Computer Mechanics, Computer Repairs Perth Western Australia

Computer Mechanics Security

  • URGENT FIX

    Microsoft has announced a vulnerability in its Internet Explorer (the little blue 'e' thing) which is currently being exploited by hackers. There is no auto fix as yet; you need to download the patch they've created especially. Click on the Fix This Problem link, then, when the program has downloaded to your PC, double click the icon and follow the very straight-forward instructions. That is your mission. Get cracking. Source.
    Wed, 08 Jul 2009

  • Another IE Fix

    The second security problem in 7 days for people using Internet Explorer. This may well be widespread and affects people using IE as a browser (ie not Firefox or Safari users). It gets you when you visit an affected web page. Here is the fix button. Source.
    Tue, 14 Jul 2009

  • Upgrade Upgrade

    Upgrading your software these days is not optional. It's a security necessity. Flash is a good example. Quote from McAfee article: 'bad guys are always coming up with new and progressive mechanisms'. Keep Flash and all your software up to date. If you don't know how, ASK.
    Tue, 14 Jul 2009

  • Browser security

    Some excellent advice from the top US security source on how to configure your web browser for maximum security. Note that if you make these changes your web browsing will be interrupted a fair bit, but the purpose of the changes is to make sure there aren't things going on behind the scenes that compromise your safety.
    Sun, 26 Jul 2009

  • AVG breaks iTunes

    O dear. A recent update by anti-virus software AVG wrongly identifies iTunes files as virus-infected and stops iTunes running. Here are the instructions on how to get back to normal. First, update your AVG virus definitions for a fix. If you quarantined your files thinking they were virus-infected you may have to then re-install iTunes.
    Sun, 26 Jul 2009

  • First SMS worm

    The text message has a web link which connects you to an infected web page. That then downloads a SIS file and asks if you want to install 'Sexy Space'. The program will send sms messages to people in your contacts list. In other words, if you receive the message, it will appear to come from a friend.

    It's not widespread, but if you have a Symbian smartphone you might want to follow the instructions HERE to alter your security settings.

    Sun, 26 Jul 2009

  • Facebook photos

    There's an Alert circulating on Facebook saying that your photos can now be used by 3rd party advertisers without your permission. This is a furphy. Here's the official word.
    Mon, 27 Jul 2009

  • More pa55word tips

    Advice from Bruce Schneier on how to write hard-to-crack but memorable passwords. He should know. He writes software that cracks passwords. And I think his surname is encrypted. Source.
    Tue, 28 Jul 2009

  • Phone attacks

    Interesting New Zealand Herald article covering developments at the Black Hat conference in Vegas. Increasing focus on hacking by sending SMS messages that load an infected web page in your phone's browser.

    Although phone networks are more secure than the Net, if hackers can phreak the carrier's own communication channels, expect lots of trouble.

    Fri, 31 Jul 2009

  • Flash update

    More critical security upates are now necessary for Adobe Flash. You should definitely update. As noted by Brian Krebs, you should update Internet Explorer as well as Firefox if you use that. If you are using Adobe Air (it's used by a number of other programs like eBay desktop and salesforce.com) you should also update that to v1.5.2.
    Fri, 31 Jul 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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