Discover your options for getting a service and repairs for Apple devices that are past their warranty period. Owners of iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac or Apple TV products may get a service and parts from Apple service providers, including Apple Retail Stores and Independent Repair Providers, for a minimum of 5 years from when Apple last distributed the product for sale. Service and parts may be obtained for longer, as required by law, or for up to 7 years, subject to parts availability. Additionally, Mac notebooks may be eligible for an extended battery-only repair period for up to 10 years from when the product was last distributed for sale, subject to parts availability. Apple discontinues hardware service for certain technologically-obsolete products. Your device is supported by ongoing OS updates and backed by a network of more than 5,000 Apple-certified repair locations that you can count on if something unexpected happens. Apple and the environment Apple devices are designed to be long-lasting. They are made of durable materials that are heavily tested in our Reliability Testing Lab. The longer you use your device, the better it is for the planet. For more information about Apple and the environment, go to https://www.apple.com/au/environment. About vintage products Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. For products purchased in France, see Statutory Warranties of Seller and Spare Parts.Owners of new iPhone or Mac notebook products purchased after 31 December 2020 in France may obtain service and parts from Apple or Apple service providers for 7 years from the date the product model was last supplied by Apple for distribution into France. Find out which products are vintage an repair mac service options Mac iPod iPhone iPad Beats Apple Watch About apple obsolete products that can be repaired by nerdcore computers Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago. Monster-branded Beats products are considered obsolete regardless of when they were purchased. Apple discontinues all hardware services for obsolete products, with the sole exception of Mac notebooks that are eligible for an additional battery-only repair period. Service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products. Find out which products are obsolete: Mac iPod iPhone iPad Beats Mac products vintage worldwide Mac notebooks MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) repairs MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2014) repairs MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014) repairs MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013) repairs MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013) repairs MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014) repairs MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014) repairs Mac desktops repairs iMac (21.5-inch, Early 2013) repairs iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013) repairs iMac (27-inch, Late 2013) repairs iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2014) repairs iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) repairs iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Mid 2015) repairs Mac Pro (Mid 2012) repairs Peripherals AirPort Express 802.11n (1st generation) Apple Thunderbolt Display (27-inch) Apple LED Cinema Display (27-inch) Mac products obsolete worldwide Mac notebooks iBook iBook (800 MHz 32 VRAM) iBook (900 MHz 32 VRAM) iBook (14.1 LCD) iBook (14.1 LCD 900 MHz 32VRAM) iBook (14.1 LCD 16 VRAM) iBook (14.1 LCD 32 VRAM) iBook (16 VRAM) iBook (Opaque 16 VRAM) iBook (32 VRAM) iBook Special Edition (FireWire) iBook (Dual USB) iBook (FireWire) iBook (Late 2001) iBook G4 [original] iBook G4 (Early 2004) iBook G4 (12-inch, Late 2004) iBook G4 (14-inch) iBook G4 (14-inch, Early 2004) iBook G4 (14-inch, Late 2004) iBook G4 (12-inch, Mid 2005) iBook G4 (14-inch, Mid 2005) MacBook (13-inch) MacBook (13-inch, Late 2006) MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2007) MacBook (13-inch, Late 2007) MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008) MacBook (13-inch, Late 2008) MacBook (13-inch, Aluminium, Late 2008) MacBook (13-inch, Early 2009) MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2009) MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009) MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2010) MacBook Air [original] repairs MacBook Air (Late 2008) repairs MacBook Air (Mid 2009) repairs MacBook Air (11-inch, Late 2010) repairs MacBook Air (13-inch, Late 2010) repairs MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2011) repairs MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2011) repairs MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2012) repairs MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012) repairs MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2013) repairs MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013) repairs MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010) repairs MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011) repairs MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011) repairs MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011) repairs MacBook Pro [original] repairs MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) repairs MacBook Pro (15-inch, Glossy) repairs MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53GHz, Mid 2009) repairs MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) repairs MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.4/2.2GHz) repairs MacBook Pro (15-inch, Core 2 Duo) repairs MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008) repairs MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) repairs MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) repairs MacBook Pro (17-inch) repairs MacBook Pro (17-inch, Core 2 Duo) repairs MacBook Pro (17-inch, 2.4GHz) repairs MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008) repairs MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2008) repairs MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) repairs MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009) repairs MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010) repairs MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2011) repairs MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011) repairs MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2011) repairs MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012) repairs MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2012) repairs MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012) repairs PowerBook 100 to PowerBook 540c (all models) PowerBook 1400 (all models) PowerBook 2400 to 5300cs (all models) PowerBook Duo Dock (all models) PowerBook Duo (all models) PowerBook (FireWire) PowerBook G3 PowerBook G3 (Bronze Keyboard) PowerBook G3 Series PowerBook G4 PowerBook G4 (DVI) PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) PowerBook G4 (1GHz/867MHz) PowerBook G4 (12-inch) PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.33Ghz) PowerBook G4 (12-inch DVI) PowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.5/1.33Ghz) PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.67/1.5Ghz) PowerBook G4 (15-inch, FW800) PowerBook G4 (17-inch) PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.33Ghz) PowerBook G4 (17-inch, 1.5Ghz) PowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.67/1.5Ghz) PowerBook G4 (17-inch, 1.67Ghz) PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5Ghz) PowerBook G4 (15-inch, Double-Layer SD) PowerBook G4 (17-inch, Double-Layer SD) Mac desktops Apple I Apple II (all models) Apple III Apple Network Server (all models) Apple Workgroup Server (all models) eMac [original] eMac (ATI Graphics) eMac (USB 2.0) eMac (2005) iMac 233 MHz iMac 266/333 MHz iMac 350 MHz iMac G5 (17-inch) iMac G5 ALS (17-inch) iMac G5 (20-inch) iMac G5 ALS (20-inch) iMac 400 MHz DV iMac 400 MHz DV (Special Edition) iMac (Flat Panel) iMac (17-inch, Flat Panel) iMac (17-inch Flat Panel, 1GHz) iMac (Summer 2000) iMac (Summer 2000) DV iMac (Summer 2000) DV Special Edition iMac (Summer 2001) iMac (Early 2001) iMac (Flat Panel 2003) iMac (USB 2.0) iMac G5 (17-inch, iSight) iMac (17-inch, Early 2006) iMac (17-inch, Mid 2006) iMac (17-inch, Late 2006) iMac (17-inch, Late 2006 CD) iMac (20-inch, Early 2006) iMac (20-inch, Late 2006) iMac (20-inch, Mid 2007) iMac (20-inch, Early 2008) iMac (20-inch, Early 2009) iMac (20-inch, Mid 2009) iMac (21.5-inch) iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010) iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011) iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2011) iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012) iMac (24-inch) iMac (24-inch, Mid 2007) iMac (24-inch, Early 2008) iMac (24-inch, Early 2009) iMac (27-inch, Late 2009) iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010) iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011) iMac (27-inch, Late 2012) iMac G5 (20-inch, iSight) Lisa Lisa 2 Mac mini [original] Mac mini (Late 2005) Mac mini (Early 2006) Mac mini (Late 2006) Mac mini (Mid 2007) Mac mini (Early 2009) Mac mini (Late 2009) Mac mini (Mid 2010) Mac mini Server (Mid 2010) Mac mini (Mid 2011) Mac mini Server (Mid 2011) Mac mini (Late 2012) Mac mini Server (Late 2012) Mac Pro Mac Pro (Early 2008) Mac Pro (Early 2009) Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Macintosh 128K/512K/512Ke Macintosh Centris (all models) Macintosh Classic; Macintosh Classic II Macintosh Colour Classic/Colour Classic II Macintosh II (all models) Macintosh LC (all models) Macintosh Plus Macintosh Portable Macintosh Quadra (all models) Macintosh Quadra/Centris (all models) Macintosh SE (all models) Macintosh Server G3 Macintosh Server G3 (Blue and White) Macintosh Server G4 (Digital Audio) Macintosh Server G4 (QuickSilver) Macintosh Server G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors) Macintosh Server G4 (AGP Graphics) Macintosh Server G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) Macintosh Server G4 (QuickSilver 2002) Macintosh XL Performa (all models) Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics) Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio) Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver) Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver 2002) Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver 2002ED) Power Mac G4 (FW 800) Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors) Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Door 2003) Power Mac G4 Cube Power Mac G5 [original] Power Mac G5 (June 2004) Power Mac G5 (Late 2004) Power Mac G5 (Early 2005) Power Mac G5 (Late 2005) Power Macintosh 4400 to 9600 (all models) Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White) Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh Xserve [original] Xserve (Cluster Node) Xserve G5 Xserve G5 (January 2005) Xserve RAID Xserve RAID (SFP) Xserve RAID (SFP Late 2004) Xserve (Slot Load) Xserve (Late 2006) Xserve (Early 2008) Xserve (Early 2009) Peripherals 1.44 Apple SuperDrive/HDI-20 Disk Drive Airport Base Station (Graphite) Airport Base Station (Dual Ethernet) Airport Card AirPort Express [original] Airport Extreme Base Station (Early 2003) AirPort Extreme 802.11n (1st generation) AirPort Extreme 802.11n (2nd generation) AirPort Extreme 802.11n (3rd generation) AirPort Extreme 802.11n (4th generation) AirPort Extreme 802.11n (5th Gen) Airport Extreme [original] Apple 3.5 Drive; Apple PC 5.25 Drive Apple Basic Color Monitor Apple Battery Charger Apple CD Products (all models) Apple Cinema Display (original) Apple Cinema Display ADC Apple Cinema Display (20-inch) Apple Cinema Display (20-inch DVI) Apple Cinema Display (23-inch DVI) Apple Cinema Display (20-inch DVI, Late 2005) Apple Cinema Display (20-inch DVI, Early 2007) Apple Cinema Display (23-inch DVI, Late 2005) Apple Cinema Display (23-inch DVI, Early 2007) Apple Cinema Display (30-inch DVI) Apple Cinema Display (30-inch DVI, Late 2005) Apple Cinema Display (30-inch DVI, Early 2007) Apple Cinema HD Display (23-inch) Apple Cinema HD Display (30-inch) Apple Desktop Bus Keyboard Apple High-Res Monochrome Monitor Apple LED Cinema Display (24-inch) Apple Macintosh Portrait Display Apple Monochrome Monitor Apple Multiple Scan Display (all models) Apple OneScanner; Apple Color OneScanner Apple Personal Modem Apple Data Modem (all models) Apple QuickTake (all models) Apple Standard Keyboards (all models) Apple Studio Display 15-inch (all models) Apple Studio Display 15 ADC Apple Studio Display 17 Apple Studio Display 17 ADC Apple Studio Display 17 LCD Apple Studio Display 21 Apple TV (1st generation) Apple TV (2nd generation) Apple TV (3rd generation) AppleColor Monitor (all models) AppleVision Displays (all models) Color StyleWriter (all models) ColorMonitor II (all models) ColorSynch Display (all models) DDS-DC 4mm Tape Drive Disk II; Disk III DuoDisk Tape Backup 40SC eMate 300 Extended Keyboards (all models) External Hard Drive SC External SCSI Hard Drive GeoPort ImageWriter (all models) iSight LaserWriter Pro (all models) LaserWriter; LaserWriter II (all models) Macintosh Disk Drive MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch) MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch) Monitor II (all models) Newton MessagePad (all models) Performa/Performa Plus (all models) Personal LaserWriter (all models) StyleWriter (all models) Time Capsule 802.11n (1st generation) Time Capsule 802.11n (2nd generation) Time Capsule 802.11n (3rd generation) Time Capsule 802.11n (4th Gen) Two Page Monochrome Monitor UniDisk (all models) iPod products vintage worldwide iPod nano (7th generation, Late 2012) iPod shuffle (4th generation, Late 2012) iPod touch (4th generation) iPod touch (5th generation) HT204217: Identify your iPod model iPod products obsolete worldwide iPod (5th generation) iPod (5th generation, Late 2006) iPod (Click Wheel) iPod (Dock Connector) iPod (Scroll Wheel) iPod (Touch Wheel) iPod classic (80 GB and 160 GB, 2007) iPod classic (120 GB) iPod classic (160 GB) iPod Hi-Fi iPod with colour display iPod mini iPod nano (2nd generation) iPod nano (3rd generation) iPod nano (4th generation) iPod nano (6th generation) iPod touch (4th generation) iPod touch (5th generation, 16 GB, Mid 2013) HT204217: Identify your iPod model iPod nano (5th generation) 8 GB, 16 GB iPod photo iPod photo (Early 2005) iPod shuffle iPod shuffle (2nd generation) iPod shuffle (2nd generation, Late 2007) iPod shuffle (2nd generation, Late 2008) iPod shuffle (3rd generation) iPod shuffle (4th generation) iPod Special Edition U2 iPod touch iPod touch (2nd generation, 2008) iPod touch (2nd generation, 2009) iPod touch (2nd generation) 8 GB iPod touch (3rd generation) 32 GB, 64 GB iPhone products vintage worldwide iPhone 4 (8 GB) iPhone 4s iPhone 5 iPhone 5c iPhone 6 Plus HT201296: Identify your iPhone model iPhone products obsolete worldwide iPhone iPhone 3G (China mainland) 8 GB iPhone 3G 8 GB, 16 GB iPhone 3GS (China mainland) 16 GB, 32 GB iPhone 3GS (8 GB) iPhone 3GS 16 GB, 32 GB iPhone 4 CDMA iPhone 4 CDMA (8 GB) iPhone 4 16 GB, 32 GB iPhone 4 GSM (8GB), Black iPhone 4s (8 GB) HT201296: Identify your iPhone model iPad products vintage worldwide iPad Air Wi-Fi iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad Air WiFi + Cellular (TD LTE) iPad mini Wi-Fi iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular (MM) iPad mini Wi-Fi, 16GB, Grey iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular, 16GB, Gray iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular, MM, 16GB, Gray iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi + Cellular (TD-LTE) iPad Wi-Fi + 4G, CDMA iPad Wi-Fi + 4G, GSM HT201471: Identify your iPad model iPad products obsolete worldwide iPad (4th generation) Wi-Fi iPad (4th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad (4th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular (MM) iPad [original] iPad 3G iPad (3rd generation) Wi-Fi iPad (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular (VZ) iPad Wi-Fi iPad Wi-Fi + 3G iPad Wi-Fi + 4G iPad Wi-Fi + 4G (Verizon) iPad 2 Wi-Fi iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G (Verizon) HT201471: Identify your iPad model Beats products vintage in the US and obsolete in the rest of the world Beatbox Portable (2nd generation) Executive Mixr 1 Pill 2.0 Powerbeats (1st generation) Powerbeats 2 Powerbeats Wireless 2 Solo HD Solo2 Wireless Studio (2nd generation) Tour (2nd generation) Tour 2.5 Wireless (1.5) Beats products obsolete worldwide Beats products Beatbox Portable (1st generation) Beatbox Portable (3rd generation) Beatbox Portable 2 Pill 1.0 Monster-branded products Beatbox Diddybeats Heartbeats (1st generation) Heartbeats (2nd generation) Heartbeats (2nd generation), black Heartbeats (2nd generation), white iBeats Mixr, black Mixr, white Powerbeats (1st generation), black Powerbeats (1st generation), red Powerbeats (1st generation), white Pro, black Pro, Detox Pro, white Solo (1st generation), black Solo (1st generation), white Solo (1st generation), HTC white Solo HD, black Solo HD, black-gold Solo HD, purple Solo HD, red Solo HD, white Solo HD, Yao Ming Studio (1st generation) Studio (1st generation), Red Sox Studio (1st generation), black Studio (1st generation), blue Studio (1st generation), green Studio (1st generation), orange Studio (1st generation), pink Studio (1st generation), purple Studio (1st generation), red Studio (1st generation), Red Sox Studio (1st generation), silver Studio (1st generation), white Tour (1st generation) Tour (1st generation), black Tour (1st generation), white urbeats (1st generation), black urBeats (1st generation), matt white Wireless (1.5), black Wireless (1.5), white Wireless (1st generation)

