What are the opening hours?

Monday 08:00 - 17:00 Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00 Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00 Thursday 08:00 - 17:00 Friday 08:00 - 16:00

Astel Projects

Name: Astel Projects
Address: 6 Kew Road, East London, 5241, ZA
Telephone: 0437271106

Home
South Africa
East London
Astel Projects

Your number 1 choice solution for Sage Pastel Accounting, Payroll and IT in East London ACCOUNTING DIVISION:
Pastel Accounting Sales, support and training.

Bookkeeping services. PAYROLL DIVISION:
Pastel Payroll Sales, support and training. Payroll Outsourcing. IT DIVISION:
Computer Hardware and Software Sales and Support. Repairs and maintinance. Networking. VoIP Systems. Vox Fibre Reseller.

22/10/2026

Did you know that smartphones are not immune to viruses?

Mobile operating systems use built-in sandboxing to keep apps separate, but that doesn’t make smartphones invincible. Mobile spyware, banking trojans, malicious browser redirects, and credential-stealing phishing links target mobile users every day.

Relying only on factory phone settings leaves you blind to active threats running quietly in the background.

Here is why mobile security protection is non-negotiable:

🛡️ Scan for hidden malware. Trusted mobile antivirus tools scan newly installed apps and downloaded files for malicious code before it runs.

🌐 Block dangerous web links. Mobile protection intercepts malicious phishing URLs in SMS text messages, emails, or chat apps before they can compromise your browser.

⚠️ Detect risky app behavior. Get alerted immediately if an app starts accessing sensitive device functions or attempting suspicious background activity.

Your smartphone is a portable computer, so it needs the same active threat protection as your desktop or laptop.

To protect your organization’s mobile workforce with enterprise endpoint security, contact the Astel Projects IT Division, or your trusted IT professional can help you select and deploy the right protection for your team.

Next, we examine hidden risks in plain sight: the true cost of “free” mobile apps and mobile games.

16/10/2026

A shout-out to our amazing bosses this Boss's Day! ❤️

15/10/2026

Do you have apps on your device that only you should access?

Passcode protection on your lock screen is essential, but relying on one boundary leaves everything inside vulnerable once the phone is open. Handing an unlocked device to a colleague, a friend, or a child suddenly opens every app on the device.

High-value applications need a second, independent line of defense to keep sensitive data isolated.

Here is why you should set up dedicated app locks:

🔒 Safeguard financial accounts. Set up secondary biometric or PIN authentication to open banking or payment apps, even when the phone is unlocked.

🔑 Protect password managers and 2FAs. Make sure your credential vaults and authenticator apps cannot open without an extra security prompt.

📁 Secure private files and photos. Keep confidential work documents, personal media, and sensitive messaging apps behind an extra layer of security.

A locked screen keeps strangers out of your phone, and app locks keep sensitive data secure when the screen is open.

If your team uses mobile devices to access sensitive corporate systems or client files, reach out to the Astel Projects IT Division to help set up proper app-level security controls, or your trusted IT professional can also guide you through the best configuration for your business.

Next up, we address whether mobile devices need active antivirus protection.

09/10/2026

When was the last time you checked how secure your phone’s lock screen is?

Locking a phone used to mean stopping accidental pocket dials or keeping friends from peeking at messages. Today, the least valuable thing about your device is the hardware. Your phone holds the master keys to your digital identity, including banking portals, primary email accounts, and two-factor authentication apps.

A cyber attacker can access your entire digital footprint if your unsecured device is lost or stolen.

Here is how to properly lock down your device:

🔐 Ditch simple PINs. Avoid obvious patterns or birth dates. Use a complex six-digit PIN, an alphanumeric password, or strong biometric locks like fingerprint or facial recognition.

🔑 Protect your 2FA keys. Two-factor authentication only protects your accounts if the device receiving those codes is tightly locked down.

⚡ Turn on auto-lock. In your device’s settings, enable auto-lock so it locks automatically after 30 seconds to 1 minute of inactivity.

You can replace a physical phone in a day, but stolen identities and compromised accounts can take months to recover from.

If you need help implementing baseline security across your company’s smartphones, reach out to the Astel Projects IT Division, and one of our specialists will point you in the right direction. Your trusted IT professional can also help you review your setup.

Next, we’ll look at adding an extra layer of defense inside your phone: why securing specific apps with individual locks is a critical second line of defense.

01/10/2026

You shared the Wi-Fi password. You may have also shared more than you intended.

Your neighbour comes over. Your client visits the office. Your friend asks to connect to your Wi-Fi. You share the password without thinking twice.
And just like that, their device, which you know nothing about, is now on the same network as your computer, your files, your printer, and every other device you own.

Most people don't think about what that means. If their device is carrying malware or has been compromised in some way, it now has a direct path to everything else on your network.
A guest Wi-Fi network solves this problem cleanly. It gives visitors internet access without giving them access to your main network or the devices on it. They get what they need. Your network stays protected.

Here is why a guest network is worth setting up:
🦠 Infected devices stay isolated. If a guest device is compromised, the damage cannot spread to your network.
🖥️ Your devices stay invisible. Guest users cannot see or interact with your computers, printers, or smart devices.
🔐 You stay in control. You can change the guest password as often as you like without disrupting your main network.
📡 Most modern routers already support it. Check your router settings or app. The option is likely already there, waiting to be switched on.

Setting up a guest network is one of the simplest ways to add a meaningful layer of separation between your trusted devices and everything else.

