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.

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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.

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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. 

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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

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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.

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

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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;-)

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MyAnswers: How to make things look bigger on the Apple Mac Air.

The following MyAnswers solution 2410 is now available:

I have a new 11" Apple Mac Air. Everything on the screen is so tiny it is very difficult to read. Is there anything I can do to make everything look bigger?

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

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Australian Dictionary site clobbered by Google.

Businesses often ask me for assistance on how to improve their presence on Google. I receive a large number of visits to my sites as a result of Google. I do however warn clients that Google can giveth, and Google can taketh away.

The following graph shows the traffic for my site www.Australian-Dictionary.com.au. As you can see the site was growing very quickly in terms of traffic. What happened you may ask. As best I can tell around the time of the drop Google changed their search engine algorithm. I don't recall making any significant changes. Traffic as you can see has fallen significantly.

Putting all your effort into promoting via Google I believe is a disaster waiting to happen. This has happened to me multiple times. Just as the momentum for a site is building Google flips and the traffic largely disappears. One person has said this may be a deliberate strategy on Google's part. The cynical suggest that by giving sites a presence and then removing that presence, the only option to keep a presence is paid advertising on Google. I'm not so cynical. Whatever it is that Google does it can make or  break you if you solely focus on Google.

Imagine if you've just paid a Search Engine Optimisation company a small fortune to gain you a presence in Google and then a few months later your online traffic dries up. All that money spent is down the drain and you're not going to get a refund.

When I talk with clients I give them the good and the bad. I've seen companies sell hype and promises. Marketing, advertising, branding and SEO companies. Their real interest is to make a sale. Make sure you look after your interests.

I share this experience in the hope that it assists other businesses make better decisions with their marketing dollar.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

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Alert: Gmail users should be careful with spam emails sent by other Gmail users.

A strange thing has been happening lately. I'm currently testing Gmail with emails being forwarded to Gmail that are addressed to my business email address.

What I've noticed is I'm receiving a few spam messages a day from people using Gmail addresses. The one I just checked was sent using Gmail from someone based in India. Gmail catches quite a lot of spam and scams, but it doesn't seem to be capturing some spam emails from Gmail's own users.

If you use Gmail and receive an unsolicited email from a Gmail user you don't know, be very careful. It may be spam or it could be a scam. The spam emails really should be caught by Gmail's spam filter but they currently aren't.


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

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MyAnswers: How I saved a family member $500 on a Dell computer after the special had finished.

The following MyAnswers solution 2409 is now available:

Saved $500 for a family member who wanted a Dell computer but the special had finished.

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

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MyAnswers: Forwarding emails from Hostgator to Gmail and still get emails in account.

The following MyAnswers solution 2408 is now available:

Using Hostgator I forward emails to a Gmail account but I still end up getting the emails in my Hostgator based email account. Is there any way around this?

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

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MyAnswers: Don't receive emails I send to myself using Gmail.

The following MyAnswers solution 2407 is now available:

I've forwarded my business email account to Google. I can send emails from Google using my business account email address ,but if I send an email to my business email address either form Gmail or my notebook, I don't receive the email.  

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

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MyAnswers: How to activate a second computer to use your iTunes Store account.

The following MyAnswers solution 2406 is now available:

Apple enables you to use up to five devices on your single iTunes Store account. When using an additional computer I was prompted to activate the computer using the iTunes Store yet I could not easily find the option.

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

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MyAnswers: How to watch a rented movie again using iTunes on a PC.

The following MyAnswers solution 2405 is now available:

I've rented and watched a movie from Apple using iTunes on a PC. Now I'd like to watch the movie again. I have 48 hours during which to watch a movie again but can't find the option.

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

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Google announces end of support (Gmail and Google Apps) for Internet Explorer for Windows Vista users

Google has announced end of support (Gmail and Google Apps) for Internet Explorer 8 (used by Windows XP users) and now Internet Explorer 9 (used by Vista users). This means that an estimated 40% of Windows users are no longer supported using the Microsoft browser available with their operating system.

End of support for Internet Explorer 9... Read More

This shows how Microsoft have dumped on their existing user base in order to force users to upgrade and how Google is also prepared to dump on them in order migrate them to Google Chrome. Microsoft only have themselves to blame for their eroding user base and luckily for Microsoft the corporate world is largely locked into Microsoft products. This will I believe come back to bite Microsoft as the BYOD (bring your own device) approach means more people using devices not running Microsoft’s operating systems.

Google also isn’t the good guy in this scenario as they could easily continue to support Internet Explorer, but I suspect it makes better business sense to take advantage of Microsoft’s lack of customer support, and provide the ability for users to continue to use their Windows operating system by using Google Chrome.

Keep in mind you also have the choice of Firefox and Opera browsers should you require another browser.

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

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MyAnswers: After installing Windows 8.1 the CPU is running very high at 97%.

The following MyAnswers solution 2401 is now available:

Since installing Windows 8.1 I've noticed very poor performance in Internet Explorer 11. I've clicked on a button many times and waited for perhaps a minute or more before something happens. I decided to check and found the CPU was running at 97% so it is no wonder IE11 is running poorly. I've read many sites and lots of people suggest a virus infection which is not the case. The fan on the computer seems to also be running more. The computer is a Toshiba Satellite Pro about three years old.

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

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MyAnswers: A secret that Woolworths and Coles online stores probably don't want you to know.

The following MyAnswers solution 2400 is now available:

A secret that Woolworths and Coles online stores probably don't want you to know. Knowing the secret can save you money.

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

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MyAnswers: Spellcheck web pages using Opera browser

The following MyAnswers solution 2059 is now available:

This solution provides a handy technique to check the spelling in web pages on a site using the Opera browser.

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

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MyAnswers: Internet Explorer 11 context menu scripts no longer work.

The following MyAnswers solution 2399 is now available:

After upgrading to Windows 8.1 scripts installed in the context menu no longer work in Internet Explorer 11. Selecting the menu option simply does nothing.

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

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MyAnswers: IE11 Script Error - Unable to get property 'createRange of undefined or null reference

The following MyAnswers solution 2398 is now available:

When running scripts I've installed for use from the context menu since upgrading to Windows 8.1 I get the error: 'Script Error - Unable to get property 'createRange of undefined or null reference'. This is because what worked in Internet Explorer 10 no longer works in Internet Explorer 11.

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

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