Our computers services are now available in over 200 suburbs in perth western australia. So many happy people in Perth western australia that call nerdcore computers everyday to have computer repaired. The process is very simple. We have refined the service in 4 easy steps without having to complicate you final decision. Here is a list of suburbs we have 2 computer technicians available to help you. Computer Repairs in over 200 Suburb across perth western australia Alexander Heights Wanneroo Alfred Cove Melville Alkimos Wanneroo Anketell Kwinana Applecross Melville Ardross Melville Armadale Armadale Ascot Belmont Ashby Wanneroo Ashendon Armadale Ashfield Bassendean Attadale Melville Atwell Cockburn Aubin Grove Cockburn Aveley Swan Bailup Mundaring Balcatta Stirling Baldivis Rockingham Balga Stirling Ballajura Swan Banjup Cockburn Banksia Grove Wanneroo Baskerville Swan Bassendean Bassendean Bateman Melville Bayswater Bayswater Beaconsfield Fremantle Beckenham Gosnells Bedford Bayswater Bedfordale Armadale Beechboro Swan Beechina Mundaring Beeliar Cockburn Beldon Joondalup Belhus Swan Bellevue Mundaring Swan Belmont Belmont Bentley Canning Victoria Park Bennett Springs Swan Bertram Kwinana Bibra Lake Cockburn Bickley Kalamunda Bicton Melville Booragoon Melville Boya Mundaring Brabham Swan Brentwood Melville Brigadoon Swan Brookdale Armadale Bull Creek Melville Bullsbrook Swan Burns Beach Joondalup Burswood Victoria Park Bushmead Swan Butler Wanneroo Byford Serpentine-Jarrahdale Calista Kwinana Camillo Armadale Canning Mills Kalamunda Canning Vale Canning Gosnells Cannington Canning Carabooda Wanneroo Cardup Serpentine-Jarrahdale Carine Stirling Carlisle Victoria Park Carmel Kalamunda Carramar Wanneroo Casuarina Kwinana Caversham Swan Champion Lakes Armadale Chidlow Mundaring Churchlands Stirling City Beach Cambridge Claremont Claremont Cottesloe Clarkson Wanneroo Cloverdale Belmont Cockburn Central Cockburn Como South Perth Connolly Joondalup Coogee Cockburn Coolbellup Cockburn Coolbinia Stirling Cooloongup Rockingham Cottesloe Cottesloe Craigie Joondalup Crawley Perth Cullacabardee Swan Currambine Joondalup Daglish Subiaco Dalkeith Nedlands Darch Wanneroo Darling Downs Serpentine-Jarrahdale Darlington Mundaring Dayton Swan Dianella Stirling Doubleview Stirling Duncraig Joondalup East Cannington Canning East Fremantle East Fremantle East Perth Perth Vincent East Rockingham Rockingham East Victoria Park Victoria Park Eden Hill Bassendean Edgewater Joondalup Eglinton Wanneroo Ellenbrook Swan Embleton Bayswater Ferndale Canning Floreat Cambridge Nedlands Forrestdale Armadale Forrestfield Kalamunda Fremantle Fremantle Gidgegannup Swan Girrawheen Wanneroo Glen Forrest Mundaring Glendalough Stirling Gnangara Wanneroo Golden Bay Rockingham Gooseberry Hill Kalamunda Gorrie Mundaring Gosnells Gosnells Greenmount Mundaring Greenwood Joondalup Guildford Swan Gwelup Stirling Hacketts Gully Kalamunda Hamersley Stirling Hamilton Hill Cockburn Hammond Park Cockburn Harrisdale Armadale Haynes Armadale Hazelmere Swan Heathridge Joondalup Helena Valley Mundaring Henderson Cockburn Henley Brook Swan Herdsman Stirling Herne Hill Swan High Wycombe Kalamunda Highgate Vincent Hilbert Armadale Hillarys Joondalup Hillman Rockingham Hilton Fremantle Hocking Wanneroo Hope Valley Kwinana Hopeland Serpentine-Jarrahdale Hovea Mundaring Huntingdale Gosnells Garden Island Rockingham Iluka Joondalup Inglewood Stirling Innaloo Stirling Jandabup Wanneroo Jandakot Cockburn Jane Brook Swan Jarrahdale Serpentine-Jarrahdale Jindalee Wanneroo Jolimont Cambridge Subiaco Joondalup Joondalup Joondanna Stirling Kalamunda Kalamunda Kallaroo Joondalup Karawara South Perth Kardinya Melville Karnup Rockingham Karragullen Armadale Karrakatta Nedlands Karrakup Serpentine-Jarrahdale Karrinyup Stirling Kelmscott Armadale Kensington South Perth Victoria Park Kenwick Gosnells Keralup Murray Rockingham Kewdale Belmont Kalamunda Keysbrook Serpentine-Jarrahdale Kiara Swan Kingsley Joondalup Kinross Joondalup Koondoola Wanneroo Koongamia Swan Kwinana Beach Kwinana Kwinana Town Centre Kwinana Lake Coogee Cockburn Landsdale Wanneroo Langford Gosnells Lathlain Victoria Park Leda Kwinana Leederville Vincent Leeming Canning Cockburn Melville Lesmurdie Kalamunda Lexia Swan Lockridge Swan Lynwood Canning Maddington Gosnells Madeley Wanneroo Mahogany Creek Mundaring Maida Vale Kalamunda Malaga Swan Mandogalup Kwinana Manning South Perth Marangaroo Wanneroo Mardella Serpentine-Jarrahdale Mariginiup Wanneroo Marmion Joondalup Martin Gosnells Maylands Bayswater Medina Kwinana Melaleuca Swan Melville Melville Menora Stirling Merriwa Wanneroo Middle Swan Swan Midland Swan Midvale Mundaring Swan Millendon Swan Mindarie Wanneroo Mirrabooka Stirling Morley Bayswater Mosman Park Mosman Park Mount Claremont Cambridge Nedlands Mount Hawthorn Vincent Mount Helena Mundaring Mount Lawley Bayswater Stirling Vincent Mount Nasura Armadale Mount Pleasant Melville Mount Richon Armadale Mullaloo Joondalup Mundaring Mundaring Mundijong Serpentine-Jarrahdale Munster Cockburn Murdoch Melville Myaree Melville Naval Base Kwinana Nedlands Nedlands Subiaco Neerabup Wanneroo Nollamara Stirling Noranda Bayswater North Beach Stirling North Coogee Cockburn North Fremantle Fremantle North Lake Cockburn North Perth Vincent Northbridge Perth Nowergup Wanneroo Oakford Serpentine-Jarrahdale Ocean Reef Joondalup O'Connor Fremantle Oldbury Serpentine-Jarrahdale Orange Grove Gosnells Orelia Kwinana Osborne Park Stirling Padbury Joondalup Palmyra Melville Parkerville Mundaring Parkwood Canning Parmelia Kwinana Paulls Valley Kalamunda Pearsall Wanneroo Peppermint Grove Peppermint Grove Peron Rockingham Perth Perth Vincent Perth Airport Belmont Swan Piara Waters Armadale Pickering Brook Kalamunda Piesse Brook Kalamunda Pinjar Wanneroo Port Kennedy Rockingham Postans Kwinana Queens Park Canning Quinns Rocks Wanneroo Red Hill Swan Redcliffe Belmont Reservoir Kalamunda Ridgewood Wanneroo Riverton Canning Rivervale Belmont Rockingham Rockingham Roleystone Armadale Rottnest Island Cockburn Rossmoyne Canning Safety Bay Rockingham Salter Point South Perth Samson Fremantle Sawyers Valley Mundaring Scarborough Stirling Secret Harbour Rockingham Serpentine Serpentine-Jarrahdale Seville Grove Armadale Shelley Canning Shenton Park Nedlands Subiaco Shoalwater Rockingham Sinagra Wanneroo Singleton Rockingham Sorrento Joondalup South Fremantle Fremantle South Guildford Swan South Lake Cockburn South Perth South Perth Southern River Gosnells Spearwood Cockburn St James Canning Victoria Park Stirling Stirling Stoneville Mundaring Stratton Swan Subiaco Cambridge Subiaco Success Cockburn Swan View Mundaring Swan Swanbourne Claremont Nedlands Tamala Park Wanneroo Tapping Wanneroo The Lakes Mundaring The Spectacles Kwinana The Vines Swan Thornlie Gosnells Treeby Cockburn Trigg Stirling Tuart Hill Stirling Two Rocks Wanneroo Upper Swan Swan Victoria Park Victoria Park Viveash Swan Waikiki Rockingham Walliston Kalamunda Wandi Kwinana Wangara Wanneroo Wanneroo Wanneroo Warnbro Rockingham Warwick Joondalup Waterford South Perth Watermans Bay Stirling Wattle Grove Kalamunda Wattleup Cockburn Wellard Kwinana Welshpool Canning Victoria Park Wembley Downs Cambridge Stirling Wembley Cambridge Stirling West Leederville Cambridge West Perth Perth Vincent West Swan Swan Westminster Stirling Whitby Serpentine-Jarrahdale White Gum Valley Fremantle Whiteman Swan Willagee Melville Willetton Canning Wilson Canning Winthrop Melville Woodbridge Swan Woodlands Stirling Woodvale Joondalup Wanneroo Wooroloo Mundaring Wungong Armadale Yanchep Wanneroo Yangebup Cockburn Yokine Stirling Follow these easy Steps 1 -2- 3- 4 to get the right service an quote for your business. First step: Identify what you think is happening with your computer. Second Step: When you get through to our help people have some information to give them first, you will need the make the exact model an provide them with the current exact problem that you can see. There is no need to go through the whole process of having to spend 1 week trying to identify a method for someone to even look at the computer an then provide a detailed report which is really not required for such a simple diagnosis of a laptop or computer not turning on. Its not rocket science. After all we have been doing this work for 20 + years so our sound knowledge is better now that it ever was. The sound knowledge only comes from years of experience an guessing what the most common problems are with laptop an desktop computers. Already you have saved your self a whole week booking it into a computer repair shop an then having to wait days for a report. What a joke that is. Third step once a conversation has taken place between you an our technical experts they will give you a fixed price quote to repair your computer. This will either include parts or it want include parts. Obviously there are different levels of computers an each one is more expensive than the other one. But for a fixed price quote you can decide on the spot if that is in your budget to have your computer repaired. Its a very simple an easy decision making this whole process easy an fun. No one wants to spend a whole month just trying to find out what a very basic issue is. That's why nerdcore computers is the best choice for repairs. an the last final step is to decide if you want to go ahead with the repair service. Its that simple. Thats why we have so many positive feedback an people choose a simple solution rather than a difficult one. Computer repairs near perth Western Australia What Computer Repair services does Nerdcore computers service centre offer in Perth City  An Surrounding Suburbs, Computer Repairs Near Perth ​ Quality Onsite Laptop Repairs across Perth Western Australia Whatever the tech challenge, we've got you covered 7 days a week 24 hours any where in Australia. We know when you’re computer breaks, you need it fixed quickly. That’s why we have same day service at no extra cost. Our qualified computer technicians come to your home or office, meaning faster repairs and greater extended hours convenience. Our technicians provide friendly service and advice in plain English with no technical jargon & always fixed price quotes means you get to decide if its in your budget & no surprises. If you stuck at work an you cant call now leave us a enquiry online. For the process to go smoothly try to gather as much information regarding your computer models, serial numbers, makes an fill out the form to the right. If you can provide us with accurate information we will ensure ordering the right parts an organizing installation will be accurately completed. Some Reasons Why you should use Nerdcore Cyber Threat Protection. You can count on Nerdcore for Cyber Security Protection in your Business. Nerdcore is Australia’s leading provider of on-site and remote business IT support for small and medium-sized businesses. So, there probably isn’t a business tech problem we haven’t seen and solved before. Whether it’s hardware and software repairs, network security solutions, data backups and recovery, or helping you set up and connect a new device, we’re there for you every step of the way. Or complete our form today to set up an appointment with a computer repair technician. Our friendly, expert Nerds will get you back up and running as quickly as possible with our business computer help. Which means you can forget about tech and concentrate on managing and growing your business. They’ll even uncomplicate the complicated to give you the knowledge to deal with future issues. Why all Aussie businesses call us first Local, dedicated call centre and computer technicians all over Australia. If you need a nerd, we’ll come to you, or often, we can solve it over the phone for a quick fix. On call 7 days a week to get you back up and running as quickly as possible. Evenings, weekends and same day services are available if needed. We’ve helped over 20,000 across Australia. And have more happy customers than any other tech support business. Nerdcore can help to keep your sensitive business information secure, with a business IT health check that will identify any potential risks your business might face. Flexible business IT support options 1-hour service option If you don’t see yourself needing ongoing tech support, you can also call Nerdcore for help, one hour at a time. Our computer technicians can provide both on-site or remote services in perth and will help you get to the bottom of whatever tech issues are troubling your business. Same-day and weekend service is available for when you need help urgently – and if we don’t solve your tech issue, you don’t pay. ​ Find out more about the Nerdcore Guarantee here. Pre-paid business support packages tailored around your Business IT requirements Nerdcore can also help businesses who require frequent IT support, but don’t want to be locked into a yearly plan. Our pre-paid business support packages are the perfect option for businesses with upcoming IT projects or who often need an expert technician to troubleshoot tech issues when the problem occurs. Learn more about pre-paid business support packages here. What services do Nerdcore provide? The Nerds are here to help you, from removing viruses to setting up wireless networks and printers. In fact, we guarantee that we can find a solution to your problem, or you don’t pay – it’s simple. There are plenty of IT support services that Nerdcore can assist with, including: Hard drive upgrades, email recovery and network set ups - Hardware - Firewall - Security Applications and program installation (Updates - Patches - Software Licenses - Bug Fixes Hardware and network upgrades Remote IT support (Workstations & Network) Proxy Solutions Complete Network setup installation an NAS Solutions, troubleshooting and repairs Ongoing maintenance break fix support Desktop, laptop, Apple Mac & Business Server troubleshooting, services and support Data and disaster recovery services including off-site clean room/forensic data recovery facilities Data backup and recovery Software Support, Migrations upgrades & advice Internet Security, mail-server and virus/malware protection and removal File Server Maintenance & install as well as Troubleshooting - Exchange Server Setups Virus protection and removal CAD workstations setup Cloud Computing Migration - Microsoft Office 365 setup Complete Computer repairs Internet setup Drone Pilot Services & Repairs - Photography - Aerial Captures - Agriculture Spraying Crop Drones ​ ​​ ​​ Popular Services Desktop Computer Repairs Data Recovery Prices in Perth across Western Australia New Computers For Sale In Perth across Western Australia Virus & Malware Removal In Perth across Western Australia Small Business IT Solutions In Perth across Western Australia Gaming / CAD Workstations In Perth across Western Australia Remote Desktop Support In Perth across Western Australia File Server Maintenance In Perth across Western Australia Networking & Internet Security In Perth across Western Australia Data Backup & File Security In Perth across Western Australia IT Audit Equipment IN across Western Australia ☎ 1300 637 326 Laptop Repairs in perth across Western Australia Author Nerdcore Computers

