Jason's PC Services

It’s that time of year again so watch out for the usual ATO/tax scam SMS messages

🚨 SCAM ALERT 🚨 Beware of scam text messages (SMS) about tax refunds.

These fake messages claim to be from the ATO and ask you to open a hyperlink to fill out a form for your income tax return. The link takes you to a fake website designed to steal your personal information and credit card details.

🛑 We’re seeing lots of variations of this scam, this image is just one example. If you receive an SMS like this, don’t click on any links. Instead, report the SMS to us and then delete it.

Warn your family and friends to stay scam alert. To report an SMS that doesn’t seem right, go to www.ato.gov.au/General/Online-services/Identity-security-and-scams/Verify-or-report-a-scam/

🚨 SCAM ALERT 🚨

Beware of cryptocurrency scams telling people they’re suspected of cryptocurrency tax evasion, and asking them to ‘connect their wallet’ and provide personal information.

🛑 If you get an email or SMS like this, don’t click on any links or provide any information.

Scammers can use the information you give them to take off with your funds and steal your identity. Remember, a genuine message from the ATO will never ask you to access our online services via a hyperlink.

Warn your family and friends and visit our scam alerts page to learn more: www.ato.gov.au/General/Online-services/Identity-security-and-scams/Scam-alerts/

Scams have been heavy the past number of months.

If you think you’ve been scammed, speak up and seek help to make sure your devices and clear and safe to use.

Scams cost Australian consumers, businesses and the economy hundreds of millions of dollars each year and cause serious emotional harm to victims and their families.
To find out more about how scams work, how to protect yourself and what to do if you've been scammed, visit Scamwatch's website - https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/

Wishing my clients a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Stay safe and I will see you in the new year.

Trading times over Christmas.

Closed on public holidays and weekends, opperating as usual at all other times.

Scheduled times will only be as accurate as holiday traffic permits.

It looks like today is new iPad day

Overseas call center closures fuel a 1500 percent rise in complaints to the Telecommunications Ombudsman

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-30/coronavirus-sees-ombudsman-telco-complaints-skyrocket/12714822?section=technology

Complaints from customers who can't reach their telco up 1,500 per cent, report finds Frustrated consumers are flooding the ombudsman with complaints about internet and phone providers who are unable to solve their problems, with one telco blaming the shutdowns in India for their inaction, a customer says.

Recovering data again. BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP

And I don’t say that 3 times just because it’s important, I say it 3 times because if you don’t have 3 backups, including one off site then you basically don’t have a backup at all.

Scammers are ramping up using the fear and confusion around the Covid-19 pandemic to hook people. Stay safe and stay cautious.

https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/news/covid-19-coronavirus-scams?fbclid=IwAR3RjEtlCX9DA205P8p3SYTUaViJCNaR1avSyhMAx2C8YW_sP2R24R7cK_I

COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of the spread of coronavirus to exploit and play on the fears of consumers across Australia.

Jason's PC Services is offering the following options during the ongoing COVID-19 period of isolation and social distancing.

Remote Support Connections - If your system boots to Windows and your Internet connection is working and the problem is not a hardware issue then a remote connection can be used to investigate your computer issue. This can include setting up of devices such as printers and scanners.

Pickup & Return - Arrangements can be made to pick up and return your system, typical turn around time 24-48 hours depending on the problem, for example hardware issues requiring parts may require additional time for sourcing and delivery of components.

On site - On site in home/business service is still currently available, observing the recommended 1.5m social distancing guidelines issued by the federal government.

Sterilzation of surfaces touched during service of equipment is conducted using surface cleaning agents suitible for desktop/laptop computers followed by use of 99.9% pure Isopropyl Alcohol.

Lighting the candle at both ends at the moment.

It's been almost 10 years since Apple dropped the false claim that Mac's don't get viruses, but it seems users simply haven't gotten the message yet.

Don't ever get complacent.

Backup backup backup, and if you are paying for antivirus make sure your paying for something that will do the job. If someone trying to sell you an antivirus tells you it's good, is it really?

https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/2/12/21134681/mac-pc-virus-malware-malwarebytes?fbclid=IwAR2QpE-dPEfKYMfSsFFe_bUWHL9xTFuVAoh15tl5b5R0ah_kV0XjqjwvcYs

Apple’s malware problem is getting worse Macs aren’t as safe as they used to be. Here’s how to protect yourself.

When the mysterious blue smoke strikes.

Don’t want to think about what I just inhaled from the cloud while trying to get it unplugged before the smoke turned to flames.

Circuit breaker tripped before I could see the power cable and pull it at least.

ACCC warning to remain vigilant against online shopping scams over the Christmas period.

Take a look and read up on their tips to help you avaid scams while shopping online for gifts avoiding the crowds in town.

https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/tis-the-season-for-online-shopping-scams?fbclid=IwAR1YizhcIiqAacW8_CbDg6JeGydj7OHpP9N3XUFtFJ1-6eOmyT_TZhxu9B0

'Tis the season for online shopping scams Australians have already lost more money to online shopping scams in 2019 than in the entire previous year, and Scamwatch is warning people to be cautious of online shopping scams in the lead up to the holiday season. So far in 2019, reported losses from online shopping scams are over $4 million, we...

