Computer Mechanics, Computer Repairs Perth Western Australia

Computer Mechanics Security

  • F1 - Help

    Brian Krebs reports on a security flaw in Internet Explorer that allows hackers to access your system if they inject certain code into a website and you follow their instructions and hit the F1 key. That key is often used for Windows Help. So if you want to be safe, don't hit F1 while browsing the web! Microsoft will patch the weakness in a future automatic update.
    Wed, 03 Mar 2010

  • Web cam security

    Interested in using a web cam for home surveillance? Impress your friends at work by showing home surveillance live on your iPhone. Wait, how bizarre! I thought my wife worked on Wednesdays...  Here is a Cnet look at a recent security offering, Dropcam.
    Wed, 03 Mar 2010

  • Patches

    Two more Microsoft patches today, fixing holes in Windows and Office for people running old versions of Internet Explorer. WHY ARE PEOPLE RUNNING OLD VERSIONS? I don't know. Perhaps they don't go to the Help menu and check About Internet Explorer. If they did, and discovered Version 6 or 7 they would go to Windows Update and get groovy. Wouldn't they? Source.
    Wed, 10 Mar 2010

  • Password tip

    A quick formula for making up unique passwords for many different sites: from viruslist.com.
    Thu, 11 Mar 2010

  • Online fraud doubles

    Well, reported LOSSES from online fraud doubled in 2009 compared to previous year. Identity theft, non-delivery of online goods and credit card fraud all common. If you are active online and don't know how to handle security on a computer, you can call Computer Mechanics and set up a coaching session with a real live person. 93251196.
    Mon, 15 Mar 2010

  • Facebook password

    The fake Facebook Password email tries to get you to open an attachment; you know Facebook doesn't send you this sort of stuff, so don't get tricked or you'll end up with nasties on the PC. This story has a map showing where the email is most common. Looks like Tasmania and Esperance are the main targets.
    Thu, 18 Mar 2010
  • Online shares

    A reminder from F-Secure that people doing share trading online risk serious financial loss if their PC security is compromised. Just as people who do online banking are at higher risk than those who don't.

    [More]
    Thu, 18 Mar 2010

  • Free software

    Sometimes free software is just not a good idea. Some download sites don't virus check the programs that have been uploaded. And free programs are a great place to store a trojan virus. Warn your kids they should NOT download programs unless (1) they need it and (2) they check with you first. Be especially careful with games. More here. Source.
    Fri, 19 Mar 2010

  • Easter security

    Microsoft issuing 10 fixes for security holes: this is an out of band fix meaning they don't want you to wait for the monthly update. Updates should happen automatically. If in doubt, go here. And in case you think it's just Microsoft, 26 fixes for Java here (yes, you probably need them too) and NINETY TWO fixes for Apple Macs here. Source Wed, 31 Mar 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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