Have loads of fun with this 4 channel remote control helicopter. Outstanding performance with stable flight and magnificent hovering capabilities; all courtesy of the on-board gyroscope and a total of 4 motors! Dip, turn, spin or hover just like you see in the movies and if the batteries run out simply recharge through the quick connect lead from the remote controller. Equipped with a full metal frame chassis, it is very durable and shockproof. Excellent for beginners and first time flyers.
Mounts to the car windscreen to record vision, audio, GPS coordinates and speed to a MicroSD memory card (available separately), which can be played back later to prove what happened in a car accident. The camera cycle records until the G-sensor is triggered during excessive braking, acceleration or collision. You can also manually trigger the recording if you see an incident ahead. Use the 2.4″ colour screen to help align the camera or to playback any recordings. Connect to a PC with Internet connection to see the car location on GoogleMaps during the playback. Other features include HDMI output to playback on a large TV, two bright LEDs to improve night time recording, and Li-ion battery to extend the recording should the power be disconnected.
Features:
GPS
G-sensor
5MP HD Sensor – HD 720P (1280 x 720) @ 30fps
Cycled Recording
Approx. 25mins per 1 GB
2 brights LEDS for low light recording
Video format: H.264/AVI or MP4
95 degree wide angle lens
Microphone
Supports Micro SDHC cards up to 32GB (MicroSD only)
Playback software is compatible with 32-bit Win XP/Vista/7 only
Increasingly I am seeing not only my own business targeted, but I am getting a huge amount of inquiries from other businesses asking me if something they received in an email or through the post or via the telephone is legitimate or a scam.
Invariably they are scams.
There are all sorts of tech threats such as viruses and spyware out there, but it’s the age old tricks that are still fooling small business owners.
Instead of trying to hack into your computer by stealth, scammers are finding it easier to just send you an email, or fax, or just phone you with an offer they hope you can’t refuse.
One of their common tricks is to send a business a fake Invoice in the hope that someone in the office pays it without asking any questions. It’s easy enough to do when you’re under the hammer and snowed under with paperwork.
Office supplies have become a favourite with scammers invoicing you for stationery or toner and ink cartridges that you never ordered, or even sending you an email stating that your refills are ready. Such an innocuous-looking bill could easily slip through the cracks and be paid, especially in a small business without a dedicated accounts department to keep an eye out for such things.
There are a multitude of variations to the fake billing scam, so always check your bills carefully. Another big one is receiving an invoice from dodgy Directory Services or Advertising Company requesting payment for listings which were never published or were ran without your authorisation.
Fake Domain Name renewals are becoming more prevalent now. They will ask for payment so you can continue to use your website address. Sometimes you’ll receive a bogus invoice, perhaps for your Domain Name, or more commonly, one which is similar to your Domain Name.
Some dodgy Domain Name Registrars have been known to send out what looks like an invoice from your current provider but is actually an authorisation to transfer your Domain Name to them. They even check online records to see when your Domain Name is due for renewal, with the hope of catching you off guard because you’re expecting an email from your real Domain Name Registrar anyway.
Dodgy Domain Name Registrars are also known for sending out emails claiming that your competitors are trying to buy up Domain Names similar to your own and offering to sell those Domain Names to you first.
For example my website is www.spottydog.com.au, so they might offer me www.spottydog.net.au and www.spottydog.org.au – claiming that if I don’t pay for them my competitors will buy them in an attempt to steal my customers.
Scam emails are also used to sneak spyware onto computers. Rather than sending out Spam offering cheap medications and viagra, hackers are now sending spam disguised as a legitimate notification from a Bank, Courier Company, Airline, the Tax Office or Post Office.
The style might change, but they all require you to open an attachment or click on a link to check the status of an order or delivery. Do so and your computer could be infected with Malware designed to steal passwords or perhaps lock down your computer and hold your data to ransom.
Alternatively, you might be logging into a spoof website and handing over your password. The safest option is never to trust links or attachments in such emails and to contact the service provider directly if you’re unsure.
Scammers aren’t afraid to use the telephone either and there have been a spate of phone calls in recent times purportedly from Microsoft, claiming your computer is infected with a virus or has some other issue.
The scammers request remote access to your computer, and then identify supposed errors as an indictaion you have a virus and then demand money in order to remove the virus. If you receive one of these phone calls, just hang up on them. Once inside your computer they can cause extreme havoc if you refuse to pay.
All of these types of scams rely on human error rather than technical and security weaknesses. Scammers will often target junior staff hoping to fool them. The best way to protect your business is to educate your staff about the potential dangers of scams and enforce strict policies regarding the placement of orders and payment of invoices.
