I.T. Navigate

06/03/2025

SCAM ALERT:

So, working hard today and I get this message as an SMS (I have modified the link so it doesn't work incase someone accidentally clicks on it):

_______
myGov - Important: Complete verification within 2 hours to avoid account suspension.

https
://qrco.de/
myGov2EdoT?pJh=aNnEkoui8K

[3My5E-RE4H-4OLW-6CSX-8Z5Q-2RAN-FKYP-RD46-BSDG]
________

The above message IS A SCAM and is attempting to steal your login credentials for the genuine my.gov.au website.
This message is *NOT* from myGov.
The clue is in the early part of the link.
The part after the "://" and before the first "/' in any link possibly contains the server name but always contains the domain name.
The myGov domain name is is my.gov.au, so would show as
https://my.gov.au/
By reading the actual link that someone asks you to click on, you can help protect yourself from SCAMs.

I have included an image of the actual message so you can see the original format of the link if you need it.

15/12/2024

Messaging.

Recently I have heard of people mentioning that FB Messenger is not working for them. I had someone send me messages that they thought I'd received, just because it "always worked before". On checking, they found that the messages that they had typed had even been deleted from their messenger 😮

SMS, Facebook Messenger, RCS, Signal, WhatsApp, email - all of them and more.

When you send a message, most message systems use what is referred to as "Store and forward".

Your device - phone, computer, tablet, watch - whatever is your device of the moment sends the message that you are sending to your intended recipient to a server on the relevant network. That server (depending on the technology in use) may send it to a server that the network calculates to be closer to your recipient. When the recipient device is connected to the network, it gets notified that there is a message for it and that message finally gets sent through to your recipient's device.

Now when I dlsay finally, that may only be fractions of a second after you press send. It may also be days later.

None of this is like a voice conversation where you get immediate feedback that the point your are trying to convey is received or not.

Any of the devices on the network may fail in some for or fashion. A server dies, a network connection is disconnected, a data centre is damaged, an update is released that wasn't checked properly - the list of causes is endless.

The end result is that there is NO guarantee that your message is received by your intended recipient.

The only way to be sure that is was received is if you get some form of acknowledgement. If you request an acknowledgement, but don't get one, use another communication method (this is called out-of-band communication) to request it.

E.g. if you are waiting for a reply to an email, send an SMS, or ring the recipient to confirm receipt of your email.

04/12/2024

Wi-Fi and Internet connection are two different parts of how data gets to your computer and/or mobile device.
StarLink, NBN, Fixed Wireless, (even ADSL) all provide a connection from your home (or office) to the internet.
Wi-Fi provides the local connection at your home (or office).
The distinction here is important.
Are you having issues with your Wi-Fi connection or your internet connection?
If you are in the same room as your Wi-Fi router, and you are having performance issues accessing the Internet, then it is most likely your Internet connection that is the problem. If Internet is fine in that room, but poor when you go outside, then it is likely to be your Wi-Fi, and changing your Internet provider is unlikely to resolve the issue you are experiencing.

20/09/2024

What's on my mind?

Scams and hackers are on my mind.

I received this email today:

______
Hi,

I'm unable to speak over the phone due to a serious throat pain caused by laryngitis. Hope this finds you well.

Kindly let me know when you get this, I'd like to ask for your help.

Kind Regards,
[A friend's name]
______

Now, this seemed out of character, so I did some checking.
1. Yes, it came from their email address.
2. The "Reply To:" address was also thier address.
3. I sent them an SMS to ask if they had just sent me this email.
4. They then rang me sounding exactly normal, and they advised that they had been told by their email provider that their account had be hacked and suspended.

Doing some digging, I found that the next step of the hacker/scammer is that on receipt of your reply email, they send you an email advising that they want to purchase something online, but their card is blocked, so they ask you to buy it for them. You pay, then that's it. You never see the item, nor the promised return money.

ALWAYS VERIFY USING OUT-OF-BAND COMMUNICATION METHOD!

11/09/2024

Computer problems?
I can help you.
I have over 30 years of experience in both corporate and home offices, and based in Bakers Hill since 2005.
From assisting with one off "Just make it work for me" requests through to long term programming contracts.
Phone: 0412 384 242
I.T. Navigate

Update anti-virus software.
Remove unused software.
Review "Computer running slow".
Backup and recovery of data.
Education / training.
Or even just simply - "It's not working right for me!!"

Image attribution:
https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/broken-computer-design_894418.htm =broken%20computer&position=18&from_view=keyword&track=ais_hybrid&uuid=7a6ab34a-c266-4681-8469-699e3c9ab2bf

18/08/2024

Computer problems?
I can help you.
I have over 30 years of experience in both corporate and home offices, and based in Bakers Hill since 2005.
From assisting with one off "Just make it work for me" requests through to long term programming contracts.
Phone: 0412 384 242
I.T. Navigate
Update anti-virus software.
Remove unused software.
Review "Computer running slow".
Backup and recovery of data.
Education / training.

10/08/2023

It looks so simple and innocuous, but this is how identity theft can start...

Let your answers to security questions be fictional, but make sure you document them somewhere.

Better yet, try to use MFA or 2FA - Multi-Factor (or 2-Factor) Authentication.

Do not rely on SMS as a MFA, as SMS can be very insecure.

Simple social engineering scenario. 😂

11/12/2022

Looks like there are issues with the mobile network around Bakers Hill at the moment (Sunday 11/12/2022 12:40 P.M.)

Internet connectivity is poor to say the least.