What Trump’s tariffs mean for the cost of consumer tech in Australia
Trump’s tariffs, a unilateral 10% cost impost on all Australian imports (our exports), will only affect Australian-made exports to the USA.
Consumer Advice
NBN FTTN users – no responsibility for speed or reliability (consumer advice)
NBN FTTN (Fibre to the Node) no longer has government-imposed minimum speed or reliability guarantees. Time to go to FTTP if possible.
DarkBERT is the most malicious dark web AI. It’s coming after you (consumer advice)
DarkBERT is a dark web AI chatbot that is now the super evil, most malicious tool used by cybercriminals to take the world and us…
AI companion apps have a very dark side (Consumer advice)
AI Companion apps are the new lawless data-harvesting apps. They can have a hugely distressing dark side for emotionally dependent people.
AI chatbots spy on you (Consumer Advice)
AI Chatbots spy on you, collecting, analysing, and storing personal data, and many share that data with third parties. It is serious!
Urgent Warning: Samsung soundbar firmware update can brick it (Consumer Advice)
The latest Samsung soundbar firmware update can brick the device. Take urgent action now to protect the soundbar until a fix is found.
Planes and power banks – FAA/TSA rules enforced (Urgent update off-grid)
Planes and power banks – the 100Wh rule is now strictly enforced following a slew of Lithium-ion power bank recalls and fires.
Google Pixel 4a – update firmware now (Recall)
The Google Pixel 4a Model G025N received an OS upgrade to Android 13 on 8 January 2025. Some phones have experienced battery overheating.
Telstra fined $626K for spamming customers – fines a way of life for this Telco
Telstra fined $626K. Why? For spamming its and Belong customers with unsolicited and unwelcome texts without an unsubscribe option
Surveillance – here’s looking at you, kid (safety)
Surveillance is everywhere: on the street, in a cafe, on a bus, train, car, and even inside the sanctity of your home. Chillng.
Dark Patterns – how AI bends our minds online
Dark Patterns use AI and social engineering to manipulate and bend your mind when online. It strongly influences you to act differently.
Call centre call times are worst in Australia – an average of 1.8 hours (Consumer Advice)
Call Centre call times to get customer service have blown out to an average of 1.8 hours with strong adverse health and brand consequences.
Kaspersky antivirus/malware software banned by the Australian Government
The Australian Government has finally banned Kaspersky software after years of the Federal Opposition calling for its removal.
Telstra screwed 9000 Belong NBN customers – it does not pay to Belong
Telstra screwed 9000 Belong NBN customers. Will it ever learn that the customer is king and lift its game at the expense of profits?
TIO Complaints report Q4/2024 – the usual suspects let you down
The TIO Complaints Report Q4/2024 (Telecommunication Industry Ombudsman) it received 15,297 complaints. 75% from the main Telcos.
Do you need a VPN? (Virtual Private Network guide)
A VPN provides an extra level of protection against cyber criminals seeing what you type, see, and do on the internet.
Using Australian phones in America – very much hit and miss (smartphone)
Using Australian phones in America used to be easy. Get a local SIM at the airport. Not so much anymore, especially as 3G has ended.
Loyalty card wallet apps – convenient or thinly disguised data stealers (safety)
Loyalty card wallet apps have a dirty little secret. They market to you and can steal your data. Here are two safer ones.
Gen Q4/2024 Threat Report: Cyber Threats Surge
The Gen Q4/2024 Threat Report highlights a dramatic rise in cyber threats. From October to December, Gen™ blocked 2.55 billion threats—321 every second. The risk…
Faster nbn Fixed Wireless Upgrade – Now Available
The nbn Fixed Wireless upgrade is now complete, delivering faster and more reliable broadband to around 800,000 homes and businesses in regional and remote Australia.…
Android vital security information you need to know
Android vital security information you need to know concerns the impact of a raft of new Google Play security features, which aim to make Android…
China’s DeepSeek is not for Aussies (Consumer Advice)
China’s DeepSeek AI app wiped trillions off the US Share Market by releasing a new way to do AI—faster, cheaper, better. Or is it spyware?
Give TP-Link a break – No spyware for you (safety, opinion)
TP-Link is a victim of a well-orchestrated 'Chinese Whispers' campaign painting it as a villain intent on breaching OZ and US security.
Chinese hackers lurking in doorbells – a beat-up (Safety)
Chinese hackers lurking in doorbells Monday, January 20, in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph. It is a old beat-up regurgitated in slow news weeks.