Vigilence and education are the keys to keeping your Business and Bank Accounts safe!!!!
https://spottydog.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/be-scam-smart3.png298244Adminhttps://spottydog.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Logo-Spotty-Dog-Computer-Services.pngAdmin2013-07-26 16:31:322022-07-28 06:55:06Small Business Targeted by Scammers
Those of you who have talked to me prior to the Windows 8 release would know that I used a pre-release version of Windows 8 and that I said that I absolutely hated it.
Well now I have had a change of heart, and I really think that it’s not a bad OS at all.
I will qualify this by saying that my opinion only changed after discovering two things.
The first was that I found an Open Source program called Classic Shell, which adds a familiar “Start Button” to the Desktop of Windows 8 and also allows Windows 8 to boot directly to the Desktop instead of to the new Metro Tile start screen.
And the second thing that changed my mind was, gaining some critical knowledge about Windows 8, which was how to bring up the Charms Bar by moving your Mouse Cursor to the Top Right Hand Corner of the screen, along with the knowledge of how to close and switch between Apps and the Desktop.
To close an App, you move your Mouse Cursor to the top of the App Screen until the cursor changes to a “Hand”, then Left Click, Hold, and Drag to the bottom of the screen.
To switch between Apps and the Desktop, you move your cursor to the Top Left Hand Corner of the screen, where you will see a Thumbnail or Thumbnails for currently open Apps. Choose the one you wish to change to.
This YouTube Video demonstrates how to do this.
In addition, Windows 8 is pretty fast and seems to require fewer system resources than Windows 7.
So all in all, I think Windows 8 is quite useable, particularly with the addition of Classic Shell.
Once the first revision of Windows 8 arrives (Windows 8.1) there will be little or no need for Classic Shell as Microsoft has bowed to public pressure and will be reintroducing the Start Button.
https://spottydog.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/windows-8-logo1.jpg152200Adminhttps://spottydog.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Logo-Spotty-Dog-Computer-Services.pngAdmin2013-07-12 08:41:552022-07-28 06:55:07Is Windows 8 really that bad?
Did you know that in less than a years time, Microsoft will cease to support Windows XP with Security Updates and patches?
Yep that’s right, on the 8th April 2014, if you are still using Windows XP, your PC will be at grave risk of malicious attacks and viral infections.
Mind you, that’s pretty much the case now as XP is not as secure as Windows 7 and 8 anyway.
In an effort to convince PC Users to migrate to Windows 8, Microsoft has today begun offering 15% off a Windows 8, Office 2013 combo package.
Microsoft has stated on a promotional website, that Small and Medium sized businesses that still operate with Windows XP and Office 2003 (Office 2003 will be also retired in 12 months), can purchase licences for Windows 8 Pro and Office 2013 Standard at a 15% discount.
However Caveats apply:
Customers must be running XP Professional
the Windows 8 Pro and Office 2013 Standard licences must be purchased as a package via Microsoft’s Open Licence program
and the deal is capped at 100 licences for each
The discount is valid through to 30th June.
Microsoft has pointed customers to a list of partners (in US) who will offer the Open Licence discounts.
Microsoft (US) has quoted $188 for each Windows 8 Pro licence, and $373 for each Office 2013 Standard licence, for a total of $561. The 15% discount would lower each Windows-Office combo by $84 to $477.
So you have been warned, after the 8th April 2014, Microsoft will not supply security patches for Windows XP, placing all PCs still running it at risk from attack.
The only exception: Enterprises which have purchased custom support plans.
However, Microsoft has boosted prices of those plans, and some businesses have been quoted $1 million for the first year of after-retirement support for the estimated 5,000 XP systems still out there, $2 million for the second year and $5 million for the third!!!
Nice little earner Microsoft!!
https://spottydog.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/windowsxp-dead1.jpg334500Adminhttps://spottydog.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Logo-Spotty-Dog-Computer-Services.pngAdmin2013-04-14 06:04:232022-07-28 06:55:08One year before XP’s forced retirement
Well I’ve come to the conclusion that if people want a safer Internet browsing experience, then everyone needs to critically look at what they are doing online, how they are doing it, and what they should be doing but aren’t.
It has become painfully evident that the main reason PC’s are getting infected and compromised with viruses and malware is because of the User’s activities online, in conjunction with the User’s reluctance to do updates when they are presented. The reason why updates are important to safe browsing is because if you don’t do them, simply visiting a compromised or deliberately malicious website can infect your PC. This is regardless of what Security software you use. There are something like 50,000 new viruses being released every single day, so it is near on impossible to protect yourself against that.
The other subject I will cover is what Browser I recommend and why, but I’ll address the updates issue first.