The PC doctor computer repairs, the pc doc technicians.There are many reason why The PC doc computer repairs gets its name from providing the best computer repairs services an offering the best deals. Why do computer teachers never get sick? Because an apple a day keeps the doctor away. 5 Best Reasons why you should use The PC doc computer for laptop Repairs an for accurate diagnosis of your equipment. Guaranteed Fixed Price Repairs Experienced Australia wide Engineers Swift service Response Competitively Priced Parts Inclusive Annual Maintenance Agreement The PC doctor computer repairs, the pc doc technicians PC doc computer & laptop Service Centre Australia and customer support- Expertise You Can Trust Upon Nerdcore Computer Laptops & Desktops is amongst those brands that cannot be ignored when we look for electronic gadgets. Nerdcore laptops are built for high level of performance. Being empowered and equipped with all the required features, this brand is bit expensive in comparison to others available in the market. The PC doc computer & laptop repair centre also offers services for all the computer brands which you might have a high end gaming laptop or desktop produced by either Dell, Hp, lenovo, Asus, MSI, Gigabite. Our PC doc computer technicians and engineers have experience in fixing and repairing all the computer hardware an software products. We offer same day quick and reliable repair services to the consumers, commercial and corporate clients. The PC doc computer & Laptop Repairs in Australia is the answer to all your computer troubles and questions. Our PC doc computer technicians and engineers are experienced and skilled in repairing the device without letting you go anywhere. They are capable of resolving all the types of software and hardware issues from your Computer or Laptop, Computer, Notebook,Tablet etc. From failed hard drives to virus removal, we offer all the fixing services. We also provide No Fix, No Fee guarantee for all the services we are providing as we are confident enough of our repairing services. In case, if our technicians and engineers are unable to find and fix the error in your device, then we won’t be charging a single penny from you. Call the PC Doc Repair Service team is just a call away. (03 86897974) ​ The user can contact and reach our team through different modes. We are available at your service via phone support where the technicians and engineers will guide you step by step. The other way is via online remote assistance. If we are unable to fix issue with these methods then our technicians will visit your place and fix the malfunctioned device. We also provide pick and drop service and return the fixed laptop within 24 hours. What all computer & Laptop issues are resolved at our repair centre? The PC Doc Laptop Repair team believes in delivering reliable and dependable services to the Computer Manufactures. We will fix the device irrespective of your preference for onsite consultation at your place or conducting repair remotely. Following are the some of the issues that are fixed and resolved at our centre: Check out some of the other products nerdcore computers sell the new 13th gen core i9. Its the most powerful cpu the PC doc uses for building gaming computers. Click Here The PC Doc Hard drive upgrades The PC Doc Notebook running slowly The PC Doc Data recovery The PC Doc Line or blotches on LCD screen The PC Doc Software upgrades The PC Doc System will not boot from hard drive The PC Doc Bottom case damage The PC Doc Battery unable to charge The PC Doc Memory upgrades The PC Doc Fan is not working properly The PC Doc Virus removal The PC Doc Overheating issue The PC Doc Faulty keyboards The PC Doc Video graphics not in good condition The PC Doc Liquid damage repairs The PC Doc Plugged in not charging fault The PC Doc CD or DVD drive is not functioning The PC Doc Appearance of Blue screens The PC Doc Graphics card failure The PC Doc Broken hinge repair The PC Doc DC power jack is not working The PC Doc Antivirus related issues The PC Doc Motherboard needs repairing or replacement The PC Doc Laptop is not booting The PC Doc System unable to turn on The PC Doc Abruptly shutting down The PC Doc Cracked LCD screen The PC Doc Unclear LCD display Why The PC Doc Repair Australia Services over other service providers- Our Pc doc technicians and engineers will diagnose the issue and error. After detecting the issue, our team will inform you about the charges applicable for fixing the error. Afterwards, our Pc doc technicians will connect with you and tell you how long it is going to take in resolving the error. Once you accept the services, our experts will help you in solving the issue and fix the device. The PC Doc Computer Repair Centre is at your service in one single call computer & laptop Repair anywere in Australia and we are catering for all the repair requirements and providing all the needed services. And because of the experienced and skilled pc doc technicians, we are able to make our mark in your local suburbs. Our pc doctors can fix and repair all the dysfunctional devices. Drop a call at The PC Doc PC/Desktop Repair Centre Here is the best phone Number 1300637326 and our technicians will quickly come at your service. Author Nerdcore Computers

The PC-3000 SSD Software System operates in tandem with one of the three up-to-date hardware platforms – PC-3000 Portable III, PC-3000 Express, or PC-3000 UDMA – and it is intended for SSD repair and diagnosis and for data recovery from SSDs with SATA, PATA, mSATA, M.2, PCIe (NVMe/AHCI), PCIe x16, Apple Macbook interfaces and the capacity from 32 GB to 2 TB produced by different manufacturers, such as OCZ, Corsair, Crucial, RunCore, A-DATA, G.Skill, Micron, Plextor, Intel, Samsung, Seagate, SanDisk, Kingston, and others. The list of the latest supported SSD models is available on our blog. The PC-3000 SSD Delivery Package Delivery kit: the System’s software, the resource database – 1 Flash drive User manual – 1 book The PC-3000 SSD Delivery Packages for data recovery: verify and restore the SSD’s service information read and write the content of the SSD’s ROM load the microcode into the drive’s RAM emulate the translator operation in order to get access to user data view the password and reset the password that was earlier set on an SSD (bypass the ATA security) turn off background processes in an SSD to prevent data damage provide direct access to the content of memory chips (it makes unsoldering unnecessary) work with the Data Extractor for SSD repair (to recover normal operation): diagnose an SSD in factory (technological) mode verify and restore the SSD’s service information read and write the content of the SSD’s ROM load the microcode into the drive’s RAM view the logs of hidden defects (P-page, G-page) 0 perform low-level formatting to hide the discovered defects change the configuration and identification parameters reset the logs and S.M.A.R.T. parameters search for the damaged memory chips The PC-3000 SSD contains a set of specialized utilities for working with solid-state drives. This set includes the Universal Utility for diagnosing any SSD based on the ATA-8 specification (both currently existing models and those that will be manufactured in future) and the Active Utilities (Special Utilities) intended for working with a particular drive model in factory mode. It enables to deeply diagnose SSDs, to perform service operations, to re-write the drive’s microcode, to get direct access to memory chips, to carry out low-level formatting blocking the damaged cells and placing their addresses into the defect table, and to perform many other useful operations. The list of Active Utilities of the PC-3000 SSD System is expanded as soon as new SSD models are studied, and it is a continuous process. Those utilities that are currently available allow you to successfully recover data from all contemporary solid-state drives and to resolve the majority of wide-spread SSD problems. Special adapters and connectors for the PC-3000 Portable / Express / UDMA have been added in order to use technological interfaces to diagnose and repair drives. Breakthrough: M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD Support With the PC-3000 Portable III Systems, you are now able to recover data not only from SATA-based SSDs but also from the NVMe ones! The special universal M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD/M.2 SATA SSD adapter included in the delivery kit helps you to diagnose the condition of a drive and extract evidence from healthy and damaged NVMe SSDs. More utilities for different vendors will appear with future updates! Delivery package options for the System: The PC-3000 SSD System can be operated via the PC-3000 Express, PC-3000 UDMA-E, or PC-3000 Portable controllers,so there are several delivery options: Quick Online Access to the PC-3000 SSD There is no need to wait until the PC-3000 SSD is shipped when you have an urgent SSD recovery case from your important customer. The PC-3000 SSD software can be available immediately at the day of the payment. Since the payment is done you will find the following in the Customer Update Box: the System’s software the resource database User manual Here are the supported ssd drives this package can do. PC-3000 SSD Systems. The List of Supported SSDs (regularly updated Hello friends! The ACE Lab developers constantly research drives, which results in a rapid expansion of the Support List for most of the modern SSDs. So with the PC-3000 Systems that support Solid State Drives, you will always be on the cutting edge of data recovery technology! The PC-3000 SSD/Ultimate Systems contain one of the following software add-ons: ► PC-3000 SSD (for the PC-3000 Express/UDMA System, software ver.7.0.x) ► PC-3000 SSD Extended (for the PC-3000 Portable III System, software ver.7.0.x) The PC-3000 SSD Extended is the new software add-on that supports the widest range of SSD types: SATA, mSATA, M.2 SATA, M.2 PCIe NVMe/АHCI, PCIe x16, Apple Macbook, LIF, ZIF, PATA. The PCIe drives are connected via the special adapters from ACE Lab: MacBookPro A1706/A1708 (2016/2017) PCIe SSD The current version of the PC-3000 SSD/PC-3000 SSD Extended software is 3.0.3. When recovering data from Solid State drives you should keep in mind the following: ► You can recover data only if there are no issues with the hardware of an SSD. The CPU, NAND memory chips, and PCB should be in good condition. This means that, when you power on the SSD, the ATA registers should display a status. The drives might be in the BSY state, or they might return the wrong capacity / ID, but they should give a response. ► The PC-3000 SSD/PC-3000 SSD Extended software add-on supports the combination of the Firmware (Manufacturer) and the controller (CPU). Some manufacturers use the same controllers with a different Firmware, with different technological commands so that such drives might be unsupported. E.g. fully supported Marvell 88SS9174 controllers are used in the Micron, Plextor, and Crucial drives, that all have similar FW. But some of the Lite-on SSDs based on the same 88SS9174 CPU are not supported because their firmware microprogram is completely rewritten by the Lite-on company. At the same time, modern families of Silicon Motion and Phison drives have the default SM22xx and PS31xx platforms which are very similar. So, if you get any drive based on the PS3111 controller, it would also be supported, even if such a model is not present in the Support List. ► Our developers are working hard on adding primarily the most popular drives to the Support List. However, the popularity of the devices may vary depending on the region. Some drives that might be common for your region may be very rare in others. Feel free to contact our Technical Support if you wish to take part in the process and have the means to provide some donor parts for the research. ► If you have an SSD with the File System issues, deleted info, or missed files that is not in the Support List, you can still use your PC-3000 System (with the Data Extractor software) to access data! The PC-3000 SSD/PC-3000 SSD Extended software add-ons are used only for the cases when SSDs have serious issues with internal firmware, translator tables, and other logical issues! M.2 interface difference – PCIe NVMe M.2 and SATA M.2 ► NVMe M.2 supported only by PC-3000 Portable III tool! ► SATA M.2 supported by PC-3000 UDMA-E, Express and Portable III. The list of supported drives grouped by Utilities: FamilyModelPCIe SSDs supported by the PC-3000 Portable III SystemsNVMe Silicon Motion Family: SM2260 SM2263XT SM2262ENG HPH8068 ADATA XPG SX7000VIDEO!HP EX900Lexar NM600Patriot HellfireRadeon R5Transcend MTE110SZion NFP03 (NeoForza)NVMe Phison Family: PS5007 PS5008 PS5013 Apacer A52280P2Gigabyte GSM2NE8Kingston A1000Kingston KC1000LiteON MU XPatriot Hellfire M2Patriot Scorch M2Smartbuy M8 Smartbuy E13T Apacer PP3480 Dexp L3 Novation 3D + many other PS5007, PS5008 and PS5013-based SSDsNVMe Marvell Family: 88SS1093 Plextor M9Pe WD Black G1 AM6671 / LENSE20xxxMSP34MEAT2TA AM6672 / LENSE30xxxMSP34MEAT3TA SATA SSDs supported by the PC-3000 Portable III Systems,PC-3000 Express Systems,PC-3000 UDMA SystemsSilicon Motion family: SM2246XT P3XV60 SM2236G SM2246EN SM2256K SM2258G SM2258XT SM2259XT CS4341AA(SM2258XT) H6008 G(SM2258XT) ARTICLE! ADATA SP550ADATA SU650 (SM2258XT)ADATA SU800 (SM2258G) VIDEO!AMD Radeon R3 (SM2256K)Apacer AS350 PantherAMD Radeon R5CFast Lexar Professional 3400 (SM2246XT) CFast AV Pro CFast Card (SM2246EN) Corsair Force LXCrucial BX100Crucial BX500 (SM2258XT)KingDian S200Kingston SA400S37 (CS4341AA = SM2258XT)KingSpec PA25 (SM2236G)Lite On LCH-256V2S-11ARTICLE!Patriot P200Plextor M6VPlextor S2CPNY CS1111RevuAhn 850XRevuAhn 900T PRORevuAhn 885Sandisk SSD Plus (SM2246XT)Silicon Power Slim S55 (SM2258XT)KingSpec MT-128 (SM2258XT)Silicon Power S55 (SM2259XT)Transcend TS256GSSD360S (P3XV60 =SM2246XT) Smartbuy Jolt WD Green (SM2258XT) KingSpec P3 (SM2259XT) KingSpec MT-128 (SM2258XT) + many other drives based on SM2246EN/XT (except for the Intel modifications which are not supported!) and SM2258XT Phison family: PS3105 PS3108 PS3109 PS3110 PS3111 TC58NC1000 TC58NC101068B CP33238B AS2258 Transcend 02-3010 ARTICLE! Corsair Force LSVIDEO!Corsair NovaCrucial V4GOODRAM CX100GOODRAM CX300GOODRAM S400UKingston A400Kingston HyperX SavageKingston SMSM15S3Kingston SSDNow KC400Kingston SSDNow UV300Lite-On MU3OCZ (Toshiba) Trion 100OCZ (Toshiba) Trion 150 Toshiba TR200 Patriot BlastPatriot BlazePatriot SparkQUMO Novation 3D (AS2258)Seagate Fast SSDSeagate One Touch SSDSilicon Power Slim S55 (PS3109)Silicon Power Slim S55 (PS3111)Silicon Power Slim S60Smartbuy FirestoneSmartbuy Ignition 2Smartbuy Ignition 4Smartbuy RevivalSmartbuy Revival 2Smartbuy S11TSmartbuy S9MToshiba Q300+ many other drives based on PS3105/PS3108/PS3109/PS3110/ PS3111/Toshiba TC58NC1000/Kingston CP33238B CPU! Marvell family: 88SS9174 88SS9187 88SS9189 88SS9190 88SS1074 ARTICLE! Crucial C300Crucial C400Crucial M4Crucial M500 Partial support!*Crucial M550 Partial support!*Crucial MX100 Partial support!*Crucial MX200 Partial support!*Intel 510 Partial support!*Micron C300Micron C400Plextor M3 Pro Partial support!*Plextor M3 Partial support!*Plextor M5 Pro Extreme Partial support!*Plextor M5 Pro Partial support!*Plextor M5S Partial support!*Sandisk Genesis Partial support!*Sandisk SSD Plus (88SS1074 MOD) ARTICLE!Full support!**Sandisk Ultra IIARTICLE!Full support!**Sandisk Ultra Plus Partial support!*Sandisk Vulcan Partial support!*Sandisk X110 (M.2 2260) Partial support!*Sandisk X300 Partial support!*WD BlueARTICLE!Full support!***Except for the BSY state drives **For Marvell 88SS1074 the Terminal 3 adapter is required! Samsung family: S3C29MAX01 S3C29RBB01 S4LJ204X01 S4LN021X01 S4LN045X01 S4LN054X02 ARTICLE! Samsung 470 S3C29MAX01-Y340 CPU based (including Apple models)Samsung 830 S4LJ204X01-Y040 CPU based (including Apple models)Samsung 840 S4LN021X01-8030 CPU basedSamsung 840 EvoARTICLE! S4LN045X01-8030 CPU based (including mSATA)Samsung 840 Pro S4LN021X01-8030 CPU basedSamsung 850 Pro S4LN045X01-8030 CPU basedSamsung CM871 S4LN054X02-Y030 CPU basedSamsung MLC S3C29RBB01-YK40 CPU basedSamsung PM810 S3C29MAX01-Y340 CPU based (mSATA version of 470)Samsung PM830 S4LJ204X01-Y040 CPU basedSamsung PM840 S4LN021X01-8030 CPU basedSamsung PM841 S4LN021X01-8030 CPU basedSamsung PM851ARTICLE! S4LN045X01-8030 CPU based (including mSATA) Indilinx Barefoot family: IDX110M00 IDX110M01 IDX110M02 ARTICLE! Corsair Extreme seriesCrucial M225OCZ Solid 2 seriesOCZ Vertex 1+ all other drives based on IDX1xXX CPU!OCZ Barefoot 3 family: IDX500Mxx ARTICLE! AMD Radeon R7OCZ ARC 100OCZ Vector VIDEO!OCZ Vector 150OCZ Vector 180OCZ Vector 480OCZ Vertex 450OCZ Vertex 460OCZ Vertex 460AIntel family: PC29AS21AA0 ARTICLE! Intel 320Intel 710Intel X18Intel X25 List of Apple devices you also can find right here. P.S. We get a lot of questions about the SandForce SSDs. These drives have a very complex internal structure with full hardware encryption of all logical structures. This means that such drives completely encrypt all data in Firmware and in the NAND memory chips. If you try to unsolder the NAND Flash chips from a SandForce-based SSD, you will find that all information is completely encrypted with the AES-256 key. There is no way of getting data from such SSDs at the moment, but we continue our research. Here you may find the model list of the SandForce SF CPU-based SSDs.

