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What to buy for a cyber attack or bank outage (UK)

If cards, phones or the internet stop, you need some cash, numbers on paper and a radio. Most of this costs little.

By the Civilian Survival Handbook editorial teamUpdated

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Read first

Official advice comes first. These guides are free.

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Checklist: what to buy

Tick what you already have (saved on this device only). Buy the rest a little at a time. The products are examples that were in stock when we checked; we haven't tested them.

News and contact

  • Look for: FM (Be Ready asks for FM; DAB as well is fine). Both a crank and ordinary batteries, so you have two ways to power it. Source

    • Elprico Wind Up Radio with DAB/FM Solar Charging 10000mAh Power Bank · Amazon UK · £37.98 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
    • Duronic Wind-Up AM FM Radio with Solar Panel and USB Charging · EVAQ8 · £26.40 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop

  • Look for: The sizes your torch, radio and alarms take. Check the date on the pack. Source

    • DURACELL Plus AA Alkaline Batteries (12 Pack) · Amazon UK · £8.40 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
    • eneloop pro Rechargeable AA Batteries (4 Pack) 2500 mAh · Amazon UK · £17.29 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop

  • Look for: From a seller you know. Check the capacity (mAh) against your phone, and that you have the right cable for each phone. Keep it charged. Source

    • Anker Zolo Power Bank 20000mAh 30W Built-in USB-C · Anker UK (brand store) · £34.99 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
    • Anker Power Bank 20K 87W Built-In USB-C Cable · Anker UK (brand store) · £49.99 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop

  • Look for: Licence-free PMR446 radios, a pair. Real range in towns is short, so test it with your neighbour. Source

    • Motorola T42 Talkabout PMR446 (Pack of 2) · Amazon UK · £26.94 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
    • Cobra Waterproof PMR Radios Twin Set (AM1055) · EVAQ8 · £178.80 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop

  • Look for: Only helps if your line still works in a power cut: most digital landlines need home power unless your provider gives you a battery back-up. Ask your provider first. Source

Papers

  • Look for: Big enough for copies of passports, insurance details and medicine lists. Source

    • Waterproof Document Pouch - Translucent PVC · EVAQ8 · £5.11 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop

If it lasts days

  • Look for: 3 litres per person per day for 3 days, for drinking. More for babies, pets and medical devices. Source

    • Seven Oceans Emergency Drinking Water 0.5l (5-year shelf life) · EVAQ8 · £3.94 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop

  • Look for: Tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts: food you already eat. Check dates every six months. Source

  • Look for: Works without power. Keep it with the tins. Source

  • Look for: Runs on the same AA or AAA batteries as your other kit, so one spare pack covers everything. A head torch leaves both hands free. Source

    • Alpkit Ionic 350 Lumen Head Torch · Alpkit · £15.99 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
    • Lifesystems Intensity 155 LED Head Torch · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £19.99 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
    • Alpkit Kula 550 Lumen Head Torch · Alpkit · £19.99 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
    • Lifesystems Intensity 480 LED Hand Torch · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £29.99 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
    • Dynamo Powered Wind-Up Pocket LED Torch · EVAQ8 · £3.60 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop

What not to buy

  • Anyone who calls, texts or emails during an outage asking you to 'move your money'. Banks don't do that.

Next steps

No product can promise to keep you safe. A plan, and knowing where official news comes from, matter more than kit.

Sources

  1. GOV.UK Be Ready: phone and broadband outages (page, read 1 Nov 2026)