RD3 Tech

Hi there, Ngunguru and Tutukaka community.

Continuing last week’s theme of Terrors of Tech…

This week: SCAMMERS! 👻

Scammers can be very convincing. They may pretend to be from your bank, Microsoft, your internet provider, a government department, or even a company you already deal with.

They can sound professional, friendly and genuinely concerned about helping you. But their real goal may be to get your money, personal information, passwords or access to your computer.

They may tell you that:

• There is something wrong with your computer when there isn’t.
• Your bank account or email account has been compromised.
• You need to make an urgent payment.
• You need to install software so they can “help” you.
• Your account will be closed if you don’t act immediately.

DON’T BE AFRAID AND DON’T LET THEM RUSH YOU!

If something doesn’t feel right, stop and check before doing anything.

A few simple rules:

• Check their credentials. Don’t assume someone is genuine just because they sound professional.
• Use official contact details. Find the organisation’s phone number yourself rather than using a number provided by the caller or in a suspicious message.
• Never install software because a stranger tells you to. Remote-access software can give someone control of your computer.
• Never give out passwords, security codes or banking information.
• Don’t click links in unexpected messages. Go directly to the official website or app instead.
• If in doubt, DON’T DO IT. Take a moment to check.

When dealing with your bank, always use the bank’s official website, app or contact number to check what you need to do. If someone contacts you unexpectedly and creates a sense of urgency, that’s a good reason to stop and verify it independently.

And remember, you don’t have to deal with it on your own.

If you’re unsure whether something you’ve received, been told or seen on your computer is legitimate, you can always ask a qualified technician to take a look before you do anything.

It’s much better to spend a few minutes checking than to spend weeks trying to recover from a scam.

More Terrors of Tech coming next week! 🎃

Call me with any of your technology problems or if you’re just not sure what to do next.

All the best to the community,
Tom
RD3 Tech

Hi there, Ngunguru and Tutukaka community.

Continuing from last week’s Halloween theme, this week it’s another Terror of Tech…

🐴 The Trojan Horse!

Just like the Trojan Horse from the old story, a Trojan is a type of malicious software that disguises itself as something legitimate or useful.

It might look like a program you want to install, a document you need to open, or even something harmless that has been sent to you in an email or message.

Once you’ve opened or installed it, however, the damage can begin.

The effects can range from annoying problems to serious security issues. A Trojan can potentially give an attacker access to your computer, steal information, install other malicious software, or provide a way for something much worse to get onto your system.

And sometimes the Trojan is simply the way in for another threat…

👻 More on ransomware next week!

So how do you avoid letting the Trojan Horse through the gate?

1. Run regular security scans. Keep your antivirus and security software up to date and make sure scans are running regularly.
2. Be careful with links and files. Don’t open unexpected attachments or click suspicious links just because they look legitimate.
3. Download software from trusted sources. Be especially careful with programs offered through pop-ups, unexpected emails or unfamiliar websites.
4. If you’re not sure, stop and check. It’s much easier to prevent a problem than to clean one up afterwards.

Remember, the Trojan Horse doesn’t always look dangerous. That’s what makes it dangerous.

More Terrors of Tech coming next week! 🎃

Call me with any of your technology problems or if you’re not sure what you’ve found on your computer.

All the best to the community,
Tom
RD3 Tech