Are you looking for cheap computer repairs? Most places charge by the hour – We charge by the job! Nercdcore computers knows that your computer is a HUGE part of your life.  We know that being without your computer is a huge inconvenience!   That’s why we strive to repair your computer correctly and returned to you as soon as possible! Most Repairs are done within 3 days. We repair all makes and models of desktop and laptop computers.  This includes Apple/Mac/iMac We have over 20 years of experience repairing and upgrading desktop and laptop computers. computer repairs melbourne average cost $400.00 Common Hardware Issues: $350.00 Broken or Dim Laptop Screen $ 600.00 Broken or non-working keyboard (this includes missing keys) Broken motherboad or AC adaptor port on the motherboard Battery won’t charge on the computer anymore USB ports do not work on your computer Laptop will not connect to the network or internet using network cable or wireless network Cosmetic issues including broken plastics and broken touchpad buttons Computer will not turn on average cost $ 450 Computer will not boot to Operating System Average cost $400 Hardware error messages and blue screens Computer overheating and fan problems Hardware replacement for ANY parts (extra fees will incur for new parts) Common Software Issues: Slow or sluggish inside Operating System Malware removal including Viruses, Spyware, and Rootkits Operating System Error Messages including Blue Screens Programs are not working properly Computer will not connect to the internet or network Drivers are not loading correctly Computer isn’t updating like it should Operating System Reinstall Nerdcore computers service centre is Australia's quickest turn-around computer repair shop period.  Please check out our reviews on Google, Yelp, KSL and Facebook.  Its not easy to maintain a 1000s of 5-Star review in this business! Home It support | business it support | File data recovery | Computer repairs company Australia |Computer support | Hp service centre | dell service centre | Lenovo service centre

Computer repairs Gold Coast | Queensland History of Nerdcore Computers in brisbane For over 25 years, Nerdcore has been The trusted source for IT support across Gold Coast region. ​ Computer repairs Gold Coast | Queensland Early History: IT support Gold Coast Queensland for Architects and Engineers Nerdcore was founded in 2001. In the early years, most of our clients were architectural and engineering firms in Gold Coast Queensland. In those days, it wasn’t easy to buy a CAD workstation. You couldn’t just go online, and custom configure a PC with a high-end graphics card and enough RAM to run leading edge CAD software. Nerdcore built a thriving business around providing specialized computer hardware sales, network configuration, and support. Our “Microstation” CAD workstations set the standard for performance and reliability. ​ Growing Expertise, Expanding Influence As time went on, Nerdcore assembled an unrivaled pool of talent. Word spread about the technical insight and exemplary service provided by Nerdcore staff members. Before long we became the leading IT support Gold Coast Brisbane provider in the South for IT businesses, retail, manufacturing, legal, financial services, health care, non-profit orgs, educational institutions and much more. As our consulting business grew, we eventually phased out of selling hardware and software. ​ We Transformed Our Approach to Better Serve YOU Typically, IT support providers subscribe to one of two philosophies: 1) managed services or 2) break fix. Nerdcore Computers Managed services providers offer pre-packaged IT support for businesses in Gold Coast Queenslanders Our customer-focused approach to delivering IT support Gold Coast has proven to be wildly successful. It has resulted in tens of thousands of happy computer users at hundreds of businesses, and a decade (and going) of consistent double-digit year over year growth for Nerdcore Computers in Queensland Gold Coast ​ Regional Powerhouse with a Global Reach, at Your Service Today, Nerdcore is a regional powerhouse right across Gold Coast Queensland! Our team is smart, fast, and vast. Our clients’ operations span the globe. We leverage our comparatively large size to deliver response times, service levels, and a depth of expertise that other firms can’t match. In every task, our goal is to ensure that Nerdcore clients feel happy, productive, and supported in their use of technology.

Onsite Computer Repairs Richmond 3121 What Computer Repair services does Nerdcore computers service centre offer in Richmond 3121? We offer a complete Onsite pc Repair service across Richmond an Hawthorn, Cremorne, Burnley. ​ More Information Do you require IT business solutions for critical emergency computer repairs failures in Richmond 3121 we can offer you or your business a better rate than any it provider with our Fixed Flat Rate for repair on onsite laptop repairs Richmond an that is 7 days 24 hours any platform. Our certified techs have over 20 years of experience. When our company builds File servers to run a business or company we take into consideration 3 major factors which delivers the results our customers pay for. We are Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) We are the people who have done the courses and read the manuals. ​ Modem, Router Connectivity Setup ​ High Speed Internet Nbn/Broadband and VPN Setup We know service providers well we have worked with all the top Internet providers in our area, and will recommend the best Internet Service Provider solution for you, sized according to the needs, of your business and not what some sales guy tells you that you have to have. ​ Business Computer Network Services ​ Network design and construction from any one of our techs who has over 10 years experience in design install an service will be a breeze for them. The time to plan your computer network installation is before you start construction. Or, at least, before we lay the foundation. Most people are beyond that point with an existing network infrastructure, or one needing to be extended. We will look at your situation and recommend the best option for installing or designing your network backbone. ​ New Computer Hardware Setups ​ Server Configuration and On-site PC Repair Richmond ​ We recommend one, and only one computer hardware manufacturer. Dell Computer Corporation provides the most reliable, easy to maintain computers and servers on the market today. Their warranty protection and customer service are second to none. Nerdcore has been fixing computer hardware almost since the time personal computers were introduced into the small business environment. We can fix most any computer or server hardware issue, and if our onsite computer nerds can't, we sure to have someone who will know. We will first begin by evaluating your current infrastructure and collect information for our network gurus to enhance and keep a steady and smooth network for you. Trouble Shooting ​ When it comes to troubleshooting we can also provide you with the right technical expert to troubleshoot the problem on the spot. With a complete team of experts rest assured we can either recommend you a new solution to achieve your technical requirement or resolve your current issue with our experience were sure to resolve the issue fast professionally with no down time at all and of course provide a full report describing what has caused the issue. Most issues are caused because of low maintenance or neglect to administer the current network protocols. Some areas were experienced at are - ​ Complete New Office Network Setup Home Or Business POS Systems Onsite Laptop repairs Onsite Macbook Pro repairs Onsite  Apple mac repairs & service Onsite Imac Repairs Onsite Fast Pc Fix Onsite Printer Networking Configuration Onsite Specific Hard Ware Installation/Setup/Tutorial Onsite Virus Protection Setup/Licensing Onsite  Data Recovery/Protection & Storage Setup Onsite Setup Wireless Connections Onsite  New Modem Installation/ Adsl + Adsl2+ Vdsl + Nbn + Dial up Onsite Tcp/ip Conflict and access issues  Onsite  Vpn + Port Forwarding Onsite Voice over Ip setup and Troubleshooting Onsite Spamming Email Control and Ip Blocking of annoying daily emails Onsite  Computer repairs for specific server platforms ​ ​ You can focus on running your business. We can make it run smoothly. ​ Our Flat-Rate repair fee will cover any hardware or software issue for Computer Repairs Richmond Nerdcore Computers Service Centre in both Melbourne & Victoria.  We are located in 3b Willesden Road Hughesdale Victoria, 3166 Don’t hesitate to give us a call or text if you have any questions! 1300637326 Enjoy 99.9% less unexpected issues We keep a careful eye on your systems, picking up threats before they happen so you DON'T get interrupted. We get to the bottom of every problem We know band-aid solutions never work, that's why we're dedicated to finding & eliminating problems at the core. Strategic IT Planning and Development We make sure your technology stays relevant to your business helping to implement YOUR ideas and vision! Work with the same people every time We're a team of close knit experts who get to know your business, your people and your systems inside out. Unlimited IT Support for one fixed fee Get complete access to all your IT needs including remote support, onsite support, proactive fixes and so much more! Fast Emergency Response Guaranteed We know when you need IT Support, you need it fast - so we guarantee 30 minutes or less response times. Onsite computer repairs richmond victoria 3121

Outlook Calendar Sync - Google calendar sync with outlook Most people like to be and feel organized. One of the best ways to achieve this is through proper planning. This is where the best organization tools come in handy. The Outlook Calendar is a powerful tool that really helps you to manage your time effectively. With the ability to sync with other calendars, you can keep track of all your meetings and deadlines in one place. This blog post will discuss the basics of using the Outlook Calendar function and how to sync it with your other calendars. What Is the Outlook Calendar? The Outlook Calendar is a planning tool that is part of the Microsoft Office suite. It helps users keep track of their appointments, events, and tasks. You can use it as a standalone calendar or sync it with others. How You Can Use the Outlook Calendar There are many ways you can use the Outlook Calendar. For instance, you can use it to keep track of your appointments and events. But besides that, you can also sync it with other calendars, such as Google Calendar or Apple Calendar. The Outlook Calendar also allows you to share it with others, and they can also sync their calendars with you. This is especially useful if you have a team that you want to keep on the same page. Outlook Calendar Sync - Google calendar sync with outlook How to Set Up Your Outlook Calendar Setting up your outlook calendar is straightforward. The first thing you need to do is sync your calendar with Outlook. To do this, open the sync settings in Outlook and select the checkboxes next to the sync options you want to enable. Next, open the calendar in Outlook and click on the “Add Calendar” button. Select the “From Internet” option and enter the URL of the calendar you want to sync with. Make sure to select the correct sync option from the drop-down menu. Finally, click the “Add” button to complete the process. Your calendar should now be synced with Outlook, and you can start using it to manage your schedule. How Do You Sync an Outlook Calendar? If you want to sync your Outlook calendar with another application, such as Google Calendar, you will need to follow these steps: Open the Outlook Calendar. Click on the “Tools” tab, and then select “Options.” Click on the “Calendar Options” button. Select the “Sync Calendars” option. Click the “Add” button, and select the application you want to sync with. Click on the “OK” button. Select the sync options, and then click on the “Synchronize Now” button. This will sync your outlook calendar with the selected application. And if you want to do an Outlook Calendar Sync with multiple applications, you can follow the same steps for each one. How to Sync an Outlook Calendar with Mobile Devices You can also sync your Outlook Calendar with mobile devices such as iPhones and Android phones. To do this, you will need to follow these steps: Open the Outlook Calendar. Click on the “Tools” tab and select the “Account Settings” option. Click on the “Add” button and select the “Exchange ActiveSync” option. Enter the required information, such as the account name, email address, and password. Click on the “OK” button. Click on the “Save” button. These useful sync functions will allow you to easily access your calendar on the go using whichever mobile device you prefer and ensure you’re never double-booked! How to Keep Your Outlook Calendar Next to Your Email You can also sync your Outlook Calendar with your email for easy reference. To do this, open your Outlook Calendar and click on the “File” tab. Next, click the “Account Settings” button and select the “Account Settings” option from the drop-down menu. Finally, click the “Change Folder” button next to your email account. Select the folder you would like your Outlook Calendar to sync with. Select the “Sync Subfolders” option to sync all of your calendar events! Benefits of Using Outlook Calendar Using an Outlook calendar has many benefits, some of these include; Privacy You can use your Outlook Calendar for your work teams, but you could also use the personal planning feature. If you opt to do so, the Outlook Calendar has a privacy setting that will ensure that only you will have access to your personal events and appointments. Versatility Outlook Calendar is very versatile and can be used for many purposes. For example, you can use it to sync your work schedule with your private schedule, or you can use it to share events and appointments with others. Ease of Use Outlook Calendar is also very easy to use. Once you have synced your calendar with Outlook, you can easily add, edit, and delete events and appointments. You can also set reminders for upcoming events so that you don’t forget about them. Accessibility Another great benefit of using an Outlook Calendar is that it is accessible from anywhere. You can easily access your calendar at home or work from your computer, phone, or tablet. This means that you can always stay up-to-date with your schedule, even if you are away from your desk. Shortcomings of Outlook Calendar Like many planning tools, Outlook Calendar has a few shortcomings. For example, you can’t directly sync your Outlook Calendar with Google Calendar. You also can’t share your calendar with others unless you give them access to your entire account. Finally, if you want to use Outlook Calendar on your mobile device, you’ll need to download a separate app. Despite these drawbacks, Outlook Calendar is still a helpful tool for managing your schedule. Summary Outlook Calendar is a powerful tool to help you manage your time and stay organized. In this post, we’ve shown you how to use Outlook Calendar to its full potential. We’ve also provided some helpful tips on how to sync your calendar with other devices and programs.  Now, it’s up to you to put these tips into practice and start using Outlook Calendar to make your life easier.  When you do, the chances are that you will appreciate the features of this great application and wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. Author Nerdcore Computers

This forth coming christmas nedcore computers is giving a family the chance to experience a day on Melbourne port phillip. The day will be completely about sailing with our The nerdcore Sailing yacht. Our team will take you an your family out on the water an show you a great time sailing for a few hours. How to enter - email us your details at helpdesk@nerdcore.com.au an include the names of up to 5 family members. How many adults an how many children. Include if you have had any experience sailing. How many people can swim. Or if anyone in your family has a health condition. We will let you know which family has been chosen for this event. This is a family event that is being conducted by our sailing captain Nick Veloutsos. With many years of sailing he has the experience for you to feel safe an enjoy some time sailing around Melbourne beaches. The day we select to go out for a sail will be very calm weather an safe. The total sailing time will be half the day at 5 hours. The location is in Mount Martha so we will provide you with instructions on how to get to the boat. So we hope to see you. Last year we gave away a 12 th generation gaming desktop to a family - The total value of the system was 3 thousand dollars. Every year we like to surprise one lucky family. This year it could be you. Apply within. Author # Nerdcore Computers

Dear Customers, Come by office for a Greek Frappe before we leave for Greece. Its been a pleasure to help Thousands of Businesses, Families, Friends, an working users over the last 20 years. The time is near were our team is heading overseas to Athens Greece for a vacation, seminar with our Athens Pangkrati office again . Our company started in Athens in 2020 an i have to attend to the guys over there. But From the 18th May you might not find me at the office in Hughesdale. But rest assured our staff can help you at 3b Willesden Road Hughesdale. Our staff would more than happy to help with any issues. From File server Maintenance or onsite computer repairs for businesses. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause to your business. We thrilled to announce that our team has had an amazing start to 2023 year an we hope to see you all when i return from my Vacation. We will still have staff on the ground at the office in Melbourne. I look forward to seeing you at your place or ours. You can still ask for help or request an engineer to help you at your business. Were passionate about technology an we look forward to doing more business with your staff when we return. Any business computer repairs please fill in the quick quotes section on our webpage or shoot us an email at helpdesk@nerdcore.com.au. Please leave a message if you require urgent assistance at you home or business a technician will contact you within 15 minutes . Thank you for your support - Nick Veloutsos Owner Check out some of our other Guest post which you can find some useful information about any computer breakdowns that require a professional engineer to care for your computers an bring them back to life. Computer Repairs Melbourne Computer Repairs Sydney Computer Repairs Hobart Computer Repairs Brisbane Computer repairs Perth Computer Repairs Darwin Author Nerdcore Computers Service Centre.

