As you may be aware, Spark is changing the price for Xtra Email. Charging $5.95 per month or $9.95 per month. A reaction to this could be to move to a free email provider such as Google or Microsoft. ![]()
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At this stage, I'd like to make sure people know about a free service called Stepping UP which can help with creating a free email account. The Te Aroha Library is part of that program so can help with this. Call them on 884 7047 or email libraries@mpdc.govt.nz
Over the last few days, I've been pretending I have excellent eyesight as I work with screws that have 1mm of thread and a 2mm head. They use a P2 screwdriver bit. There are 12 of these in the laptop, each of which needs to be handled gently to avoid destruction or being lost beside a spec of dust. I need a desk microscope đ
đ¨ Recall Alert đ¨ Toshiba Laptop AC Adapters.![]()
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Note: This is an expansion to a previous recall www.productsafety.govt.nz/recalls/toshiba-2-pin-ac-adapter where the nature of the issue is the same but additional Adapters have been identified as potentially affected, and having a potential fire hazard.![]()
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Further information is available from Dynabook ANZ Pty Ltd by phoning 0800 396 226.![]()
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Know more about this recall here đ![]()
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www.productsafety.govt.nz/recalls/toshia-laptop-ac-adapters
Seniors might not be up to speed with webinars, but the subject is very important.Less than a week to go until our free webinar for seniors!![]()
Join us on Tuesday, 20 February and empower yourself, as well as friends and whÄnau, with the know-how to navigate the digital world. Learn how to spot common threats and scams targeting seniors as well as gain practical tips for surfing the internet securely.![]()
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Sign up here - zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UI72-cLESu6U98Ngq6oEDw?fbclid=IwAR0-kotzhVTijs9OBpnenY3qKotVL5S68BQMt...
You may have heard that Matamata-Piako District Council has arranged for some electronic waste (e-waste) recycling stations at the 3 transfer stations. This a huge step forward for e-waste as we now don't need to drive to Hamilton or Auckland. It isn't free, especially for batteries that are toxic and dangerous in a landfill.![]()
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More info later as I work out charges for common electronic items.![]()
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Congratulations to Matamata-Piako District Council for this work.
I was inspired by a release from local company AgPlus. A tip from a new lawn mower specialist was talking about how low-cost brands can be a false economy because when they break, replacement parts can't be found. The same thing happens in the computer industry. Prices are kept low by not providing spare parts, amongst other techniques. Thus, I tend to recommend laptop brands such as Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, etc and printers such as Brother, etc.![]()
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Note: I do warranty repairs on Brother printers, so I'm probably biased about that brand đ
Some great advice from NZ Police.![]()
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Donât be a victim of an online scam this festive season
www.police.govt.nz
This holiday season, New Zealand Police are encouraging people to be aware of online scams and fraud. Some printers are a pain to work on. Well, more the weight of the printer. A 40kg colour laser printer is difficult to move around, and impossible for my old body to lift by myself. It is now fixed and returned to its home near Walton. Mind you, it is much lighter than big office printers from Konica-Minolta, Ricoh, etc.
Kings Computers will be closing on 22nd December for the Christmas break and reopening on 8th January. I hope everyone gets some enjoyment over this traditional holiday period and comes back refreshed for a new year.
Not computer related, but I think it's still worth sharing.Holiday job? Could you spot a fake banknote if handed one? Sometimes scammers take advantage of the busy holiday season, but luckily there are ways to tell whatâs real. ![]()
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Our three top tips to tell if a banknote is real đ° ![]()
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LOOK: for intact plastic windows showing the right $ value, sharp detailed printing, and the see through puzzle pattern showing the $ value or watermark of the Queen (depending on note age). ![]()
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FEEL: for the smooth plastic surface, except for the raised ink on larger features. A genuine note will spring back if scrunched and a counterfeit will tear easily. ![]()
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TILT: The newest series of banknotes feature a sparkly rolling bar on the small bird on the face side of the note and have holographic features in the window that shimmer. ![]()
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Learn more here: bit.ly/3VGPTAR
If you've ever wondered what is inside an inkjet printer cartridge. This is Big Clive cutting open an Epson cartridge and showing how complex they are inside.![]()
Ink cartridges are complex inside!
youtu.be
Aside from making a huge mess, it took a surprisingly long time to reverse engineer this cartridge due to the clever way it forms ink and air channels that c... Today marks the 10th Birthday of Kings Computers. This is one of those important milestones where we wonder how those 10 years went so fast. While also expecting that the next 10 are just as quick đ đĽł
Just saw this at Brother. As I am a Brother TSP I thought I should pass this on.![]()
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Scam Alert | Unauthorised Service Providers
www.brother.co.nz
If you're unsure if you are dealing with an authorised Brother staff member or service provider, get in touch with our team today. Police are aware that an email scam has re-emerged, that references Police and other justice sector partners.![]()
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The email claims authorities have done a search of the email recipientâs computer and located explicit illegal material.![]()
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The recipient is directed to reply within 48 hours or a warrant will be issued for their arrest.![]()
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This email is a scam and anyone who receives it should not reply under any circumstances.![]()
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Although some versions of the email do not specifically reference money, other similar scams involve the recipient being issued a âfineâ when they respond.![]()
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While the nature and specific details of scams often varies, itâs important to note that Police and other government agencies will never contact you out of the blue and ask for your password, credit card or bank details.![]()
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Police have received several reports of this scam and enquiries are underway.![]()
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Anyone who received this email scam is asked to send it as an attachment in an email to the Police Cybercrime Team: cybercrime@police.govt.nz ![]()
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Police recommend taking a cautious approach to unsolicited emails. ![]()
Trust your gut instinct - if it doesnât feel right, it probably isnât.![]()
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Information on other scams currently operating can be found on the Consumer Protection website: www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/general-help/scamwatch![]()
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Consumer Protection NZ, along with Netsafe, also provides helpful advice about keeping safe online.