I am consistently told by User’s that they do not do updates for several reasons. Those being:
I never know if they are legitimate.
They take too long.
I have done updates in the past and they caused problems.
I couldn’t be bothered.
Let’s look at these excuses one by one.
I never know if they are legitimate. This is just a ridiculous thing to say. If you get a pop-up or a message that tells you there is an update available, and you don’t know whether it is legitimate, then you must also believe that you are infected with something malicious, so why aren’t you doing something about it? You must do all updates including Java, Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader, and all Windows Updates. These updates generally address security holes that can be exploited by Hackers and bad people in general. It is a no brainer and is not an option.
They take too long. Seriously? You can sit on Facebook for two hours but you don’t have time to do updates? Try this. Switch on the computer, let it boot-up, get your updates underway and go for a walk in the fresh air. Both yourself and your computer will be better for it.
I have done updates in the past and they caused problems. This one I can understand. I’ve done plenty of updates myself and afterwards the computer has crashed or something else just isn’t right. However, this just isn’t an excuse for not doing updates. There will be some underlying problem that has caused the issue. You might already be infected with a virus that is screwing up the update for example. Whatever the issue, you should address it and resolve it.
I couldn’t be bothered. Well what can I say to this? If this is your attitude then expect that it will be a case of when you get infected rather than if. Not much more to say about this one!!!
Also, when you are thinking updates, DON’T FORGET to make sure you always have the latest version of your Security Software and Browser.
For example, quite often I see people with AVG 2011 or 2012 installed, but the current version is 2013.
The same applies to your Browser.
I see Internet Explorer 8 installed, when IE9 (latest version compatible with XP) or IE10 is available.
It’s more secure than the default Internet Explorer.
You can install add-on’s and extensions that give it greater functionality, but more importantly extra security.
Which Add-on’s or Extensions should you use in Firefox?
Well there are literally thousands of Add-on’s and Extensions available, but there are 3 that I consider essential.
They are:
NoScript – No longer available.
BetterPrivacy – No longer available.
Adblock Plus – This Add-on isn’t specifically a security Add-on, but by blocking Ad’s, you won’t be tempted to click on things you possibly shouldn’t. Besides, who needs all those Ad’s anyway? Adblock Plus blocks all annoying ads on the web by default: video ads on YouTube, Facebook ads, flashy banners, pop-ups, pop-unders and much more.
What about Security Software?
My advice to people on this changes periodically.
13 years ago I would have recommended VET Antivirus, but then it changed to CA Antivirus and that’s when the problems started. Since then the recommendations have ranged from a choice of free to paid for products.
I am finding that this product is offering very good protection, functions and features including Social Media protection, and at a price of $29 for 12 months cover, it’s great value as well.
So what does it all mean?
The main points are:
Do all the updates including Windows, Java, Adobe Flash and Adobe Reader.
Use Firefox with the recommended Extensions and Add-on’s.
Use good security software.
But above all else, use your brain before clicking on or downloading anything.
Be absolutely sure that you know it is legitimate first.
Spotty Dog Computer Services can help provide you with a Safer Internet Browsing experience.
https://spottydog.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/safe_browsing_v37pdt1.jpg213300Adminhttps://spottydog.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Logo-Spotty-Dog-Computer-Services.pngAdmin2013-03-06 09:26:222022-07-28 06:55:09Safer Internet Browsing
This is a very good article on a fake Nigerian Bank Email scam that is circulating.
But more importantly, it highlights how people think and why they get conned the way they do.
Article by AVG Security
Are you sometimes amazed by the types of scam emails you receive?
I often wonder who makes these up and for what reason (and if they ever have a proof reader?!).
With bank email scams, it can be difficult to spot the fake ones at times, particularly when the images are the same as what the banks use and the language even sounds similar.
However, when this Nigerian bank scam email arrived in my inbox, I laughed. Yes, that’s right, a throaty chuckle managed to escape and I rolled my eyes and thought to myself, who would click on this?
Firstly, you can see that the “reply-to” email address ends in “.est”. Let’s assume that leads to somewhere in Estonia! And it’s not very likely that anyone in Australia or New Zealand will hold an account with the Bank of Nigeria… well, I wouldn’t think so anyway.
If you receive an email such as this, the first thing you should ask yourself is, “Do I have an account with this bank?”. If the answer is “no”, immediately delete the email and empty your deleted items folder!
The same goes for any sort of email that you receive that is “unsolicited”. For example, I bank with one bank and one bank only. If I get emails from any other bank, I delete them straight away because I know that I don’t hold an account with them. And the same goes for any other email that I have not signed up for.
