Computer Mechanics, Computer Repairs Perth Western Australia

Computer Mechanics Security

  • Browser privacy

    In case you're interested in how unique (and therefore how trackable) your browsing profile is, check it out here. You might get a surprise (we did). Here is a page explaining how to minimise your trackability. Source.
    Mon, 01 Feb 2010
  • IE6 defunct

    Google has declared it will no longer support Internet Explorer 6 and Microsoft has endorsed this, urging users to upgrade to the more secure IE8. In the words of one Microsoft exec: 'friends don't let friends use IE6'.

     

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    Thu, 04 Feb 2010

  • Insecure passwords

    You know already that 12345 is not a secure password, right? Neither is any normal dictionary word or name because the crooks have software that tries all those. When RockYou.com got hacked, it allowed researchers to look at thousands of insecure passwords. ZDNet write about what an insecure password looks like...
    Thu, 11 Feb 2010

  • Sharing iPhone photos

    If you're uploading photos, iPhone photos in particular, be aware that information about where you were when you took that photo may be discoverable. This applies especially if you are uploading photos to a Twitter service like Twitpic. In some cases, GPS information (including which direction the phone was facing) may be encoded in the photo itself. More info here.
    Thu, 11 Feb 2010

  • Google Buzz

    Well that didn't take long. A privacy concern about Google Buzz, which allows people to see who you chat/email the most. Frankly, we don't regard that as the Da Vinci code but some people get excited about that sort of thing.
    Thu, 11 Feb 2010

  • Profile will be locked

    Spam email advises: "Your profile will be locked in response to a complaint received by the Administration". The email offers a link by which you can refute the complaint. And compromise your computer security.
    Fri, 19 Feb 2010

  • Microsoft Team

    And Facebook Team. Both spam email messages have links which carry  a trojan virus payload. The Microsoft one warns you about the Conficker Virus. Though it actually delivers the Bredolab trojan virus. Obviously some administrative error...  Source.
    Fri, 19 Feb 2010

  • Bluescreen?

    Got a bluescreen problem? If your PC is running Windows XP and starts crashing with the ol' big blue screen with nuthin' on it - time to check it for rootkits. Microsoft confirms that unexpected re-booting may result from the Aulureon Rootkit. Get thee to a Computer Mechanic promptly or call 9325 1196 to arrange a visit. More info.
    Fri, 19 Feb 2010
  • Zero Day FirefoxThe Register reports on a Zero Day Exploit for Firefox circulating in the wild. Translation: some programming code is available on the Net that allows people to hide software on a web site that infects your PC without you or Firefox knowing anything about it. [More]
    Fri, 19 Feb 2010

  • Test for astuteness

    Is your employer IT challenged? Here's a test: open your Internet Explorer browser at work and look under the Help menu for About Internet Explorer. If it says Version 6 your employer needs help. There is no good reason for still running this version; it is substantially less secure than Version 8. For corporate advice on security, give us a call on 9325 1196. More.

    Sat, 27 Feb 2010

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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