Not sure how to set one up? Get in touch with the Astel Projects IT Division; one of our specialists will be happy to walk you through it. Your trusted IT professional can help too.
That wraps up our Network Security Essentials series.

Next, we are diving into the world of digital devices and how to keep them safe. Follow the Astel Projects page so you do not miss it.

23/09/2026

Celebrating Heritage Day Together! 🇿🇦

Tomorrow we will honour the cultures, traditions, and stories that make each of us unique. Our diversity is not only something to be celebrated, but also one of our greatest strengths.

We are proud to work alongside colleagues from different backgrounds, learning from one another and building a workplace founded on respect, inclusion, and teamwork.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Heritage Day filled with pride, connection, and celebration. 💚

23/09/2026

When did you last update your Wi-Fi password?

Most people set their Wi-Fi password once, share it with everyone who asks, and never think about it again. Over time, that password ends up on old devices, in the hands of people who no longer need access, and potentially in places you have no visibility over.

Every device connected to your network is a potential entry point. The more people who have had your password over the years, the harder it becomes to know who still has access.

Here are some helpful pointers to secure your Wi-Fi:
🔒 Use WPA3 or WPA2 encryption. Check your router settings and make sure you are not running on an older, weaker security standard.
📶 Change your Wi-Fi password regularly. Every few months for a home network, and more frequently for a business.
🔡 Make it strong. A strong Wi-Fi password follows the same rules as any other. Long, unique, and not something anyone could guess.
📋 Audit your connected devices. Most routers show you a list of everything connected. If you see something you do not recognise, that is worth investigating.

Your Wi-Fi password is not just about keeping neighbours off your network. It is about controlling who has access to every device connected to it.

If you are running a business network and want to make sure your Wi-Fi security is properly configured, reach out to the Astel Projects IT Division and one of our specialists will point you in the right direction. Your trusted IT professional can also help you review your setup.

Next up, we have a genuinely underrated tip that most people have never considered. Guest Wi-Fi networks and why they are worth setting up.

18/09/2026

💜 ASTEL PROJECTS STANDS TOGETHER AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE 💜

Today, the ASTEL team wears all black in remembrance of the women whose lives have been lost to gender-based violence. 🖤

We wear black not only to remember, but to stand together and say ENOUGH.

We believe that everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and valued. At home, at work and in our communities.

Today, we remember the women who are no longer with us.
We honour their lives.
We stand with those who have survived.
And we commit ourselves to being part of the change.

We stand for respect. We stand for equality. We stand together. 💜

🖤 Today we wear black for the women we have lost.
💜 Tomorrow, and every day, we continue the fight for a safer future.

18/09/2026

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐭. 𝐒𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬.

When a manufacturer ships a router, they use the same default login credentials across entire product lines. "Admin" and "password" are not even a guess at that point. They are a known fact, and attackers know them just as well as the manufacturers do.

A device still running factory default credentials is like displaying your personal information on a highway billboard.

Here are a few other devices and systems to take note of:
🔑 Router admin panel - this controls your entire network, not just your Wi-Fi
🖨️ Printers and smart devices - often forgotten and almost always running defaults
📷 Security cameras and CCTV - a surprisingly common target for exactly this reason
💻 Network switches and access points - critical infrastructure that is rarely touched after setup

Changing these credentials takes minutes and closes one of the most commonly exploited entry points into a network. When you do change them, use a strong and unique password for each device, not the same one across all of them.

Not sure where to find the admin settings on your router or other devices? Give us a call! One of our specialists at Astel Projects can assist. Or your trusted IT professional can walk you through it.

Next up, we are looking at your Wi-Fi password and why changing it more regularly than you probably do is worth the effort.

11/09/2026

𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 "𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞" 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? Don’t skip it!

We've all done it. A little pop-up appears in the corner of the screen, and without a second thought, we click "remind me later" and carry on with our day.
Software updates do more than add new features. A large portion of every update is dedicated to fixing security vulnerabilities, gaps in the code that attackers actively look for and exploit. When you delay an update, those gaps stay open.

Think of it like a crack in a wall. You know it is there. The people walking past also know it is there. Every day you leave it, the risk grows.

Here is what to keep updated and why it matters:
🖥️ Operating system - Windows and macOS updates patch the deepest vulnerabilities in your device
📱 Mobile devices - phones hold more sensitive data than most people realise
🌐 Browsers - your primary gateway to the internet needs to be current
📦 Apps and software - outdated applications are a common and overlooked entry point
📡 Router firmware - most people never update this, which is exactly why attackers target it

The fix is simple. Enable automatic updates wherever you can and make it a habit to check for any that need manual approval. It is one of those low-effort, high-impact things you can do for your cyber security.

If you are managing multiple devices across a business, your trusted IT professional can help you set up a consistent update policy. Or reach out to the Astel Projects IT Division, and one of our specialists will be happy to assist.

Next up, we are talking about something most people set up once and never think about again. Default usernames and passwords.

Address

6 Kew Road
East London
5241

Opening Hours

Monday	08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 17:00
Thursday	08:00 - 17:00
Friday	08:00 - 16:00

Telephone

0437271106

Website

http://www.astelprojects.co.za/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Astel Projects posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Astel Projects:

Astel Projects

22/10/2026

16/10/2026

15/10/2026

09/10/2026

01/10/2026

23/09/2026

23/09/2026

18/09/2026

18/09/2026

11/09/2026

Address

Opening Hours

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request