

But it has been proven that a small amount still exists in adults. 

The heat generated enables the body to burn calories much faster, and if the university can find something to spur this heat production, it could become the answer to the obesity crisis hitting the UK. 

Professor Symonds said: "We have done previous tests on activating this brown fat, such as putting a hand into cold water or drinking cool milk. 

"Now we want to find out more dietary compounds that can activate it and are looking at ice lollies, ice creams and crushed ice in a hope this could burn more calories." 

The university has been given funding from the Queen's Medical Centre's special trustees and are hoping for more from the university's own Impact campaign – which aims to make a positive and lasting influence on society through numerous projects. 

But Professor Symonds said the testing would not cost much, despite the massive impact it could have. 

He said: "We only have a few thousand pounds in funding but we don't need much to do it. We have the thermal imaging cameras, we have the staff and ice creams don't cost very much! 

"Students from Spain will be coming over to help with the research too and we will be recruiting 10 to 15 volunteers for the work." 

The research should be completed within a matter of weeks, but the professor hopes the impact will be long lasting. 

He said: "We would be able to give people the advice they need, what they can eat to burn off the extra calories and show them the difference between drinking something instead of fizzy drinks full of sugar."

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The life-saving working of NHS staff has inspired a two-times cancer survivor to organise a cycling fundraising event for the Queen's Medical Centre. 

Richard Harley, 69, of Hucknall is a former pro-cyclist that put the breaks on riding when he retired back in 1973. 

But after suffering from both bowel and pancreatic cancer in the past four years, he got back in the saddle to get fit. 

Now Mr Harley wants to use his rekindled passion to raise cash for a new helipad at the QMC. 

At the end of 2009, the consultant engineer came home for Christmas. But a sudden bout of hiccups every time he ate gave him some concern. 

His GP sent him straight to hospital and he said he "felt like a fraud" being squeezed in so quickly to speak to a consultant. 

But after going into endoscopy two days later, Mr Harley discovered the instinct of his GP had been correct. 

He said: "I sat with my wife and the surgeon said it was not good news. When my wife asked what we could do to get it sorted, he explained the first thing she should do is go home and get my affairs in order. Then the seriousness sunk in." 

Mr Harley had bowel cancer and had to have an operation removing 65% of his bowel to get rid of the disease. 

He reacted well to the treatment and began to get his fitness back, with his best friend David making him pick up a bike for the first time in over 30 years. 

But as everything seemed in order, disaster stuck again when he was diagnosed with an inoperable cancer on his pancreas. 

Mr Harley said: "The doctor said he couldn't operate on it without risking my life but I said I didn't want to die a slow death at home and for my grandchildren to see it." 

A painstaking nine hours of surgery later by the clinical lead for the trauma centre, Adam Brooks, saw Mr Harley recover again. 

He said: "Me and Adam became friends after that and regularly began cycling together. He told me about the 'golden hour' in trauma where if you get a patient into surgery in that time, you are much more likely to save their life. 

"But he also told me how 80% of that time was taken up in transit and the need for a helipad." 

The idea of a cycling weekend for families was born with the goal of raising money for the much needed facility. 

The Trent Valley Sportive will take place at Manor Farm in Bleasby, near Southwell, on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July. As well as cycling, there will be family entertainment, with fun for everyone on two wheels or two feet. 

Andrew Goodwin, the owner of Manor Farm Tea Shoppe, was delighted to be involved. 

He said: "Richard is a big supporter of the tea shop and we want to support him too. It is a lovely place to ride bikes with all the trails and on top of that it is a very worthy charity."

For more information on the event visit www.saysportsmedia.co.uk.

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