Alert: New Voicemail Message from Cbus, Bulla Dair Foods and Centro Property Group.

This morning I received three emails (to different email addresses) with the subject 'New Voicemail Message'. The email contains an attachment 'VoiceMail.zip' which contains an executable program.

You should delete these emails as the attachment is malware.

The body of one of the emails started with the following: 'You have been left a 1:09 long message (number 1) in mailbox from "Cbus" 07516326347, on Monday, November 19, 2013 at 07:29:02 AM'. As you can see this email pretends to be a voice mail message from Cbus. The other two emails pretended to be voice mail messages from Bulla Dairy Foods and Centro Property Group. The company and telephone number changed for each email.

I tested the attachment and only Sophos currently identifies the attachment as malware and all the other commonly used antivirus programs are not yet aware of the malware.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Read More

What is the difference between the Z3740 and Z3740D used in 8" Windows 8.1 tablets?

I noticed the Toshiba Encore 8” uses the Z3740 Intel Bay Trail processor whilst the Dell Venue Pro 8” uses the Z3740D. There are other specification differences that are easy to understand, and possibly more important, but the difference for the processor isn’t stated. I decided to investigate and found the following on the Laptop Mag site.

Bay Trail-T, the tablet iteration of Bay Trail, is available in six SKUs, ranging from the low-end, dual-core Z3680 to the quad-core Atom Z3770, which can run at up to 2.4-GHz and has dual-channel memory. Where all Clover Trail CPUs maxed out at 1366 x 768, both the Atom Z3770 and Z3740 support resolutions up to 2560 x 1600 while the Z3770D, Z3740D and Z3680D max out at 1920 x 1200. The low-end Z3680 can manage only 1280 x 800.... Read More

One feature I’m interested in is connecting a tablet to an external monitor. The Z3740 from this information appears to handle a higher screen resolution. In theory this may or may not mean it can be connected to a higher resolution monitor than the Z3740D. There is no way for me to know if this is actually implemented or not without testing different devices. In practical terms, this may or may not make a difference, but I feel it is good to know.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

Read More

CryptoLocker virus encrypts users' files and then blackmails users to have their files decrypted.

In November the CryptoLocker virus received quite an amount of publicity in the press. Certainly the virus is particularly vicious. This is a no win situation. Either you pay up and risk losing your money, or lose access to your data.

This article from Charles Darwin University provides a good background on the virus.

Clients are reminded the best defence with regards to losing their important data is to perform a regular backup.

I provide clients free access to a backup utility I wrote for myself for use with Windows computers. Clients are welcome to contact me if they would like to set up a backup to protect your important data.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for IT guidance and support. 

Read More

Be careful with Dell delivery times. This is a good reminder to be mindful that not all deliveries will make it for Christmas.

I assisted a client with an order for a Dell computer on the 22nd of November. The computer was to be delivered within the next 10 days. An email was received on the 26th of November confirming the delivery would be on or before the 2nd of December.

On the 2nd of December at 2:55 pm an SMS was received requesting a response for delivery on either the 10th of December, the 11th of December, or to receive a call. I decided to receive a call to make sure I speak to someone on behalf of the client. To receive an SMS on the expected date of delivery stating a different time is terrible customer service. The client waited around all day for the delivery and Dell sent the message to me and not the client. Dell had recorded my details as a secondary contact.

I find it staggering that well before Christmas Dell can't deliver within the 10 days they advise. That will now make it 18 days until a delivery is expected, and at this point, there is no guarantee the delivery time won't be adjusted again. This isn't a purchase for Christmas, but if it was, there would be a concern regarding delivery.

This is a good reminder as we approach Christmas that a lot of people will be disappointed when they don't receive items they've ordered for Christmas. At this time it is perhaps a good idea to start thinking about buying from bricks and mortar shops rather than online, and make sure they actually have stock on hand. Placing an order in a shop is no more of a guarantee that you'll receive an item as placing an order online. I recall waiting for an order for months from the Myer Store and months from a distributor for an Epson colour laser. If it isn't in stock, in the premises, chances are you may not get the item in time.

Kelvin Eldridge 
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Ph: 0415 910 703

Read More

MyAnswers: Can I force Internet Explorer to open using the Desktop versions from the Start screen.

The following MyAnswers solution 2411 is now available:

When I add a tile to the Start screen in Windows 8 it always uses the modern version of Internet Explorer. Can I force Internet Explorer to open web sites in the desktop version since I'm using a desktop computer.

Click here to obtain the solution.

Click here for related solutions.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au/myanswers/
(An Online Connections service.)

Read More

Feeling old! If you're over 30 it appears Tumblr thinks you're over the hill.

I thought it was interesting when I entered my age when signing up to Tumblr. People often use the expression "years young" as not to offend the more senior generation.

When I saw with Tumblr you had to enter your age to proceed, and my age was then followed by "years young", I couldn't help wonder at what age you went from "years old" to "years young".

It turns out the new senior is now a young 30.

Perhaps those working at Tumblr should be careful. Once they reach 30 they may be considered over the hill and put out to pasture.

There really is very little point in adding "years old" or "years young" to a number which is simply a person's age. As to entering your age, I see little point to that as well.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Experienced and still learning;-)

Read More