What's New in Autodesk - AutoCAD 2024 Autodesk AutoCAD 2024 is out with a focus on Accelerating Creativity, Tailored Functionality and a Connected Design Experience. Accelerating Creativity Focus on quickly creating and collaborating on innovative solutions using assistive machine learning technology to improve design workflows. The performance enhancements in AutoCAD 2024 really stand out—both with how fast it opens and the speed of switching between models and view ports. It’s much faster than any previous versions. Activity Insights Bridge information gaps in collaborative AutoCAD workflows and stay connected to essential data throughout project lifecycles My Insights Macro Advisor & Dashboard Provides valuable information to you at the right time and in the right context to assist with steps that you can automate. Count & Blocks Palette Counting blocks is now up to 70% faster and reusing design content with blocks is up to 47% faster. Smart Blocks: Placement and Replacement Automatically place blocks in your drawing based on where you’ve inserted the same ones thus far, reducing the number of clicks and saving you valuable time in the process. Quickly find the blocks you need with machine learning powered functionality, delivering powerful time-saving automations. Smart Blocks: Placement and Replacement Automatically place blocks in your drawing based on where you’ve inserted the same ones thus far, reducing the number of clicks and saving you valuable time in the process. Quickly find the blocks you need with machine learning powered functionality, delivering powerful time-saving automations. Tailored Functionality Organisations can customise AutoCAD for their industries, empowering teams to build and run discipline-specific routines and workflows. ACAD for Mac – M series chip Added support for Apple Silicon increased AutoCAD for Mac’s overall performance by 2x* Connected Design Experience Autodesk creates an ecosystem of industry-leading design software and technology partners. Web AutoLISP APIs AutoLISP, a staple feature of AutoCAD desktop, now enables customisations to automate a sequence of commands in AutoCAD on the web Markup Import & Markup Assist Faster cross-platform markup workflows through expanded machine learning capabilities & essential experience improvements Markup Import & Markup Assist Faster cross-platform markup workflows through expanded machine learning capabilities & essential experience improvements Migrating Custom Settings The CUI, tool palettes, and templates have undergone enhancements to facilitate the transfer of customised files and locations. To utilise personalized configurations: Access the Autodesk AutoCAD folder drop-down list from the Windows Start menu. Choose Migrate From a Previous Release. In the resulting Migrate Custom Settings dialog box, specify the release you wish to migrate from. Select the customized settings you want to transfer to the latest release. Trace Updates Enhancements to the Trace environment continue, with the introduction of the COPY FROM TRACE command and additional settings controls on the toolbar. Tab Improvements The Start, File and Layout Tabs have been improved. Autodesk Docs Improvements The following improvements have been made to Autodesk Docs: Improved support and performance when viewing large files on Autodesk Docs. Improved Desktop Connector resulting in improved performance displaying a drawing in the Start tab and opening a drawing from Autodesk Docs. Improved navigation on the Start tab for drawings stored on Autodesk Docs Autodesk Docs Improvements The following improvements have been made to Autodesk Docs: Improved support and performance when viewing large files on Autodesk Docs. Improved Desktop Connector resulting in improved performance displaying a drawing in the Start tab and opening a drawing from Autodesk Docs. Improved navigation on the Start tab for drawings stored on Autodesk Docs What's New in Specialised Toolsets AutoCAD Architecture and MEP 2024 AEC3DPRINT With AEC3DPRINT command, you can natively export the AEC objects to an STL file format that’s compatible with 3D printing without converting to 3D solids. AutoCAD Mechanical 2024 ANSI/ASME Standard Revision Update The section line symbol within AutoCAD Mechanical is updated to support the AWS Y14.3 – 2012 standard revision. To support AWS Y14.3 – 2012, all aspects of the section line symbol are revised to correspond with AWS Y14.3 – 2012. AutoCAD Mechanical continues to support the AWS Y14.3 – 2003 standard revision to allow documents created in previous releases to be opened, edited, and saved without updating the section line symbol standard. By supporting AWS Y14.3 – 2012 and AWS Y14.3 – 2003, you can annotate new and as-built designs using the required standard revision. Enhanced Design Center Content New MVBlocks and block references are available in Design Center. More than 200 new MVBlocks and block references are added to the AutoCAD Architecture (US Imperial) and AutoCAD Architecture (US Metric) content packs for Design Center. The added content is available in metric profile for non-English languages. The content includes external lighting, bathroom accessories, furniture, site, kitchen fittings, and more. ISO Standard Revision Update for Taper and Slope Symbols The taper and slope symbol within AutoCAD Mechanical is updated to support the ISO 3040:2016(E) standard revision. To support the ISO 3040:2016(E), all aspects of the taper and slope symbol is revised to correspond with ISO 3040:2016(E). AutoCAD Mechanical continues to support the ISO 3040:2009(E) standard revision to allow documents created in previous releases to be opened, edited, and saved without updating the taper and slot symbol standard. By supporting ISO 3040:2016(E) and ISO 3040:2009(E), you can annotate new and as-built designs using the required standard revision. Refer to the 2024 Help file for further information Refer to the 2024 Help file for further information AutoCAD Plant 3D 2024 Ortho Bill of Materials (BOM) The Ortho Table Setup dialog box includes simplified options and more table capabilities for orthographic drawings. You can now add the Bill of Materials (BOM) for piping, equipment, steel, as well as nozzle and spool lists into ortho drawings Pipe Spec Viewer Enhancements View all parts available for a specific size in the selected spec. Use the search box to look for specific components in the Pipe Spec Viewer. Any changes to the size and spec lists are both updated in Pipe Spec Viewer and the Part Insertion panel on the ribbon. Spec and Catalog Editor Enhancements The Edit Parts and Edit Properties functions are enhanced in both Spec and Catalog Editors. Edit parts within a selected parts family for inclusion in a spec sheet or catalog Ortho Single-Line Piping Enhancements In this release, ortho single-line piping offers more enhancements including a new interface for some piping criteria providing better control when you display piping in a single-line representation in orthographic drawings. AutoCAD Map 3D 2024 Coordinate System Update AutoCAD Map 3D 2024 supports the new coordinate systems in the following categories: SnakeGrid EWR2 NAD83(CSRS) / Alberta 3TM AutoCAD Electrical 3D 2024 Pipe Spec Viewer Enhancements Create a schematic symbol table from schematic reports. The schematic report lists the symbols used in the project along with its description in a table. You can also surf through a particular symbol that is used in various locations of the project. Wire Type Synchronisation Wire type can now be synchronized for all wires in the network with the same signal code across the drawings. In previous releases, when you update the type of the wire connected to the source arrows, the destination wire type was not updated. In AutoCAD Electrical 2024 toolset, when the wire type is updated at the source arrow, all wires in the network are updated to the same wire type of the source. New wire layers are created along with its properties if the destination drawing doesn’t contain the new wire type. Author# Nerdcore Computers

Cyber Attacks You Should protect your business in 2024 In todays world life has become far more easier because of various digital devices and the internet to support these devices. There is two sides to everything good, and that also applies to the digital world today. The internet services has brought in a amazing positive change in every ones lives today, but, there is also a massive challenge in protecting an securing your very important data. This challenge gives rise to cyber attacks. In this special article, we will discuss all the different types of cyber security attacks and how they can be prevented in any situation. What is a Cyber Attack? Before i discuss the different types of cyber attacks, we will first walk you through a cyber attacks. When there is an unauthorized systems/network access by a third party, we call this term it as a cyber attack attempt. The person who carries out a cyberattack is termed as a hacker/attacker/cyber stalker. Cyber Attacks You Should protect your business in 2024 Cyber-attacks have massive negative effects when they attack a business. When an attack has been started or carried out, it can cause to data breaches, resulting in data loss or data manipulation. Massive organizations start to develop financial losses, customer trust starts to go down rapidly, and there is a massive reputational damage. To put a pole on cyber attacks, we implement cyber security teams like nerdcore computers. Nerdcore Computers Cyber security is a method of safeguarding networks, computer systems, and their components from unauthorized digital access. Thousands of businesses are developing our safe system guard software to monitor any future attacks before they happen. When COVID-19 situation was present this also had an adverse impact on cybersecurity. According to Interpol and WHO, there has been a notable increase in the number of cyberattacks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that you know what a cyber attack is, let look at the different types of cyberattacks. Types of Cyber Attacks There are thousands of cyber attacks that happen daily. If we knew how an when these very sophisticated types of cyberattacks happened it becomes easier for nerdcore computers to protect its customers who rely on networks and systems to function. Here, we will closely examine the top ten cyber-attacks that can affect an individual, or a large business, depending on the scale. Increase your cybersecurity acumen with our in depth Cyber security Boot camp, where you'll delve into the broad landscape of cyber attacks. From phishing to malware, ransomware to DDoS attacks, our comprehensive program equips you with the skills to anticipate, prevent, and mitigate a wide range of threats. Let’s start with the different types of cyberattacks on our list: 1. Malware Attack This is one of the most common types of cyberattacks. “Malware” refers to malicious software viruses including worms, spyware, ransomware, adware, and trojans. The trojan virus disguises itself as legitimate software. Ransomware blocks access to the network's key components, whereas Spyware is software that steals all your confidential data without your knowledge. Adware is software that displays advertising content such as banners on a user's screen. Malware breaches a network through a vulnerability. When the user clicks a dangerous link, it downloads an email attachment or when an infected pen drive is used. Let’s now look at how we can prevent a malware attack: Use antivirus software. It can protect your computer against malware. Avast Antivirus, Norton Antivirus, and McAfee Antivirus are a few of the popular antivirus software. Use firewalls. Firewalls filter the traffic that may enter your device. Windows and Mac OS X have their default built-in firewalls, named Windows Firewall and Mac Firewall. Stay alert and avoid clicking on suspicious links. Update your OS and browsers, regularly. 2. Phishing Attack Phishing attacks are one of the most prominent widespread types of cyberattacks. It is a type of social engineering attack wherein an attacker impersonates to be a trusted contact and sends the victim fake mails. Unaware of this, the victim opens the mail and clicks on the malicious link or opens the mail's attachment. By doing so, attackers gain access to confidential information and account credentials. They can also install malware through a phishing attack. Phishing attacks can be prevented by following the below-mentioned steps: Scrutinize the emails you receive. Most phishing emails have significant errors like spelling mistakes and format changes from that of legitimate sources. Make use of an anti-phishing toolbar. Update your passwords regularly. 3. Password Attack It is a form of attack wherein a hacker cracks your password with various programs and password cracking tools like Air crack, Cain, Abel, John the Ripper, Hashcat, etc. There are different types of password attacks like brute force attacks, dictionary attacks, and keylogger attacks. Listed below are a few ways to prevent password attacks: Use strong alphanumeric passwords with special characters. Abstain from using the same password for multiple websites or accounts. Update your passwords; this will limit your exposure to a password attack. Do not have any password hints in the open. 4. Man-in-the-Middle Attack A Man-in-the-Middle Attack (MITM) is also known as an eavesdropping attack. In this attack, an attacker comes in between a two-party communication, i.e., the attacker hijacks the session between a client and host. By doing so, hackers steal and manipulate data. Get Certified to Answer All Questions! CISSP Certification Training Course As seen below, the client-server communication has been cut off, and instead, the communication line goes through the hacker. MITM attacks can be prevented by following the below-mentioned steps: Be mindful of the security of the website you are using. Use encryption on your devices. Refrain from using public Wi-Fi networks. 5. SQL Injection Attack A Structured Query Language (SQL) injection attack occurs on a database-driven website when the hacker manipulates a standard SQL query. It is carried by injecting a malicious code into a vulnerable website search box, thereby making the server reveal crucial information. This results in the attacker being able to view, edit, and delete tables in the databases. Attackers can also get administrative rights through this. To prevent a SQL injection attack: Use an Intrusion detection system, as they design it to detect unauthorized access to a network. Carry out a validation of the user-supplied data. With a validation process, it keeps the user input in check. 6. Denial-of-Service Attack A Denial-of-Service Attack is a significant threat to companies. Here, attackers target systems, servers, or networks and flood them with traffic to exhaust their resources and bandwidth. When this happens, catering to the incoming requests becomes overwhelming for the servers, resulting in the website it hosts either shut down or slow down. This leaves the legitimate service requests unattended. It is also known as a DDoS (Distributed Denial-of-Service) attack when attackers use multiple compromised systems to launch this attack. Let’s now look at how to prevent a DDoS attack: Run a traffic analysis to identify malicious traffic. Understand the warning signs like network slowdown, intermittent website shutdowns, etc. At such times, the organization must take the necessary steps without delay. Formulate an incident response plan, have a checklist and make sure your team and data center can handle a DDoS attack. Outsource DDoS prevention to cloud-based service providers. 7. Insider Threat As the name suggests, an insider threat does not involve a third party but an insider. In such a case; it could be an individual from within the organization who knows everything about the organization. Insider threats have the potential to cause tremendous damages. Insider threats are rampant in small businesses, as the staff there hold access to multiple accounts with data. Reasons for this form of an attack are many, it can be greed, malice, or even carelessness. Insider threats are hard to predict and hence tricky. To prevent the insider threat attack: Organizations should have a good culture of security awareness. Companies must limit the IT resources staff can have access to depending on their job roles. Organizations must train employees to spot insider threats. This will help employees understand when a hacker has manipulated or is attempting to misuse the organization's data. 8. Cryptojacking The term Cryptojacking is closely related to cryptocurrency. Cryptojacking takes place when attackers access someone else’s computer for mining cryptocurrency. The access is gained by infecting a website or manipulating the victim to click on a malicious link. They also use online ads with JavaScript code for this. Victims are unaware of this as the Crypto mining code works in the background; a delay in the execution is the only sign they might witness. Cryptojacking can be prevented by following the below-mentioned steps: Update your software and all the security apps as cryptojacking can infect the most unprotected systems. Have cryptojacking awareness training for the employees; this will help them detect crypotjacking threats. Install an ad blocker as ads are a primary source of cryptojacking scripts. Also have extensions like MinerBlock, which is used to identify and block crypto mining scripts. 9. Zero-Day Exploit A Zero-Day Exploit happens after the announcement of a network vulnerability; there is no solution for the vulnerability in most cases. Hence the vendor notifies the vulnerability so that the users are aware; however, this news also reaches the attackers. Depending on the vulnerability, the vendor or the developer could take any amount of time to fix the issue. Meanwhile, the attackers target the disclosed vulnerability. They make sure to exploit the vulnerability even before a patch or solution is implemented for it. Zero-day exploits can be prevented by: Organizations should have well-communicated patch management processes. Use management solutions to automate the procedures. Thus it avoids delays in deployment. Have an incident response plan to help you deal with a cyberattack. Keep a strategy focusing on zero-day attacks. By doing so, the damage can be reduced or completely avoided. 10. Watering Hole Attack The victim here is a particular group of an organization, region, etc. In such an attack, the attacker targets websites which are frequently used by the targeted group. Websites are identified either by closely monitoring the group or by guessing. After this, the attackers infect these websites with malware, which infects the victims' systems. The malware in such an attack targets the user's personal information. Here, it is also possible for the hacker to take remote access to the infected computer. Let's now see how we can prevent the watering hole attack: Update your software and reduce the risk of an attacker exploiting vulnerabilities. Make sure to check for security patches regularly. Use your network security tools to spot watering hole attacks. Intrusion prevention systems(IPS) work well when it comes to detecting such suspicious activities. To prevent a watering hole attack, it is advised to conceal your online activities. For this, use a VPN and also make use of your browser’s private browsing feature. A VPN delivers a secure connection to another network over the Internet. It acts as a shield for your browsing activity. NordVPN is a good example of a VPN. 11. Spoofing An attacker impersonates someone or something else to access sensitive information and do malicious activities. For example, they can spoof an email address or a network address. 12. Identity-Based Attacks Perform to steal or manipulate others' personal information, like login someone's PINs to steal unauthorized access to their systems. 13. Code Injection Attacks Performed by inserting malicious code into a software application to manipulate data. For example, the attacker puts malicious code into a SQL database to steal data. 14. Supply Chain Attacks Exploit software or hardware supply chain vulnerabilities to collect sensitive information. 15. DNS Tunneling Attacker uses the Domain Name System (DNS) to bypass security measures and communicate with a remote server. 16. DNS Spoofing Cyberattack in which an attacker manipulates the DNS records from a website to control its traffic. 17. IoT-Based Attacks Exploit vulnerabilities in the Internet of Things (IoT), like smart thermostats and security cameras, to steal data. 18. Ransomware Encrypt the victim's data and demands payment in exchange. 