With advancing technologies and an online world, more people in our communities are falling victim to online scams and cybercrime. ![]()
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To help our people protect themselves, Waikato Police alongside partner organisations are hosting an educational seminar on scams and cybercrime. ![]()
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Come along and hear from our local detectives, bank representatives and Netsafe about how to identify a scam, protect yourselves, and keep your assets and identity safe from sophisticated fraud. ![]()
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View the event details here - www.facebook.com/events/1244740489578863
âMum I dropped my phoneâ SMS scam targeting New Zealanders | CERT NZ
www.cert.govt.nz
A campaign of fake text messages, pretending to be family members trying to contact their parent or relative, claiming their phone has been damaged and they need money for a replacement. If in doubt, just delete it.Police are urging people to be wary of engaging with messages from unknown people, particularly if those people are offering you jobs or investment opportunities!![]()
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Weâre aware of cases recently where people have fallen victim to scammers after responding to job/investment offers received via LinkedIn, WhatsApp or Messenger.![]()
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Our advice? Delete the messages if they are from someone you donât know...if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!![]()
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Anyone who believes they are a victim of any crime, in person or online, should report the matter to their local Police.![]()
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Anyone who receives a similar text is asked to report it to Department of Internal Affairs here - www.dia.govt.nz/Spam-Report-Spam
đ¨SCAM ALERT UPDATEđ¨![]()
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Our Financial Crime team are continuing to see signs of significant SMS phishing campaigns still underway.![]()
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Text messages of a highly suspicious nature have been doing the rounds, claiming the recipient has unpaid tolls or taxes, or a tax refund owing. They may claim to be from NZTA, IRD or simply from the âNZ Govtâ. ![]()
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Another set of text messages, claiming to be from major banks, ask customers to click on a link in order to avoid their bank accounts from being permanently shut down due to âunusual activityâ. ![]()
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The links in these messages direct you to a site which can infect devices with malware or collect your personal details. This can lead to fraud and identity theft.![]()
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While these scams are not new, the volume of texts and the severity of the losses being seen sets it apart.![]()
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If you receive a text with a link, donât click it unless you are completely certain that both the sender and the link are legitimate.![]()
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Learn about the latest scams and how to stay safe on our website www.westpac.co.nz/safety-and-security ![]()
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If youâre unsure, check CERTâs tips on identifying phishing attempts: www.cert.govt.nz/.../commo.../text-message-scams/...![]()
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You can even have a look at IRDâs âLatest scamsâ page and learn how to identify a potential tax related scam: ![]()
www.ird.govt.nz/managing-my-tax/scams/latest-scams![]()
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If you receive one of these messages, you can report it to Westpac or the DIA.![]()
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Send the text message to phishing@westpac.co.nz and forward it to DIAâs TXT spam number on 7726.![]()
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The DIA will ask you for the senderâs number in a reply. ![]()
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The reports help DIA investigate the phishing campaigns and work with telecommunications companies to stop further messages.![]()
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For further information, see the DIA website: www.dia.govt.nz/Spam-Complain-About-TXT-Spam
Credit card scam text message campaign targets New Zealanders | CERT NZ
www.cert.govt.nz
A campaign of fake text messages, pretending to be from various companies, is targeting New Zealanders, with the goal of obtaining credit card details. Kings Computers will be closed from 12noon on 24th December 2022 and will reopen on 4th January 2023.![]()
Many thanks for all your business during the year, and we hope to see you all in 2023.
Just completed training on Konica Minolta A3 colour laser printers. Now I can service and repair Konica Minota models from the C227i through to the C650i. Earlier models can also be done subject to parts being available.
I was just talking to a customer about a variation of this where the friend/relative contacts you via Facebook messages. The problem is that it isn't a friend or relative at all, but just another scammer.![]()
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I recall years ago we were taught that paranoia wasn't a good thing. Nowadays it seems being paranoid is the only way to avoid scammers.
Not directly related to computers, but still very useful information.What are the warning signs of an investment scam? đŠ![]()
According to the Financial Markets Authority, there are some simple red flags to look out for when it comes to spotting an investment scam:![]()
⢠They call or email you âout of the blue". ![]()
⢠They offer high returns (big profits) with low or no risk of a loss![]()
⢠The offer is for a âselect fewâ or âlimited time![]()
⢠There are lots of âsecretsâ about the offer![]()
For more information about the warning signs to look for, visit: www.fma.govt.nz/investors/scams/
Kings Computers will be closed for Matariki weekend. Back on Monday 27 June.đđ
Facebook users targeted in massive phishing campaign
blog.malwarebytes.com
We take a look at a large-scale Facebook phishing operation, reputedly generating millions in ill-gotten gains.