At last, BBC News have removed that effusive story about the highly dodgy Browzar software. I almost complained to the BBC about it yesterday, but luckily I didn’t need to. Today they’ve replaced it with a new, much more probing story.

It’s clear that Browzar is on the back foot now. I particularly like this bit:

Mr Ahmed said at the time of its release: “Although it’s possible to delete history folders and empty cache with existing internet browsers, the majority of internet users worldwide don’t have the time or expertise to do this.

It could hardly be simpler to delete history folders and empty your cache. In Firefox it a simple matter of going to Tools → Clear Private Data. And that’s it! As I recall, it is similarly easy to delete your history and cache even in Internet Explorer.

Yet Ajaz Ahmed thinks that people will find it easier to go out, download and install his scam IE shell? In a world where so many people still think that the only way to browse the web is through Internet Explorer? A friend recently said to me that he didn’t understand why he could need Firefox because “with Internet Explorer you just type in the address and that’s it.”

Every opportunity should be taken to warn people away from Internet Explorer, so I’ll do it right now.

Or at least Browse Happy.

I’ve just found out about something that’s almost as scary as numbers stations. Inspector Sands. I’ve seen more than one person on the internet calling themselves this, and I always thought it was the same person. I’m not so sure now!

Inspector Sands is actually code for “get ready to run for your fucking life”. Most people report that the code is used in train stations or on trains, although it seems to be used all over the shop. Personally, I’ve never noticed it being said, although some people’s suspicions are aroused by the obviously pre-recorded and conspicuous nature of the announcement.

A message such as “Would Inspector Sands please come to the control room immediately?” is actually a way of telling staff members that there might be (or already is?) a fire. They don’t actually say there is a fire so that members of the public don’t start panicking.

The thing is, Inspector Sands actually seems to be quite a widespread codeword. So there are probably quite a lot of people who know that if they hear Inspector Sands being called for it might be something to worry about.

Inspector Sands has been featured in The Guardian’s Notes and Queries. Maybe he’s getting too famous, so perhaps if you want to stay a step ahead of the rest of the general public you should just question any odd announcement for somebody with a conspicuous name.

There is an old discussion about Inspector Sands at b3ta. People are sharing all sorts of codewords, some of which give me the willies. Apparently if you’re ever in Ikea or John Lewis and they give a timecheck over the loudspeaker, that means that there is a bomb threat! I don’t think I’ll ever be able to set foot in Ikea again simply out of fear of hearing that message.

Woolworths is very boring; we don’t have codes for anything. Not as far as I know anyway… From b3ta:

I once found a gramaphone record containing “this branch of Woolworth’s is on fire, repeat, this branch etc etc” that was meant to be played automatically down the telephone to the fire brigade in the event of a fire.

Blue Peter have relaunched their badges scheme.

Under the new system, a unique photo card will also be needed to enter the attractions. Previous winners can apply for a card on the Blue Peter website.

The idea for the new scheme came from 11-year-old viewer Helen Jennings.

Jennings wrote in to the show with a prototype design for the security card, Blue Peter editor Richard Marson said.

“On Blue Peter many of the best ideas come directly from the audience and this was no exception,” he said.

“As a result, she’s won her silver badge and really helped all the genuine Blue Peter badge winners out there who’ve been so upset at the suspension.”

I hate this. Nobody is fooled. An 11-year-old did not invent the photocard.

Ben Goldacre: How I stalked my girlfriend. I am usually quite ambivalent about security issues with technology (there are people who would probably throw up their arms and shriek about the security implications if paper and pencils were invented yesterday) — but this is really scary.

Edinburgh University steps up security as crime soars. It was an ominous start to the year: somebody has already been glassed, during Freshers Week.