Computer Mechanics, Computer Repairs Perth Western Australia

Computer Mechanics Security

  • AVAST false positivesA problem in AVAST's database yesterday caused the program to identify huge numbers of "false positives", i.e. to alert the user to viruses that weren't actually viruses. If you moved the files to the Chest, as AVAST recommended, you just need to now move them back again. AVAST has updated their database now so that problem should not recur. [More]
    Fri, 04 Dec 2009

  • Twitter hackers

    Many Twitter users are falling prey to hackers who take over their account and use it to spam other users. This is just great - all your friends think you're trying to sell them Get Rich Quick schemes. What to do if this happens?

    Here's the Twitter help file on being hacked. Topline on prevention? Make sure you use a complex and unique password.

    Fri, 04 Dec 2009

  • Koobface Xmas

    ZDNet warns about the Xmas edition of the Koobface virus; shows you a fake YouTube video screen and tries to get you to install what looks like Adobe's Flash Player update. Busy time of year for virus writers. So much to do, so little time.
    Tue, 08 Dec 2009

  • Confidential info

    Last week the U.S. Travel Security Authority sacked 5 people for posting a security guidance document online which was not properly redacted. In the vids, Mikko Hypponen of F-Secure explains how to safely cover up confidential bits and how people come a cropper.
    Wed, 16 Dec 2009

  • Adobe Reader

    Computerworld is reporting a Zero Day Exploit in Adobe Reader and Acrobat, ie a window for hackers to exploit these products at your expense.

    Turn off JavaScript in these products until Adobe issue a fix if you want to protect yourself. Edit menu, Preferences, JavaScript and untick the box...

    Wed, 16 Dec 2009

  • RockYou.com

    Oh dear, oh dear. A MAJOR security breach at rockyou.com, which provides aps for Facebook, MySpace etc. Potentially, hackers could have accessed 32 million usernames and passwords.

    Given that many people use the same passwords for their webmail, they can expect to have their email accounts compromised also. If you use RockYou, CHANGE YOUR EMAIL PASSWORD NOW. Source.

    Wed, 16 Dec 2009

  • Attack of the Xmas Cards

    Every year, e-greeting cards with malware attached. As the Internet Storm Centre notes, each year they get more convincing looking. Do exercise caution and don't click on any links.
    Sat, 19 Dec 2009
  • Conficker/Downadup

    Still 7 million PCs around the world infected with the Conficker virus. There's a very thorough overview of it all at the Shadowserver site, and it lists the (free) removal tools.

    The problem is that there are so many old PCs connected to the Net running unpatched copies of Windows (often illegal copies). These PCs are easy targets. If you know 7 million people with an old PC, won't you direct them to the above site? Via.

    [More]
    Sat, 19 Dec 2009

  • Google Adwords

    Just received some emails NOT from Google Adwords saying I have new alerts and giving me a link to log on. Like many fraudulent emails it is addressed not to you or your account name, but 'Dear Advertiser'. Generic addressing is a big clue that an email is not legitimate.
    Wed, 23 Dec 2009

  • New PC prep

    Got a new PC or laptop? Kim Komando outlines what you need to know before you plug it into the Internet...
    Wed, 30 Dec 2009

Help Desk

Tips and Tricks

Mon, 06 Sep 2010

Infographics

I love this stuff. If you're interested in how to present information with great visuals, visit Infosthetics; it's the best aggregation of infographics EVAR.
Mon, 06 Sep 2010

End of Yellow Pages

If you never use your Yellow Pages or White Pages because you're always using this thing you're using now, you can go here and tell Telstra/Sensis to please not deliver those door stops.
Wed, 01 Sep 2010

Google Priority Inbox

Google's doing that thing they do again; improving their products. Gmail is introducing Priority Inbox, giving you the ability to automatically prioritise your email based on which emails you've previously read and/or replied to. If you need a web based email account, Gmail is the go.
Tue, 31 Aug 2010

The Arc Touch mouse

The rumoured new Microsoft Arc Touch mouse. Looks very sexy but not yet released. Funny comment on that blog: "I too have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of yet to be released hardware."
Tue, 31 Aug 2010

Pretty desktops

Smashing Magazine invites designers to contribute monthly calendar designs that people can use as desktops on their PCs. Lots of elegant choices for September, though many designers seem confused about what season it is. Includes a number of Ramadan desktops for our Islamic readers.
Sat, 28 Aug 2010

MS Office GAME

Ribbon Hero is the Microsoft game that sneakily trains you in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. Do challenges, compete, share on Facebook. No, we don't know why you'd want to share it on Facebook. But then we're not big on Farmville either. Versions of Officer earlier than 2007 won't handle it. You'll have to Read the Manual.
Tue, 24 Aug 2010

Laptop bags

Engadget U.S. reviews a range of the cheap and the fabulous laptop bags - in Australia, you can get Kata bags and the LowePro CompuPrimus at Quality Camera. The Case Logic Slimline ships from Deals Rebate but the Timbuk2 bags aren't available locally.  
Tue, 24 Aug 2010

3D laptop

Gamers! 1600 bucks gets you the latest in 3D laptopery. The Toshiba Satellite A665 comes with NVidia Active LCD Shutter Glasses. See, I don't even know what that is but it sounds SO GREAT.
Tue, 24 Aug 2010

Cheap eBook

The Laser eBook lets you listen to music while reading your eBook, is colour and has video. But it doesn't have wi-fi; you have to download your books to a PC first. $150. Cheap. Via The Australian. More.
Sun, 15 Aug 2010

Best Windows laptops

Electric Pig journos chose the Dell Studio 15, the HP Envy 15 (15 is big this year), the Samsung Q430 & 320 and the ASUS EeePC1201N as the best value laptops on the market. They're a UK site but all those models are available in Australia. You'll need to check the local prices of course.
Sun, 15 Aug 2010

Hacking into mobiles

An American security guy has demonstrated how he can intercept mobile calls on the GSM mobile phone network using relatively cheap hardware. Scary stuff since that network is the world's most popular and is predominant in Australia. Newer network technologies (3G) are not vulnerable. *Going back to pen and ink*.
Sun, 15 Aug 2010

Biz card transcription

Networkers of the world, pay attention. Here's how it works. You take photos of the business cards you collect at the conference/function, then send them to CardMunch. They have people transcribe the contents (guaranteeing accuracy) into a web based address book you then sync with your phone. Time saver, much. Via Mashable.
Wed, 28 Jul 2010

Upgrade essentials

Here's what you need to know about upgrading from Vista to Windows 7. Actually, you don't need to know all of this, pick the relevant bits. But FIRST, this applies to everyone: back up before you upgrade. If you don't know how, call us because things can and do go wrong during upgrades.

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Mon, 26 Jul 2010

Review Asus EeePC

Engadget do the best reviews. Here is their thorough look at the new ASUS netbooks. Having used an iPad for a month or so now I'm can tell you the web browsing experience falls well short of a netbook.
Mon, 26 Jul 2010

Searching in Outlook

Most of us know that you can click on a column heading in Outlook to sort the column into alphabeti order. Do you ever used the Advanced Find option? Click on Find, then Options, then Advanced.

 

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