Sean Smith I.T.

28/08/2021

Are you ready for Windows 11? More importantly is your computer ready?

Check it out:

Discover the new Windows 11 and learn how to prepare for it. Explore new features, check compatibility, and see how to upgrade to our latest Windows OS.

02/06/2021

Hmm, not sure if that’s a good word to use in this COVID-19 era. Makes the O/S sound like a virus.

“Microsoft is expected to show off its 'new' Windows variant at a public virtual event on June 24.”

Microsoft is expected to show off its 'new' Windows variant at a public virtual event on June 24.

23/12/2020

Watch out if you have a SunTrust account and get one of these (or even if you don’t have one).

I got 2 and I don’t have any connection to them so you can be absolutely sure it’s a scam (also the link hasn’t anything to do with SunTrust or any bank).

18/12/2020

Well I find this one an especially cruel line. Attempting to scam those who've already been scammed (or those unscrupulous enough to claim they have been):

"Dear Sir/Madam/Mr./Mrs.,

To whom it may concern, The International Monetary Fund (IMF) through our department, Financial Recovery Division (FRD) team. has approved all scam victim/ victim of circumstance. all participants were selected randomly through computer draw system and entitle to receive compensation in excess of ($2,500,000.00) each."

It goes on but I've not included the rest as it involves links and I'm not going to help spread the scam to you guys even if you wouldn't fall for it. Of course it's obviously a scam (why exactly would the IMF give $2.5 million dollars to a random selection of people who have been scammed?) but designed to appeal those who were gullible enough to fall for one already. Sickening really.

07/12/2020

And another laughable phishing attempt

Email claimed my card hard expired (of course it hasn't) and I needed to update my Amazon payment details. Here's the email address:

Customer Servics

So, pointers for everyone - If this were real it would be a standard automated message sent by Amazon. Such glaring errors as misspelling "Services" would have been spotted and corrected ages ago. Any email from amazon would be from an .com or and .co.uk email address and that address would not be a randomly generated string of letters and numbers like that (and almost certainly wouldn't include the name of another company like Apple), I'm sure you all spotted that nonsense but someone must be missing it otherwise there's no point in them spamming this stuff out.

01/12/2020

Well it's been a while since I posted on here but I thought this one might give you folks a laugh or two. Received an email supposedly from amazon prime. Here's the email address - see if you can spot the problems:

Amαzoɴ Priⅿë

24/05/2019

Well not sure what irritated me more about the May 2019 (or 1903) update. The 2 hour download time (on a business quality connection), The 2 and a half hour reboot time or the 1-2 minute wait at the end while it claimed to be 100% complete (followed by more install on first login).

Programmers please make sure when your install % hits 100% it’s actually finished. 100% should flash up just before the install ends not while it’s finishing up.

21/01/2019

Ransomware is becoming increasingly sophisticated and in this case it’s even more lethal combined with another attack vector: phishing

21/12/2018

Beware of emails bearing the the subject "Happy Christmas wishes". Check the source of the email (not just the domain) and don't open any attachments.

A server I help support has just received a number of undeliverable message emails saying the emails had been blocked due to there being malware in the attachments (specifically W97M.Downloader & O97M/Powdow.MB). Assuming you have an antivirus installed it should block these but best not to take the risk.

When I say don't just check the domain I mean if an email comes from an .com email address that doesn't necessarily mean it's coming from amazon. The people that send out these messages often "spoof" (basically fake) the sending address to appear to be from a trusted source. So even if an email appears to be from a company you trust make sure the name on the email is one you know (e.g. and email from [email protected] might be safe but an email from [email protected] probably isn't - Oh and if you get an email claiming to be from a .co.uk email address - it's definitely not me as I don't own that domain). This is why the server I help with is getting messages. We didn't send the virused emails but the people responsible are trying to make it look like we did.

All the best and stay safe this Christmas

30/10/2018

Well I have the October (1809) update installed and I quite like some of the new functions. Can't say I'm impressed with the accidental deletion of all your files option (don't worry that didn't happen to me) & not at all surprised Microsoft pulled the update once they knew of the bug,

I'd tell you all to steer clear of the update for now but as Microsoft have halted the roll out you should all be fine. Must be quite a rare bug as I've installed the update on 3 or 4 machines and it didn't occur on any of them. I'd guess a clash with either installed software (that's what caused the massive bug in the April update) or a particular set up. Maybe MS will tell us when they restart the roll out.