If ever you wanted to know why power cords need to be tested and tagged in a business, or why it is a good idea to inspect your own power cables around the home every so often.

This tripped a circuit breaker (thankfully) at around 3am one morning. What might of happened if the breaker didn't trip.

Four laptops refurbished and wiped clean and dropped off to Southern Care to be distributed to those in need.

If you have an old laptop in working condition and not too old please consider donating it to charity.

Still running Windows 8 or earlier?

Make sure you are fully up to date with all security patches.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-08/microsoft-windows-vulnerability-bluekeep-and-cyber-security-risk/11277270

A devastating cyber attack is being planned but you can protect yourself Right now, unknown actors are scanning computers worldwide for a vulnerability that could be exploited to carry out a ransomware attack similar to WannaCry. Is your PC safe?

Next custom gaming rig build ready to start

💻 Know someone older who’s yet to get on-the-line? 💻 Send them along to our FREE Tech Savvy workshops, which help older residents to participate in the digital world. We’ve got two sessions on this month at Eurobodalla Libraries – ‘Intro to smartphones’ and ‘Sharing photos and other attachments online’ – to book or for more info contact your local library.

➡️ Batemans Bay Library – to book phone 4472 5850
Tuesday 21 May, 1.30pm start - Intro to smartphones
Tuesday 28 May, 1.30pm start - Sharing photos and other attachments online

➡️ Moruya Library – to book phone 4474 1333
Friday 17 May, 10.30am start – Introduction to smartphones
Friday 24 May, 10.30am start – Sharing photos and other attachments online

➡️ Narooma Library – to book phone 4476 1164
Monday 20 May, 10.30am - Introduction to smartphones
Monday 27 May, 10.30am - Sharing photos and other attachments online

Been working on a little something to hopefully notify clients of attempted scams when trying to download remote access software.

No real way to make it a solution for every possibility, but if it saves one from being scammed it will hopefully be worth the effort.

ASUS users have been left exposed to malicious software by their own update software ASUS Live Updates for months after a sophisticated attack was executed on ASUS servers.

Users of ASUS hardware with the live update tool are being encouraged to install the latest version of the live update tool either with the tool itself, or from a direct download from the ASUS website.

Search for your model PC here https://www.asus.com/support/ and download the updated version of live update for your system.

An additional tool to check for the ShadowHammer malware has been made available on the advisory released by ASUS.

https://www.asus.com/News/hqfgVUyZ6uyAyJe1

https://www.itnews.com.au/news/asus-releases-fix-after-shadowhammer-malware-attack-522983

ASUS releases fix after ShadowHammer malware attack But some users unable to update to non-backdoored software.

Zero day security flaw prompts Google to warn users to update their Chrome browser immediately.

https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/security/right-this-minute-google-warns-users-to-update-chrome-browser-over-dangerous-bug/news-story/129e0bf576da597ef2a6cd4009521fc0

Users warned to upgrade Chrome browser over dangerous bug Google is warning Chrome users to update their browsers immediately due to a security bug that could let hackers hijack your computer.

Can you spot phishing emails?

Test your phishing awareness with this online test.

https://phishingquiz.withgoogle.com/

Take Jigsaw's Phishing Quiz Can you spot when you’re being phished?

Beware scam email invoices from Xero doing the rounds at the moment.

Always hover the mouse cursor over links to see where they lead before you click on them.

As you can see in the attached image, this supposed invoice link for a subscription to a Xero service leads to a completely unrelated domain ml44 (dot) indiemanned (dot) com

This might lead you to a phoney invoice with the ability to make a payment to the scammers, a virus infected download, a phishing website or who knows what kinds of nasty.

Business owners beware of fake ASIC renewals coming in via email.

Take note of the email address where it comes from and double check where any links will lead you before clicking on them (see example in picture below)

If you don't know where or how to see this information in your mail client, Google where and how to see it or ask for help finding out.

It could save you from not just paying a fake bill, but handing over your CC details to be hit for everything they have, or worse still, a malicious infection that could encrypt your data.

Suffered a scam phone call and allowed a scammer to access your computer?

There is usually no need to wipe or re-install your computer. In most cases your system can be quickly checked and cleaned of any damage done by the scammers while connected.

A report can also be provided for your bank to have your internet banking re-opened after your computer is verified as clean and free of infection.

Don't throw away your data for no reason.

Cost of NBN fibre to the curb installations over $3000 each.

The half yearly results released mid February has shown the blowout figure from initial estimates of $2800 which has been increased several times since fibre to the curb connections were first announced.

https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-cos-actual-cost-per-premises-for-fttc-is-3058-519460

NBN Co's actual cost per premises for FTTC is $3058 As questions remain over feasibility of build targets.