19. Distributed Denial of Service (DDos) Attacks Flood a website with traffic to make it unavailable to legitimate users and to exploit vulnerabilities in the specific network. 20. Spamming Send unauthentic emails to spread phishing scams. 21. Corporate Account Takeover (CATO) Hackers use stolen login credentials to access others' bank accounts. 22. Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Cash Out Hackers get close to a bank's computer systems to withdraw large amounts of cash from ATMs. 23. Whale-Phishing Attacks Target high-profile individuals like executives or celebrities using sophisticated social engineering techniques to get sensitive information. 24. Spear-Phishing Attacks: Target specific individuals or groups under an organization. Attackers use social engineering techniques to get sensitive information. 25. URL Interpretation A web browser interprets a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and requests the corresponding web page to exploit vulnerabilities in the URL interpretation. 26. Session Hijacking The hacker gets access to a user's session ID to authenticate the user's session with a web application and take control of the user's session. 27. Brute Force Attack An attacker gets unauthorized access to a system by trying various passwords until the correct one is found. It can be highly effective against weak passwords. 28. Web Attacks Targets websites and can insert SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS) and file inclusion. 29. Trojan Horses Malware that appears to be a legitimate program but which contains malicious code. Once installed, it can perform malicious actions like stealing data and controlling the system. Choose the Best Training Platform! CISSP Certification Training Course 30. Drive-by Attacks The user's system is flooded with malware by visiting its compromised website to exploit vulnerabilities in other software to insert the malware without the user's knowledge. 31. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks An attacker inserts unauthorized code into a legitimate website to access the user's information to steal sensitive information like the user's passwords and credit card details. 32. Eavesdropping Attacks An attacker intercepts communication between two parties to access sensitive information. 33. Birthday Attack A cryptographic attack exploits the birthday paradox to access a collision in a hash function. The attacker successfully generates two inputs to get the same output hash value. This can be used to compromise to bypass access controls. 34. Volume-Based Attacks The attacker floods a system with heavy data to make it inaccessible to legitimate users. For instance, DDoS attacks in which various compromised computers flood a specific website with traffic to crash it. 35. Protocol Attacks: Exploits vulnerabilities in network protocols to gain unauthorized access to a system or disrupt its regular operation. Examples include the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) SYN Flood attack and the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Flood attack. 36. Application Layer Attacks Targets the application layer of a system, aiming to exploit vulnerabilities in applications or web servers. 37. Dictionary Attacks An attacker attempts to guess a user's password by trying a list of common words. This attack becomes successful because many users use weak or easy passwords. 38. Virus Malicious software can replicate itself and spread to other computers. Viruses can cause significant damage to systems, corrupt files, steal information, and more. 39. Worm Replicates itself and spreads to other computers, but unlike viruses, worms don't require human interaction. 40. Backdoors This vulnerability allows attackers to bypass standard authentication procedures and gain unauthorized access to a system or network. 41. Bots These software programs automate network or internet tasks. They can be used for malicious purposes, such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. 42. Business Email Compromise (BEC) Targets businesses and organizations by using email. The attackers impersonate a trusted source to trick the victim into transferring funds or sensitive information to the attacker. 43. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks Targets web applications by injecting malicious code into a vulnerable website to steal sensitive information or to perform unauthorized attacks. 44. AI-Powered Attacks Use artificial intelligence and machine learning to bypass traditional security measures. 45. Rootkits Provide attackers privileged access to a victim's computer system. Rootkits can be used to hide other types of malware, such as spyware or keyloggers, and can be challenging to detect and remove. 46. Spyware Is malware designed to collect sensitive information from a victim's computer system. This can include passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive data. 47. Social Engineering is a technique cyber criminals use to manipulate users to make them divulge sensitive information or perform actions that are not in their best interest. 48. Keylogger Is a malware designed to capture keystrokes a victim enters on their computer system. This can include passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive data. 49. Botnets Are networks of compromised computers controlled by a single attacker. Botnets can launch distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, steal sensitive information, or perform other malicious activities. 50. Emotet Is malware designed to steal sensitive information and spread it to other computers on a network. Emotet is often spread through phishing emails and can be very difficult to detect and remove. 51. Adware Is malware that displays unwanted advertisements on a victim's computer system. Adware can be annoying and disruptive, but it's generally less harmful than other types of malware. 52. Fileless Malware Doesn’t rely on files to infect a victim's computer system. Instead, fileless malware executes malicious code using existing system resources, such as memory or registry keys. 53. Angler Phishing Attacks Target individuals or organizations using highly targeted and personalized emails. Angler phishing attacks can be difficult to detect and are often successful in stealing sensitive information. 54. Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) Is a cyberattack characterized by long-term, persistent access to a victim's computer system. APT attacks are highly sophisticated and difficult to detect and remove. How to Prevent Cyber Attacks? Although we had a look at several ways to prevent the different types of cyberattacks we discussed, let's summarize and look at a few personal tips which you can adopt to avoid a cyberattack on the whole. Change your passwords regularly and use strong alphanumeric passwords which are difficult to crack. Refrain from using too complicated passwords that you would tend to forget. Do not use the same password twice. Update both your operating system and applications regularly. This is a primary prevention method for any cyber attack. This will remove vulnerabilities that hackers tend to exploit. Use trusted and legitimate Anti-virus protection software. Use a firewall and other network security tools such as Intrusion prevention systems, Access control, Application security, etc. Avoid opening emails from unknown senders. Scrutinize the emails you receive for loopholes and significant errors. Make use of a VPN. This makes sure that it encrypts the traffic between the VPN server and your device. Regularly back up your data. According to many security professionals, it is ideal to have three copies of your data on two different media types and another copy in an off-site location (cloud storage). Hence, even in the course of a cyber attack, you can erase your system’s data and restore it with a recently performed backup. Employees should be aware of cybersecurity principles. They must know the various types of cyberattacks and ways to tackle them. Use Two-Factor or Multi-Factor Authentication. With two-factor authentication, it requires users to provide two different authentication factors to verify themselves. When you are asked for over two additional authentication methods apart from your username and password, we term it as multi-factor authentication. This proves to be a vital step to secure your account. Secure your Wi-Fi networks and avoid using public Wi-Fi without using a VPN. Safeguard your mobile, as mobiles are also a cyberattack target. Install apps from only legitimate and trusted sources, make sure to keep your device updated. These are the tips you must implement to protect your systems and networks from a cyber attack. Evolution of Cyber Security The evolution of cyber security can be traced back to the early days of computing when security measures were minimal, and the internet was a relatively small network. In the early 90s, firewalls were the common method of protecting networks and data from cyber-attacks. Now, this field of cyber security has a wide range of technologies: Intrusion detection systems Threat intelligence Security information and event management (SIEM) Conclusion In my article on the types of cyberattacks, you should have understood all about cyber attacks. You looked at what a cyber attack is, the top ten types of cyber attacks, and the ways to prevent a cyber crime attack against your customers. Every second of the day their increasing number of cyber crimes, it is good idea to be aware of cyber attacks and how one can protect their network. If you would like to understand more about this topic, watch this video: Top Cybersecurity Threats. Do you have any questions for us concerning ‘Types of Cyber Attacks’? Please mention them in the comment section of this article. Also check out our Advanced Executive Program in Cybersecurity and learn from experts. Author Nerdcore Computers Service Centre

Cyber Crime Threat Report 2022-2023 Foreword I am pleased to present the Annual Cyber Threat Report 2022–23 developed by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD). As the Defence Strategic Review made clear, in the post-Second World War period Australia was protected by its geography and the limited ability of other nations in the region to project combat power. In the current strategic era, Australia’s geographic advantages have been eroded as more countries have enhanced their ability to project combat power across greater ranges, including through the rapid development of cyber capabilities. Australia’s region, the Indo-Pacific, is also now seeing growing competition on multiple levels – economic, military, strategic and diplomatic – framed by competing values and narratives. In this context, Australian governments, critical infrastructure, businesses and households continue to be the target of malicious cyber actors. This report illustrates that both state and non-state actors continue to show the intent and capability to compromise Australia’s networks. It also highlights the added complexity posed by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Cyber Crime Threat Report 2022-2023 The report demonstrates the persistent threat that state cyber capabilities pose to Australia. This threat extends beyond cyber espionage campaigns to disruptive activities against Australia’s essential services. The report also confirms that the borderless and multi-billion dollar cybercrime industry continues to cause significant harm to Australia, with Australians remaining an attractive target for cybercriminal syndicates around the world. Through case studies, the report demonstrates the persistence and tenacity of these cyber actors. It shows that these adversaries constantly test vulnerabilities in Australia’s cyber ecosystem and employ a range of techniques to evade Australia’s cyber defences. The threat environment characterised in this report underscores the importance of ASD’s work in defending Australia’s security and prosperity. It also reinforces the significance of the Australian Government’s investment in ASD’s cyber and intelligence capabilities under Project REDSPICE (Resilience, Effects, Defence, Space, Intelligence, Cyber, Enablers). It is clear we must maintain an enduring focus on cyber security in Australia. The Australian Government is committed to leading our nation’s efforts to bolster our cyber resilience. We also know that the best cyber defences are founded on genuine partnerships between and across the public and private sectors. The development of this report, which draws on insights from across the Commonwealth Government, our international partners, Australian industry and the community, is a testament to this collaboration. This report presents a clear picture of the cyber threat landscape we face and is a vital part of Australia’s collective efforts to enhance our cyber resilience. About ASD’s ACSC ASD’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is the Australian Government’s technical authority on cyber security. The ACSC brings together capabilities to improve Australia’s national cyber resilience and its services include: the Australian Cyber Security Hotline, which is contactable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, via 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371) publishing alerts, technical advice, advisories and notifications on significant cyber security threats cyber threat monitoring and intelligence sharing with partners, including through the Cyber Threat Intelligence Sharing (CTIS) platform helping Australian entities respond to cyber security incidents exercises and uplift activities to enhance the cyber security resilience of Australian entities supporting collaboration between over 110,000 Australian organisations and individuals on cyber security issues through ASD’s Cyber Security Partnership Program. The most effective cyber security is collaborative and partnerships are key to this work. ASD thanks all of the organisations that contributed to this report. This includes Australian local, state, territory and federal government agencies, and industry partners. Executive summary Malicious cyber activity continued to pose a risk to Australia’s security and prosperity in the FY 2022-23. A range of malicious cyber actors showed the intent and capability needed to compromise vital systems, and Australian networks were regularly targeted by both opportunistic and more deliberate malicious cyber activity. ASD responded to over 1,100 cyber security incidents from Australian entities. Separately, nearly 94,000 reports were made to law enforcement through ReportCyber – around one every 6 minutes. ASD identified a number of key cyber security trends in FY 2022–23: State actors focused on critical infrastructure – data theft and disruption of business. Globally, government and critical infrastructure networks were targeted by state cyber actors as part of ongoing information-gathering campaigns or disruption activities. The AUKUS partnership, with its focus on nuclear submarines and other advanced military capabilities, is likely a target for state actors looking to steal intellectual property for their own military programs. Cyber operations are increasingly the preferred vector for state actors to conduct espionage and foreign interference. In 2022–23, ASD joined international partners to call out Russia’s Federal Security Service’s use of ‘Snake’ malware for cyber espionage, and also highlighted activity associated with a People’s Republic of China state-sponsored cyber actor that used ‘living-off-the-land’ techniques to compromise critical infrastructure organisations. Australian critical infrastructure was targeted via increasingly interconnected systems. Operational technology connected to the internet and into corporate networks has provided opportunities for malicious cyber actors to attack these systems. In 2022–23, ASD responded to 143 cyber security incidents related to critical infrastructure. Cybercriminals continued to adapt tactics to extract maximum payment from victims. Cybercriminals constantly evolved their operations against Australian organisations, fuelled by a global industry of access brokers and extortionists. ASD responded to 127 extortion-related incidents: 118 of these incidents involved ransomware or other forms of restriction to systems, files or accounts. Business email compromise remained a key vector to conduct cybercrime. Ransomware also remained a highly destructive cybercrime type, as did hacktivists’ denial-of-service attacks, impacting organisations’ business operations. Data breaches impacted many Australians. Significant data breaches resulted in millions of Australians having their information stolen and leaked on the dark web. One in 5 critical vulnerabilities was exploited within 48 hours. This was despite patching or mitigation advice being available. Malicious cyber actors used these critical flaws to cause significant incidents and compromise networks, aided by inadequate patching. Cyber security is increasingly challenged by complex ICT supply chains and advances in fields such as artificial intelligence. To boost cyber security, Australia must consider not only technical controls such as ASD’s Essential Eight, but also growing a positive cyber-secure culture across business and the community. This includes prioritising secure-by-design and secure-by-default products during both development (vendors) and procurement (customers). ASD’s first year of REDSPICE increased cyber threat intelligence sharing, the uplift of critical infrastructure, and an enhanced 24/7 national incident response capability. Genuine partnerships across both the public and private sectors have remained essential to Australia’s cyber resilience; and ASD’s Cyber Security Partnership Program has grown to include over 110,000 organisations and individuals. Year in review What ASD saw Average cost of cybercrime per report, up 14 per cent small business: $46,000 medium business: $97,200 large business: $71,600. Nearly 94,000 cybercrime reports, up 23 per cent on average a report every 6 minutes an increase from 1 report every 7 minutes. Answered over 33,000 calls to the Australian Cyber Security Hotline, up 32 per cent on average 90 calls per day an increase from 69 calls per day. Top 3 cybercrime types for individuals identity fraud online banking fraud online shopping fraud. Top 3 cybercrime types for business email compromise business email compromise (BEC) fraud online banking fraud. Publicly reported common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) increased 20 per cent. What ASD did Responded to over 1,100 cyber security incidents, similar to last year. 10 per cent of all incidents responded to included ransomware, similar to last year. Notified 158 entities of ransomware activity on their networks, compared to 148 last year, roughly a 7 per cent increase. Australian Protective Domain Name System blocked over 67 million malicious domain requests, up 176 per cent. Domain Takedown Service blocked over 127,000 attacks against Australian servers, up 336 per cent. Cyber Threat Intelligence Sharing partners grew by 688 per cent to over 250 partners. Cyber Hygiene Improvement Program issued 103 High-priority Operational Taskings, up 110 per cent distributed around 4,900 reports to approximately 1,360 organisations, up 16 per cent and 32 per cent respectively. Critical Infrastructure Uplift Program (CI-UP) achieved 3 CI-UPs completed covering 6 CI assets 3 CI-UPs in progress 20 CI-UP Info Packs sent 5 CI-UP workshops held. Notified 7 critical infrastructure entities of suspicious cyber activity, up from 5 last year. Published or updated 34 PROTECT and Information Security Manual (ISM) guidance publications. Published 64 alerts, advisories, incident and insight reports on cyber.gov.au and the Partnership Portal. ASD’s Cyber Security Partnership Program grew to around 110,000 partners Individual Partners up 24 per cent Business Partners up 37 per cent Network Partners up 29 per cent. Led 20 cyber security exercises involving over 75 organisations to strengthen Australia’s cyber resilience. Briefed board members and company directors covering 33 per cent of the ASX200. ASD is able to build a national cyber threat picture, in part due to the timely and rich reporting of cyber security incidents by members of the public and Australian business. This aggregation of cyber security incident data enables ASD to inform threat mitigation advice with the latest trends and threats posed by malicious cyber actors. Any degradation in the quantity or quality of information reported to ASD harms cyber security outcomes. Information reported to ASD is anonymised prior to it being communicated to the community. ASD categorises each incident it responds to on a scale of Category 1 (C1), the most severe, to Category 6 (C6), the least severe. Incidents are categorised on severity of effect, extent of compromise, and significance of the organisation. The number of C2 incidents rose from 2 in FY 2021–22 to 5 in FY 2022–23. This includes significant data breaches involving cybercriminals exfiltrating data from critical infrastructure for the purposes of financial gain. Cyber security incidents are consistent with last financial year, with around 15 per cent of all incidents being categorised C3 or above. Of the C3 incidents, over 30 per cent related to organisations self-identifying as critical infrastructure, with transport (21 per cent), energy (17 per cent), and higher education and research (17 per cent) the most affected sectors. The most common C3 incident type was compromised assets, network or infrastructure (23 per cent), followed by data breaches (19 per cent) and ransomware (14 per cent). Common activities leading to C3 incidents included exploitation of public–facing applications (20 per cent) and phishing (17 per cent). Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of C3 incidents involved a tipper, where ASD notified the affected organisations of suspicious activity. While reports of low-level malicious attacks are often categorised as unsuccessful, reports of unsuccessful activity are still indicative of continual targeting of Australian entities. Cyber security incidents by sector Compared to 2021–22, the information media and telecommunications sector fell out of the top 5 reporting sectors. Government sectors and regulated critical infrastructure have reporting obligations, which may explain the relatively high reporting rate for these sectors compared with others. ASD categorises sectors following the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) Divisions from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The public safety and administration division encompasses several sectors including federal, state, territory and local governments, public order and safety services, and Defence. Table 3: The top 10 reporting sectors Chapter 1: Exploitation Half of vulnerabilities were exploited within 2 weeks of a patch, or of mitigation advice being released, highlighting the risks entities take by not promptly patching. Patching vulnerabilities in internet-facing services should occur within 2 weeks, or 48 hours if an exploit exists. Vulnerable internet-facing devices and applications are convenient targets for malicious cyber actors. In addition to patching, unnecessary internet-facing services should be disabled. Vulnerable and exposed As Australians integrate more technology into their lives and businesses, the number of possible weak points or vectors for malicious cyber actors to exploit – known as the attack surface – grows. The larger the attack surface, the harder it is to defend. Malicious cyber actors often exploit security weaknesses found in ICT, known as common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs), to break into systems, steal data, or even take complete control over a system. The number of published CVEs has been steadily on the rise. The US National Vulnerability Database published 19,379 CVEs in FY 2020–21, 24,266 CVEs in FY 2021–22, and 29,019 CVEs in FY 2022–23. To identify the rates at which CVEs were exploited after a patch or mitigation was made available, ASD analysed 60 CVEs covering 1 July 2020 to 28 February 2023. The analysis found around 82 per cent of vulnerabilities had an attack vector of ‘network’ under the Common Vulnerability Scoring Scheme. This indicates that malicious actors prefer vulnerabilities that are remotely exploitable and are present on internet-facing or edge devices. Exploitation of these vulnerabilities allows malicious actors to pivot into internal networks. The analysis also found: 1 in 5 vulnerabilities was exploited within 48 hours of a patch or mitigation advice being released half of the vulnerabilities were exploited within 2 weeks of a patch or mitigation advice being released 2 in 5 vulnerabilities were exploited more than one month after a patch or mitigation advice was released. Despite more than 90 per cent of CVEs having a patch or mitigation advice available within 2 weeks of public disclosure, 50 per cent of the CVEs were still exploited more than 2 weeks after that patch or mitigation advice was published. This highlights the risk entities carry when not patching promptly. These risks are heightened when a proof-of-concept code is available and shared online, as malicious cyber actors can leverage this code for use in automated tools, lowering the barrier for exploitation. ASD observed that Log4Shell (CVE-2021-44228) and ProxyLogon (CVE-2021-26855) were by far the most commonly exploited vulnerabilities throughout the analysis period, with these 2 vulnerabilities representing 29 per cent of all CVE-related incidents. CVEs do not have an expiration date. In one instance, ASD observed that malicious cyber actors successfully exploited an unpatched 7-year-old CVE. Additionally, ASD still receives periodic reports of WannaCry malware – 6 years after its release – which is likely due to old, infected legacy machines being powered on and connected to networks. Incidents like this highlight the importance of patching as soon as possible, and also demonstrate the long tail of risks that unpatched and legacy systems can pose to entities. During 2022–23, ASD published many alerts warning Australians of vulnerabilities, such as the critical remote code execution vulnerability in Fortinet devices (CVE-2022-40684), and a high-severity vulnerability present in Microsoft Outlook for Windows (CVE-2023-23397). ASD also published a joint Five-Eyes advisory detailing the top 12 CVEs most frequently and routinely exploited by malicious cyber actors for the 2022 calendar year. Patching To help mitigate vulnerabilities, ASD recommends all entities patch, update or otherwise mitigate vulnerabilities in online services and internet-facing devices within 48 hours when vulnerabilities are assessed as critical by vendors or when working exploits exist. Otherwise, vulnerabilities should be patched, updated or otherwise mitigated within 2 weeks. Entities with limited cyber security expertise who are unable to patch rapidly should consider using a reputable cloud service provider or managed service provider that can help ensure timely patching. ASD acknowledges not all entities may be able to immediately patch, update or apply mitigations for vulnerabilities due to high-availability business requirements or system limitations. In such cases, entities should consider compensating controls like disabling unnecessary internet-facing services, strengthening access controls, enforcing network separation, and closely monitoring systems for anomalous activity. Entities should ensure decision makers understand the level of risk they hold and the potential consequences should their systems or data be compromised as a result of a malicious actor exploiting unmitigated vulnerabilities. Further patching advice can be found in ASD’s Assessing Vulnerabilities and Applying Patches guide. Cyber hygiene In addition to patching, effective cyber security hygiene is vital. At cyber.gov.au, ASD has published a range of easy-to-understand advice and guides tailored for individuals, small and medium business, enterprises, and critical infrastructure providers. All Australians should: enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for online services where available use long, unique passphrases for every account if MFA is not available, particularly for services like email and banking (password managers can assist with such activities) turn on automatic updates for all software – do not ignore installation prompts regularly back up important files and device configuration settings be alert for phishing messages and scams sign up for the ASD’s free Alert Service report cybercrime to ReportCyber. Australian organisations should also: only use reputable cloud service providers and managed service providers that implement appropriate cyber security measures regularly test cyber security detection, incident response, business continuity and disaster recovery plans review the cyber security posture of remote workers, including their use of communication, collaboration and business productivity software train staff on cyber security matters, in particular how to recognise scams and phishing attempts implement relevant guidance from ASD’s Essential Eight Maturity Model, Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents and Information Security Manual join ASD’s Cyber Security Partnership Program report cybercrime and cyber security incidents to ReportCyber. Case study 1: Malicious cyber actors exploit devices 2 years after patch On 24 May 2019, Fortinet, a US vendor that creates cyber security products, released a security advisory and accompanying patch for CVE-2018-13379, which was a severe vulnerability that required immediate patching. On 2 April 2021, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) published an advisory on the exploitation of Fortinet FortiOS vulnerabilities, which indicated advanced persistent threat (APT) groups were scanning devices for CVE-2018-13379 and likely to gain access to multiple government, commercial, and technology services networks. On 3 April 2021, ASD released an alert reminding organisations that APT groups had been observed exploiting CVE-2018-13379. Later, in September 2021, ASD received a report of a successful exploitation of CVE-2018-13379 against an Australian entity. Despite being vulnerable for more than 2 years, the victim’s device had not been patched. While it is difficult to ascertain how widely Fortinet devices are used globally, researchers identified around 50,000 targets that remained vulnerable 2 years after the patch was released. This number is so significant that it was added to CISA’s Top Routinely Exploited Vulnerabilities list. The primary mitigation against these attacks is to patch vulnerabilities as soon as possible. If patching is not immediately possible, the entity should consider removing internet access from Fortinet devices until other mitigations can be implemented. Case study 2: A network compromise at the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale The rural Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale, 45 kilometres from the Perth CBD, may seem an unlikely place for malicious cyber activity to unfold. But, in early 2023, the Shire experienced a network compromise. Shire ICT Manager Matthew Younger said the malicious cyber actor took advantage of a public-facing system. ‘We’re quite diligent with our patching, but unfortunately we missed an update to our remote work server,’ Mr Younger said. Before taking immediate remediation action, the Shire’s ICT team held a conference call with ASD to discuss the best way to manage the compromise, and Mr Younger said ASD’s help was first-class. ‘We put a perimeter around the compromised server, checked for lateral movement, and gathered evidence to work out what happened. Everything we found led back to the importance of the Essential Eight.’ ASD also sent an incident responder to help the Shire’s ICT team capture virtual machine snapshots and log data. ASD handles incident data with strict confidentiality, and such data helps its analysts understand how cyber security incidents occur and produces intelligence to help build the national cyber threat picture and to prevent further attacks. Mr Younger said that after the compromise, the Shire doubled-down on its efforts to implement ASD’s Essential Eight. ‘We enforced passphrases, we improved our information security policies, and we improved our user security training. We also validated our controls through penetration testing and phishing exercises.’ Mr Younger credits much of the Shire’s success to its agile leadership who, with limited resources, foster the right security culture to both respond to cyber threats and implement mitigations. CVE-2020-5902 BIG-IP refers to a suite of products from cyber security vendor F5, which includes firewall and application delivery solutions. On 1 July 2020, F5 released a security advisory detailing a critical vulnerability in their BIG-IP Traffic Management User Interface (TMUI). Within 48 hours of patch release, security researchers discovered malicious cyber actors scanning for and exploiting unpatched devices. The Essential Eight ASD’s Essential Eight are some of the most effective cyber security mitigation strategies, and includes: 1. application control 2. patch applications 3. configure Microsoft Office macro settings 4. user application hardening 5. restrict administrative privileges 6. patch operating systems 7. multi-factor authentication 8. regular backups ASD uses its cyber threat intelligence to ensure its cyber security advice is contemporary and actionable. ASD’s advice is not formed in a silo. Feedback from partners across government and industry, such as how cyber security mitigations are implemented within organisations, is important. Feedback helps ASD update advice like the Essential Eight. More information on the Essential Eight, including the Essential Eight Assessment Process Guide and Essential Eight Maturity Model Frequently Asked Questions, can be found at cyber.gov.au. Chapter 2: Critical infrastructure During FY 2022–23, Australian critical infrastructure networks regularly experienced both targeted and opportunistic malicious cyber activity. Activity against these networks is likely to increase as networks grow in size and complexity. Malicious cyber actors can steal or encrypt data, or gain insider knowledge for profit or competitive advantage. Some actors may attempt to degrade or disrupt services and these incidents can have cascading impacts. Designing robust cyber security measures for operational technology environments is vital to protect the safety, availability, integrity and confidentiality of essential services. Secure-by-design and secure‑by-default products should be a priority. Actors target critical infrastructure for many reasons Critical infrastructure assets and networks are attractive targets for malicious cyber activity as these assets need to hold sensitive information, maintain essential services, and often have high levels of connectivity with other organisations and critical infrastructure sectors. A cyber incident can result in a range of impacts to critical services. For instance, the disruption of an electricity grid could cause a region to lose power. Without power, a hospital may lose access to patient records and struggle to function, internet services may be down and affect communications and payment systems, or water supply could be impacted. Globally, a broad range of malicious cyber actors, including state actors, cybercriminals and issue‑motivated groups, have demonstrated the intent and the capability to target critical infrastructure. Malicious cyber actors may target critical infrastructure for a range of reasons. For example, they may: attempt to degrade or disrupt services, such as through denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, which can have a significant impact on service providers and their customers steal or encrypt data or gain insider knowledge for profit or competitive advantage preposition themselves on systems by installing malware, in anticipation of future disruptive or destructive cyber operations, potentially years in advance covertly seek sensitive information through cyber espionage to advance strategic aims. Critical infrastructure can be targeted by the mass scanning of networks for both old and new vulnerabilities. In February 2023, an Italian energy and water provider was affected by ransomware. While there was no indication the water or energy supply was affected, it reportedly took 4 days to restore systems like information databases. Italy’s National Cybersecurity Agency publicly noted the ransomware attack targeted older and unpatched software, exploiting a 2-year-old vulnerability. Critical infrastructure is a target globally During 2022–23, critical infrastructure networks around the world continued to be targeted, causing impacts on network operators and those relying on critical services. In the latter half of 2022, the French health system reportedly sustained a number of cyber incidents. One hospital fell victim to a ransomware incident, resulting in the cancellation of some surgical operations and forcing patients to be transferred to other hospitals. The hospital’s computer systems had to be shut down to isolate the attack. Russia’s war on Ukraine has continued to demonstrate that critical infrastructure is viewed as a target for disruptive and destructive cyber operations during times of conflict. Malicious cyber actors have targeted and disrupted hospitals, airports, railways, telecommunication providers, energy utilities, and financial institutions across Europe. Destructive malware was also used against critical infrastructure in Ukraine. In September 2022 and May 2023, ASD and its international partners published advisories highlighting that state actors were targeting multiple US critical infrastructure sectors, and strongly encouraged Australian entities to review their networks for signs of malicious activity. More details about these advisories is in the state actor chapter. Australian critical infrastructure is impacted Australian critical infrastructure networks regularly experienced both targeted and opportunistic malicious cyber activity. During 2022–23, ASD responded to 143 incidents reported by entities who self-identified as critical infrastructure, an increase from the 95 incidents reported in 2021–22. The vast majority of these incidents were low-level malicious attacks or isolated compromises. The main cyber security incident types affecting Australian critical infrastructure were: compromised account or credentials compromised asset, network or infrastructure DoS. These incident types accounted for approximately 57 per cent of the incidents affecting critical infrastructure for 2022–23. Other more prominent incident types were data breaches followed by malware infection. ASD encourages critical infrastructure entities to report anomalous activity early and not wait until malicious activity reaches the threshold for a mandatory report. Reporting helps piece together a picture of the cyber threat landscape, and informs ASD’s cyber security alerts and advisories for the benefit of all Australian entities. Critical infrastructure networks have a broad attack surface The interconnected nature of critical infrastructure networks, and the third parties in their ICT supply chain, increases the attack surface for many entities. This includes remote access and management solutions, which are increasingly present in critical infrastructure networks. Operational technology (OT) and connected systems, including corporate networks, will likely be of enduring interest to malicious cyber actors. OT can be targeted to access a corporate network and vice versa, potentially allowing malicious cyber actors to move laterally through systems to reach their target. Even when OT is not directly targeted, attacks on connected corporate networks can disrupt the operation of critical infrastructure providers. Systems where software or hardware are not up to date with the latest security mitigations are vulnerable to exploitation, particularly when these systems are exposed to the internet. ICT supply chain and managed service providers are another avenue malicious cyber actors can exploit. Explainer 1: Operational technology OT makes up those systems that detect or cause a direct change to the physical environment through the monitoring or control of devices, processes, and events. OT is predominantly used to describe industrial control systems (ICS), which include supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems and distributed control systems (DCS). Australian critical infrastructure providers often operate over large geographical areas and require interconnection between dispersed OT environments. Separately, remote access to OT environments from corporate IT environments and the internet has become standard operating procedure. Remote access allows engineers and technicians to remotely manage and configure the OT environment. However, this interconnection or remote access requires an internet connection, which creates additional cyber security risks to OT environments. In April 2023, irrigation systems in Israel were reportedly disrupted when the ICS supporting the automated water controllers were compromised. Israel’s National Cyber Organisation