You have won a voucher !!!

Commonwealth of Australia site SCAMwatch is warning consumers not to respond to text messages which claim you have won a voucher, when in fact you are entering into an expensive mobile premium SMS service.

How this scams works

You may receive a text message from an unknown number congratulating you on winning a voucher from a competition you supposedly entered into. This scam uses (without authority) brand names and logos of well-known companies and products in order to make the prize look legitimate. The voucher is for a high dollar value, which makes it especially attractive. You will be provided with a code to enter into a website to claim your voucher. Once the code is entered the website link will redirect you to another website confirming your win. On the second website you will be requested to enter your mobile number. It has been reported that if you enter your number you may be subscribed to a mobile premium service (mps). Mps can be activated by typing your mobile phone number into a website resulting in you receiving an expensive phone bill you didn’t expect. Similar scams are perpetrated via email with links to online scam surveys.

Protect yourself

Never give your mobile phone details in response to an unsolicited SMS. Never enter your mobile phone number into a website unless you are certain that the website is genuine. Never enter details into a website which you visited by clicking on a link in an SMS. Never respond “Ok” or in the affirmative to SMS messages you receive out of the blue and have no knowledge of. Responding to these messages could subscribe you to further expensive competition and prize alerts. If in doubt about the authenticity of an SMS, always contact the business or service provider to verify that the request is genuine. Never rely on contact details provided in an SMS. Instead, find genuine contact details independently from an authentic source. Be very wary when filling in online surveys. Scammers commonly use these surveys to steal your valuable personal information.

Report

You can report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page on SCAMwatch [ http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/tag/reportascam/ ] or by calling 1300 795 995.

More information

Visit the Australian Communication and Media Authority’s mobile premium services http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311207 – information for consumers web page.

Stay one step ahead of scammers, follow @SCAMwatch_gov on Twitter or visit http://twitter.com/#!/SCAMwatch_gov

JB Hi Fi have also issued a warning about this type of scam via their twitter account http://twitter.com/JBHiFi/statuses/215558178123956224

Ninite

There are loads of small apps you have to install when you get a new PC, or reformat your old one, including your favorite browser, chat software, and various utilities. With Ninite, you can install them all in one click and save yourself hours of tedium.

Go to the Ninite website [  http://ninite.com/  ], choose your favorites by clicking checkboxes, and then download your own customized installer that places all those software picks on your new machine.

What to choose from this load of freebies? Might we suggest Dropbox, the easiest file synchronizer in the world? In addition to that, all the usual suspects are there, including Adobe Flash, Thunderbird, Firefox, Skype, Security Essentials and even iTunes. Out of 81 choices, there’s bound to be a few in there you’ll need. One click and you’re done.

By the way, Ninite’s install routine doesn’t surreptitiously add any of those pesky toolbars or any other junkware. Try it out — you’ll love it.

Use Ctrl+Shift+Esc instead of Alt+Ctrl+Del to quickly bring up Windows Task Manager

I first learned about the joys of Alt+Ctrl+Del while watching my otherwise computer illiterate dad restart a frozen Windows 98 desktop. Ever since then I have been relying on Alt+Ctrl+Del to bring up Windows Task Manager, which allows me to fix issues like frozen programs. However, Alt+Ctrl+Del for Windows Task Manager is a legacy shortcut. On newer computers, depending on what version of Windows you are using - e.g. Vista and Win7 - and/or the way you have Windows configured (e.g. multiple Windows users), Alt+Ctrl+Del doesn't directly bring up Windows Task Manager but rather brings up the Windows Security screen from where users can launch Task Manager.
If you don't mind having to go through an extra step to get Task Manager, then by all means continue to use Alt+Ctrl+Del. However, if you are an impatient little cretin like me, then the most efficient way from point A to point B is a straight line; or, in this case, a different keyboard shortcut.
Instead of using Alt+Ctrl+Del to access Windows Task Manager, press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys on your keyboard to directly access Windows Task Manager. Unlike Alt+Ctrl+Del, Ctrl+Shift+Esc does not bring up the Windows Security screen but rather directly opens Windows Task Manager. Pretty cool, huh? Now all we need to do is break old habits...
http://dottech.org/ask-dottechies/26385/ask-dottechies-favorite-windows-tips-or-tricks/comment-page-1/#comment-305086

infected with DNSChanger?

Am I infected?
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), CERT Australia http://www.dns-ok.gov.au and the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) have established a diagnostic website at dns-ok.gov.au that, in most cases, can be used to confirm whether your computer has been infected with DNSChanger. This website also provides links to tools, provided by anti-malware companies, that can be used to remove the infection and gives advice about the steps to follow to remove the infection.

Avoid CNET Download.com’s ad-supported installer by using the Direct Download Link

Last year CNET started bundling an "ad-supported stub installer" with downloads on Download.com. This installer was CNET's way to bring Ask Toolbar-like crapware bundles to CNET downloads. The installer wasn't added to all downloads on Download.com but was added to enough downloads for people to take notice and come up in arms. Back then the only ways to avoid installing crapware courtesy CNET was to either
•Be very careful when downloading files from CNET, making sure to avoid installing crapware offered by the CNET installer;
•Create a CNET account, login to that account whenever downloading something, and using a direct download link;
•Or not using Download.com altogether.

While I'm sure many people opted for option number three, there are still times some people download from Download.com (sometimes we have no option except to use Download.com because some developers only put their files on Download.com). For those of us that still use Download.com, you will be relieved to know Download.com now clearly marks downloads that have the CNET ad-supported stub installer as "CNET Installer Enabled"; and Download.com now allows everyone to download via a Direct Download Link that bypasses the CNET installer -- you no longer need a CNET account for a direct download. So the next time you venture to Download.com, keep your eyes open for a direct download link when downloading software that come with CNET installer.
Stay safe everyone.

calibre 0.8.35

Is your e-book collection is a disorganised mess of different formats and competing viewers? It doesn't have to be that way. Calibre is an e-book management tool that will quickly bring order to the situation, and help you get more from the format, and (if you have one) your portable e-book reader.

The process starts by letting the program organise your e-books library. Point calibre at your files and it'll quickly (and almost automatically) build a database around your collection, downloading metadata like covers for extra visual appeal. You can then sort and search your books by title, author, date published, rating, custom tags and more, making it quick and easy to find whatever you need.

Calibre can then display your book, too (as long as it's not DRM-protected), with an integrated viewer that handles all the main formats and supports features like table of contents, CSS, printing, searching, embedded fonts and more.

http://downloads.pcauthority.com.au/article/4386-calibre

AirDroid for your Android Phone.

AirDroid is a fast, free app that lets you wirelessly manage & control your Android device from a web browser Over-The-Air.
This is the best wifi phone management software that exists on the market. I'll definitely be using this application for quite some time to come - being able to use a keyboard to send texts to people is going to be nice. Best part is it's FREE.

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.sand.airdroid&hl=en