A good way to make sure you don’t receive these kinds of emails is to not use your “primary” email address to sign up for things online. It’s a good idea to create a separate email account (perhaps a Hotmail or Gmail one) that you can use when signing up to various competitions, forums and special offers. This way, your primary email address will only be known by friends and family.
Also make sure you have a good internet security program on your computer that includes an anti-spam solution. This means scam emails will be detected as spam and be dropped into a spam folder so you don’t even have to see them!
Remember, don’t click to open, click to delete!
Article Source: AVG Security
https://spottydog.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/nigerian_scam_email_feb_v21.gif300505Adminhttps://spottydog.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Logo-Spotty-Dog-Computer-Services.pngAdmin2013-03-04 15:46:292022-07-28 06:55:10Why Would You Click On The Link? Watch Out For This Nigerian Bank Email Scam
Microsoft has just officially released Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7.
Previously you needed Windows 8 to experience the new Browser.
The new version brings enormous changes to the Browser, and mostly for the better.
Internet Explorer 10 is not only faster and more stable than the current IE for Windows 7 (version 9), it’s also far more standards-compliant.
Internet Explorer 10 is 20 percent faster on Windows 7 than IE 9, and it supports HTML5 and CSS3.
Microsoft say it is 60 percent more standards-compliant than IE 9. For example, it now supports CSS Text Shadow,CSS 3D Transforms, CSS3 Transitions and Animations, CSS3 Gradient, SVG Filter Effects, HTML5 Forms, HTML5 Sandboxing, and there are many other improvements.
In short, modern HTML5 sites that run smoothly in IE 10 on Windows 8, or the latest browsers from Chrome and Firefox, will now work properly in Internet Explorer 10 on a Windows 7 PC.
Will it work on XP?
Unfortunately, older OS versions are not supported and it will only work on Windows Vista or above. So if you still have Windows XP, you are out of luck.
https://spottydog.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Internet-explorer-10-for-windows-7-300x1801-1.jpg180300Adminhttps://spottydog.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Logo-Spotty-Dog-Computer-Services.pngAdmin2013-02-28 11:18:592022-07-28 06:55:11Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7
Adobe has released a critical update to users of their Reader software, patching a critical vulnerability that can allow hackers to take control of a victims’ computer.
Adobe recommends the Patch for all users of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, version XI and earlier. The update affects Windows, Macintosh, and Linux users for versions 11.0.01, 10.1.5, 9.x, and all earlier versions. The patch can be downloaded from Adobe’s website, or through the automatic update feature.
Adobe has said that while automatic updates are enabled by default, individuals can manually check for an update by clicking on Help > Check for Updates.
The exploit was discovered by a security company named FireEye, and they appear to be the first people to breach the technology used by Adobe to protect their software. In an attack, victims would typically receive an email with a PDF attached, which in turn contains a well hidden JavaScript.
When the attachment is opened, the embedded Malware will download two DLL files. One file will display a fake error message and open a PDF document, and the other one installs “callback” software onto the victim’s computer. Once this software is installed, it “calls back” to a Remote Server.
Those with Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat (which is just about everyone) should update their software immediately. This can be done through either the software itself, or directly from Adobe. If for some reason you can’t update your Adobe software, you can instigate “Protected View” in Reader or Acrobat. This will reduce the number of options available in the software (eg. printing) but it will prevent malicious code from being executed from within documents.
To turn on “Protected View,” go to Edit> Preferences > Security (Enhanced) and then check the box next to “Files from potentially unsafe locations.” You can also check the “All Files” option, as well.
Remember, always be on the lookout for weird or unsolicited emails with PDF attachments. It is also a good policy to check with the sender to see if the attachment is legitimate or not. They might thank you, because it could be the only warning that their PC has been compromised (and it will keep you safe, too).
https://spottydog.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Adobe-Exploit1.jpg220220Adminhttps://spottydog.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Logo-Spotty-Dog-Computer-Services.pngAdmin2013-02-22 07:24:392022-07-28 06:55:12Adobe Patches Exploit in Acrobat and Reader
Increasingly I am seeing not only my own business targeted, but I am getting a huge amount of inquiries from other businesses asking me if something they received in an email or through the post or via the telephone is legitimate or a scam.
Well the short answer to that question is No.
Did you know that in less than a years time, Microsoft will cease to support Windows XP with Security Updates and patches?
Well I’ve come to the conclusion that if people want a safer Internet browsing experience, then everyone needs to critically look at what they are doing online, how they are doing it, and what they should be doing but aren’t.
Microsoft has just officially released Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7.
Adobe has released a critical update to users of their Reader software, patching a critical vulnerability that can allow hackers to take control of a victims’ computer.
