Clever Connex

29/06/2017

Child safety experts warn of latest Snapchat update

One of the most popular social media platforms, Snapchat, has recently rolled-out an update that allows users to see the location of their friends on a map with very accurate positioning.

A users location is transmitted automatically when the app is open potentially broadcasting home address, school and even route. The Bitmojis or avatars displayed on screen will also change based on location. Users are shown playing with a sandcastle when at the beach or in a car when driving but creepily will also show someone sleeping when the app is left idle. Experts warn that the Snap Maps update may leave kids susceptible to bullying or even stalking from strangers depending on the security settings on their profile.

When the app is first updated users will be defaulted to "Ghost mode" which hides your location but you can elect to turn this off in the settings. "This latest update is a great opportunity for parents to have conversations with their children about the pros and cons of location services," according to eSafety commissioner Ms Julie Inman Grant. https://esafety.gov.au/

29/06/2017

Cadbury Australia and Chernobyl! Both Victims in Latest Cyber Attack

Australian Cyber Security Minister Dan Tehan has again urged small businesses to take urgent action to improve their cyber security in the wake of today's global ransomware attack. https://goo.gl/fXjqic

The Petya and GoldenEye viruses have quickly been infecting computers around the world with the Cadbury factory in Hobart becoming another high-profile victim. Most casualties of GoldenEye thus far have been in Central and Eastern Europe with banks, government agencies and Kiev airport all affected. Even radiation monitoring systems at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant have even been infected.

GoldenEye is like the WannaCry virus that has been circulating for several weeks. It is however smarter about how it infects hosts and more insidious in that it employs two levels of encryption. The virus not only encrypts the individual files but the entire hard disk is encrypted and the computer is forced to reboot rendering any attempt to recover data impossible. Once infected there is no possible way to recover anything from your computer without paying a ransom to the hackers.

Remember
Patch all your devices
Backup your data
Visit https://acsc.gov.au for more information on how you can protect your data online. If you need help with protecting your company’s systems, simply press the "Contact Us" button on our page and someone will be in touch to discuss your exact business needs.

28/06/2017

Police withdraw 8000 speeding fines after Virus Infection

A review of all 280 speed cameras across Victoria has been ordered after an additional 55 were found to be infected with the WannaCry virus on Friday. A total of 97 Victorian speed cameras have so far been identified as infected with the virus that has wreaked havoc with individuals, businesses, hospitals and governments across the globe in May and June.

Could your business survive if you lost access to all your files and data? Call us today if you need help securing your business against today's threats.

19/06/2017

QLD beats NSW

Queensland is unfortunately in first place for 2017 with over $200,000 lost to hacking as reported by 613 people to the ACCC. Over 62% of money lost is reported by those over the age of 55. These figures represent only what has been reported to the ACCC and are in fact likely to be much higher. The vast majority of attacks are instigated by a phone call where a scammer will trick someone in to installing malicious software on their computer. As always, don't click on links or open attachments in emails from people you don't know; Ensure your computer has up-to-date security software; Use passwords that are not easy to guess and do not share them with anyone; If you receive a call claiming to be from a "Technical" department just hang-up.

14/06/2017

Currently spend too much time on the phone managing your appointments? Microsoft Bookings from Office 365 could be for you. This is free feature if you are on a Business Premium subscription and perfect for small businesses who currently take appointments over the phone or via email. Microsoft Bookings will allow you to take appointments via Facebook or the web saving you time and effort. Check the video below for a brief overview.

​​Bring in business 24x7 with Microsoft Bookings. Read more at https://blogs.office.com/2016/07/20/bring-in-business-247-with-microsoft-bookings/

13/06/2017

New Ultra-thin Cat6 patch leads and the door on the rack will actually close now. Unfortunately no room for proper cable management.

13/06/2017

Next year is shaping up to be a battle of the digital assistant. Australia is in line to be one of the first countries to receive the new Apple HomePod this December https://www.apple.com/au/homepod/. The new wave of digital assistants are like smart speakers that sit on your kitchen bench and listen for commands in the same way that some people currently use “Hey Siri” or “Ok, Google” on their phone. The current king of digital assistants in the US is Amazon’s Echo range but there is currently no official launch date for the Amazon Echo in Australia. We will no doubt see an announcement soon with the Amazon shopping portal due to launch in Oz in 2018. Google is set to be the first on sale here with their Google Home device anticipated for mid-year. Expect a price tag between $199 and $299 on release. Amazon is already moving beyond simple “How’s the weather?” commands with the recent release of their Echo Look device. This new smart camera can take photos of the clothes you are wearing and even make style suggestions based on machine learning algorithms. https://youtu.be/9X_fP4pPWPw.

12/06/2017

If you're not taking your printer security seriously, somoene else might be. From director Lance Acord comes The Wolf starring Christian Slater. To learn mor...

11/06/2017

Learn more about CCTV security: https://www.cleverconnex.com.au/blog/june-11th-2017