Computer Mechanics, Computer Repairs Perth Western Australia

Computer Mechanics Security

  • In your TRUNK

    Some hugely sensible (American) advice on protecting your laptop from thieves.
    Tue, 02 Jun 2009

  • Spyware Doctor

    Spyware Doctor has been causing some strange side-effects after a recent update that slows down the computer to a grinding halt. The best fix is to uninstall the program completely, while in safe mode. Then install the new version.
    Tue, 02 Jun 2009

  • Quick Fix

    There's a QuickTime vulnerability that effects Windows 2000, XP and Windows Server 2003. It's not widespread but if you want to eliminate the risk you can protect yourself by going here and clicking Fix. You don't need to be running QuickTime as your media player to be vulnerable. Source.
    Tue, 09 Jun 2009
  • Spelling errorsRecent research shows that deliberately mispelled web sites are commonly set up by hackers to infect accidental visitors. For instance, sites that seem like Google sites but aren't. Best not to guess the web addresses of well-known sites. [More]
    Tue, 09 Jun 2009

  • Phone, SMS scams

    The Sydney Morning Herald reports on an Eastern European scam which involves automated phone calls to bank customers telling them they need to phone an Australian number to correct an account error. The number you call is also an automated service which asks you for your CC details and security number. It's not kosher. Hang up. Source.
    Tue, 09 Jun 2009

  • Tax Refund?

    Just received an email saying I'm entitled to a tax refund... "Click here for the form to claim your refund"... Does that sound like the Tax Office you know and love? This is another example of people trying to infect your computer with trojan viruses by getting you to click on a link. Stick to trusted sources, e.g. a letter from your accountant.
    Thu, 11 Jun 2009

  • Fake patches

    Sophos and Computer Associates are reporting on emails containing fake Microsoft security patches. They promise Cornficker removal tools and "important Windows XP/Vista security update". The emails carry malware. Make sure you don't click through. Microsoft won't send you patches by email; they'll use the automatic update service. Source.
    Sat, 20 Jun 2009

  • Password idea

    A sensible suggestion about creating passwords from F-Secure: Write down a 7 or 8 digit PIN and keep it in your wallet. Have a 3-digit PIN that you keep in your head. Your password is the written down PIN combined with the PIN you remember. Then, if someone kidnaps you, they'll have to torture you to find out the PINPIN.
    Sat, 20 Jun 2009
  • Short URLs

    People using Twitter will know that links to web sites are usually written there using URLs that are shortened, eg tinyurl, bit.ly or tr.im. The problem is, this is a great way to disguise where you're going - hackers will use it to drive traffic to infected web pages.

    Use longurl.org to find out where the short URL will send you. That way you'll know where you're heading before you go there. Source.

    [More]
    Sat, 20 Jun 2009

  • Trending topics

    Twitter users need to be very cautious following the Trending Topics links. Mashable report on two that lead to sites trying to install malware. Do not click on Twitterbest or Zasaden. Only follow links that you KNOW are legitimate trends and do NOT download any updates (eg update your Flash Player) those sites suggest.
    Mon, 22 Jun 2009

  • Shockwave

    ZDNet report on a critical flaw in Adobe Shockwave, used by 450million people (including you) to watch web animations. On the Control Panel, go to Add/Remove Programs, remove Adobe Shockwave, then go here and download the shiny new version. After that, double click the download. It's easy!
    Thu, 25 Jun 2009

  • Twitter malware

    We wrote recently about the dangers of shortened URLs on Twitter. SecureBrowsing is a browser plug-ins that warns you of sites that have malware. It's the only one that also screens Twitter. Source.
    Tue, 30 Jun 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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