was able to warn many farmers to disconnect their remote control option for the irrigation systems, so the disruption was minimal. Being able to disconnect from remote control also highlights the value of a manual override mechanism in some instances. Next-generation OT is expected to contain built-in remote access and security features, which could address some of the issues related to remote access and internet exposure. ASD continues to advise entities to prioritise secure-by-design and secure-by-default products in procurements, and take a risk-based approach to managing risks associated with new technologies or providers. Good cyber security practices will be particularly important during a transition to new technologies. At cyber.gov.au, ASD has published a range of cyber security guides for OT and ICS, and also principles and approaches to secure-by-design and default. In focus: food and grocery sector The food and grocery sector covers a broad supply chain including processing, packaging, importing, and distributing food and groceries. Food and grocery manufacturing is Australia’s largest manufacturing sector, comprising over 16,000 businesses and representing around 32 per cent of all manufacturing jobs. Food and grocery organisations are an attractive target for malicious cyber actors as this sector’s provision of essential supplies has little tolerance for disruption. The sector’s complex supply chains and growing online sales mean food and grocery organisations have a large attack surface. The sector is increasingly reliant on smart technologies, industrial control systems, and internet-based automation systems. Additionally, many entities in this sector hold sensitive data that may be of value to malicious cyber actors, such as personal information or intellectual property. Like other manufacturing entities, food and grocery organisations have increasingly adopted just-in-time inventory and delivery chains in pursuit of greater efficiency and reduced waste. This means the food and grocery sector is also vulnerable if a supplier is affected by a cyber incident that disrupts services. Large entities in this sector may be targeted based on the view that they can be extorted for large sums of money. Smaller entities may be perceived as having lower cyber security maturity, and may be used to access more lucrative targets in their supply chain. Malicious cyber actors may seek to remain undetected on systems to establish a secure foothold and then move to other systems within a business to exfiltrate data or maintain a presence for future malicious activity. A cyberattack against entities in this sector could have significant impacts for both the victim organisation and its customers. For example, a ransomware attack that locks systems could halt production and delivery, rendering a business unable to fulfil its orders. The second order impacts of this could be costly – including lost revenue, or lost confidence from business partners and customers alike. Early detection of malicious activity is vital for mitigating cyber threats. It can take time to discover a compromised network or system, so robust and regular monitoring is essential. Likewise, practised incident response plans and playbooks should form part of broader corporate and cyber plans to aid remediation and minimise the impact of a compromise. Entities in this sector should seek secure-by-design and secure‑by-default products wherever possible to boost their cyber security posture. A comprehensive list of resources for critical infrastructure is available at cyber.gov.au, including guidance for cyber incident response and business continuity plans. Case study 3: Global food distributor held to ransom In February 2023, Dole – one of the world’s largest producers and distributors of fruit and vegetables – was a victim of a ransomware incident, resulting in a shut down of its systems throughout North America. Other reported impacts included some product shortages, a limited impact on operations, and theft of company data – including some employee information. While Dole acted swiftly to minimise the impacts of the incident, it still reported USD $10.5 million in direct costs, and faced reputational damage. Explainer 2: Effective separation Separating network segments can help to isolate critical network elements from the internet or other less sensitive parts of a network. This strategy can make it significantly more difficult for malicious cyber actors to access an organisation’s most sensitive data, and can aid cyber threat detection. In 2022–23, ASD observed that effective separation through network segmentation and firewall policies prevented malware from impacting an Australian critical infrastructure provider. Additionally, through effective separation an Australian critical infrastructure provider prevented the deployment of malware from a contractor’s USB drive onto their OT environment. Network separation is more than just a logical or physical design decision: it should also consider where system administration and management services are placed. Often, the corporate IT network is separated from the OT environment, because the corporate IT network is usually seen as having a higher risk of compromise due to its internet connectivity and services like email and web browsing. However, if a malicious cyber actor compromises the corporate IT network and gains greater access privileges, then the corporate IT firewall may no longer provide the desired level of protection for the OT environment. This similarly applies if the Active Directory (AD) Domain for the OT environment is inside an AD Forest administered from the corporate IT network. Critical infrastructure operators should regularly assess the risk of insufficient separation of system administrative and management role assignments. For example, in scenarios where the virtualisation of OT infrastructure or components is managed by privileged accounts from a corporate domain, if the corporate environment was to become compromised then the OT environment would potentially be impacted and those necessary privileged IT accounts may not be accessible. Case study 4: Horizon Power working with ASD Western Australian energy provider Horizon Power distributes electricity across the largest geographical catchment of any Australian energy provider – around 2.3 million square kilometres, or roughly an area 4 times bigger than France. It operates a diverse range of OT and ICT infrastructure to manage around 8,300 kilometres of transmission lines and deliver power to more than 45,000 customers. In early 2023, Horizon Power partnered with ASD to conduct a range of activities to help examine and test its cyber security posture and controls. Horizon Power’s security team worked side-by-side with ASD’s experts to help improve threat detection, security event triage and response; practice forensic artefact collection; and enhance security communication across the enterprise. The activities have helped to improve both the speed and the quality with which Horizon Power can respond to and manage cyber incidents, including sharing cyber threat intelligence with ASD. Horizon Power Senior Technology Manager Jeff Campbell said engaging ASD was easy, there were clear objectives, and the network assessments were excellent. ‘Long past are the days of holding cards to our chest. Sharing information is really important across multiple industries and sectors. To improve security, you need to find out what you don’t know.’ Mr Campbell said having ASD onsite helped to test many assumptions about the company’s network security, like its segmentation practices and vulnerability management. 'The engagement highlighted the importance of getting visibility over systems, and also helped to demonstrate that effective cyber security is vital to helping mitigate business risks.' Learn more about the open, collaborative partnership between Horizon Power and the Australian Signals Directorate that enabled Horizon Power to bolster its cyber security controls. Building cyber resilience in critical infrastructure Malicious cyber activity against Australian critical infrastructure is likely to increase as networks grow in size and complexity. Critical infrastructure organisations can do many things to reduce the attack surface, secure systems, and protect sensitive data to help ensure Australia’s essential services remain resilient. Such as: Follow best practice cyber security, like ASD’s Essential Eight, or equivalent framework as required for a critical infrastructure risk-management program. Thoroughly understand networks, map them, and maintain an asset registry to help manage devices on all networks, including OT. Consider the security capabilities available on devices as part of routine architecture and asset review, and the most secure approach to hard-coded passwords. Scrutinise the organisation’s ICT supply chain vulnerabilities and risks. Prioritise secure-by-design or secure-by-default products. Consider the security controls of any new software, hardware, or OT before it is purchased, and understand vendor support for future patches and ongoing security costs. Build cyber security costs into budgets for the entire lifecycle of the product, including the product’s replacement. Understand what is necessary to keep critical services operating and protect these systems as a priority. Ensure OT and IT systems can be, or are, segmented to ensure the service is able to operate during a cyber incident. Treat a cyber incident as a ‘when’ not ‘if’ scenario in risk and business continuity planning, and regularly practice cyber incident response plans. Maintain open communication with ASD. ASD has a number of programs to support critical infrastructure, including cyber uplift activities and cyber threat intelligence sharing. Follow ASD’s cyber security publications tailored for critical infrastructure entities available at cyber.gov.au. Explainer 3: The Trusted Information Sharing Network The Department of Home Affairs’ Trusted Information Sharing Network (TISN) takes an all-hazards approach to help build security and resilience for organisations within the Australian critical infrastructure community. To rapidly and flexibly address current and future threats to Australia’s security, the TISN allows for all levels of government and industry to connect and collaborate. Since launching the TISN platform in 2022, the network has been vital in amplifying key messages and information to members, facilitating sector group meetings and contributing to the weekly Community of Interest meetings to inform members of current data breaches, cyber threats, and technical advice available from ASD. Explainer 4: Resilience in financial services CPS 230 Operational Risk Management Events of recent years have demonstrated the critical importance of financial institutions being able to manage and respond to operational risks, evident for example in the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, technology risks and natural disasters. Sound operational risk management is fundamental to financial safety and system stability. To ensure that all APRA-regulated entities in Australia are well placed to manage operational risk and respond to business disruptions when they inevitably occur, on 17 July 2023, APRA released the new Prudential Standard CPS 230 Operational Risk Management (CPS 230). CPS 230 encompasses operational risk controls and monitoring, business continuity planning and the management of third-party service providers. The aim of the standard is to: strengthen operational risk management with new requirements to address weaknesses that have been identified in existing practices of APRA-regulated entities. This includes requirements to maintain and test internal controls to ensure they are effective in managing key operational risks improve business continuity planning to ensure that APRA-regulated entities are ready to respond to severe business disruptions, and maintain critical operations such as payments, settlements, fund administration and claims processing. It is important that all APRA regulated entities are able to adapt processes and systems to continue to operate in the event of a disruption and set clear tolerances for the maximum level of disruption they are willing to accept for critical operations enhance third-party risk management by extending requirements to cover all material service providers that APRA-regulated entities rely upon for critical operations or that expose them to material operational risk, rather than just those that have been outsourced. The new standard also aims to ensure that APRA-regulated entities are well positioned to meet the challenges of rapid change in the industry and in technology more generally. CPS 234 Information Security As part of APRA’s Cyber Security Strategy, all regulated entities are required to engage an independent auditor to perform an assessment against CPS 234, APRA’s Information Security Prudential Standard. This is the largest assessment of its kind conducted by APRA. By the end of 2023, more than 300 banks, insurers and superannuation trustees will have completed their assessment. Early insights, from the assessments completed so far, have identified a number of common weaknesses across the industry, including: incomplete identification and classification for critical and sensitive information assets limited assessment of third-party information security capability inadequate definition and execution of control testing programs incident response plans not regularly reviewed or tested limited internal audit review of information security controls inconsistent reporting of material incidents and control weaknesses to APRA in a timely manner. A summary of these findings, along with guidance to address gaps, have been shared in a recent APRA Insight Article – Cyber Security Stocktake Exposes Gaps. Entities are encouraged to review the common weaknesses identified and incorporate relevant strategies and plans to address shortfalls in their own cyber security controls, governance policies and practices. APRA will continue to work with entities that do not sufficiently meet CPS 234 requirements, to lift the benchmark for cyber resilience across the financial services industry. Chapter 3: State actors State cyber actors will likely continue to target government and critical infrastructure, as well as connected systems and their supply chains as part of ongoing cyber espionage and information‑gathering campaigns. They do not just want state secrets; businesses also hold valuable and sensitive information. Some state actors are willing to use cyber capabilities to destabilise and disrupt systems and infrastructure. They may preposition on networks of strategic value for future malicious activities. Government and industry partnerships are vital in boosting national cyber security and resilience against cyberattacks by state actors. Strategic context The global and regional strategic environment continues to deteriorate, which is reflected in the observable activities of some state actors in cyberspace. In this context, these actors are increasingly using cyber operations as the preferred vector to build their geopolitical competitive edge, whether it is to support their economies or to underpin operations that challenge the sovereignty of others. In the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation’s Annual Report 2021–22, espionage and foreign interference was noted to have supplanted terrorism as Australia’s principal security concern. Some states are willing to use cyber capabilities to destabilise or disrupt economic, political and social systems. Some also target critical infrastructure or networks of strategic value with the aim of coercion or prepositioning on a network for future disruptive activity. State actors have an enduring interest in obtaining information to develop a detailed understanding of Australians and exploit this for their advantage. While government information is an attractive target for state actors seeking strategic insights into Australia’s national policy and decisions, many Australian businesses also hold sensitive and valuable data such as proprietary information, research, and personal information. Unlike cybercriminals who may post stolen data in public forums, state actors usually try to keep their activities covert – seeking to remain unnoticed, both when they are on an entity’s network and after a compromise. State actors use various tools and techniques In some cases, state actors may develop bespoke tools and techniques to fulfil their operational aims. In May 2023, ASD released a joint cyber security advisory with its international partners on the Snake implant – a cyber espionage tool designed and used by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) for long-term intelligence collection on high-priority targets around the globe. Shortly after, Australia co-badged another joint cyber security advisory with international partners that outlined malicious cyber activity associated with a People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored cyber actor. Case study 5: Advisory – People’s Republic of China state-sponsored cyber activity [Go to advisory] In May 2023, ASD joined international partners in highlighting a recently discovered cluster of activity associated with a PRC state-sponsored cyber actor, also known as Volt Typhoon. The campaign involved ‘living-off-the-land’ techniques – using built-in operating tools to help blend in with normal system and network activities. Private sector partners identified that this activity affected networks across US critical infrastructure sectors. However, the same techniques could be applied against critical infrastructure sectors worldwide, including in Australia. ASD published the People’s Republic of China State-Sponsored Cyber Actor Living off the Land to Evade Detection advisory on cyber.gov.au and hosted numerous events to brief its Network Partners. For help to implement the advisory – call 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371). Even when state actors have access to more advanced capabilities, they can use common tools and techniques to avoid the discovery of their best capabilities. For example, state actors continue to use relatively well-known tactics, such as exploiting unpatched or misconfigured systems and spear phishing. The threat of state actor cyber operations is very real State actors will likely continue to target government and critical infrastructure, as well as connected systems and their supply chains, as part of ongoing cyber espionage and information-gathering campaigns. Significant disruptive and destructive activities could occur if there were a major deterioration in Australia’s geopolitical environment. It is clear that preventative cyber security measures – such as implementing cyber security essentials, information-sharing and national cyber cooperation – are by far the best ways to help secure Australian networks. In focus: Russia’s war on Ukraine Cyber operations have been used alongside more conventional military activities during Russia’s war on Ukraine. Both Russia and Ukraine have faced many cyberattacks that impacted their societies, with extensive targeting of government and critical infrastructure networks. Cyberattacks that began before the invasion of Ukraine have continued into 2023. Between January 2022 and the first week of February 2023, the Computer Emergency Response Team-Europe (CERT-EU) identified and analysed 806 cyberattacks associated with Russia’s war on Ukraine. There has been extensive cyber targeting of Ukrainian networks across many sectors, including finance, telecommunications, energy, media, military and government. Ukraine has faced ransomware, denial‑of‑service (DoS) attacks, and mass phishing campaigns against critical infrastructure, government departments, officials and private citizens. Russia has also been subject to cyber operations. Russian authorities have reported some of its federal agencies’ websites, including its energy ministry, were compromised by unknown attackers in a supply chain attack. Cyberattacks against Russia have tended to target entities related to the government, military, banking, logistics, transport and energy sectors. Cyber operations have enabled a borderless conflict Cyber operations associated with Russia’s invasion have affected entities in multiple countries during the first year of the conflict, including the European Parliament, European governments, the Israeli Government, and hospitals in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, the US, and the UK. Many of these countries have linked the attacks to pro-Russian groups. For example, pro-Russian hacktivists, KillNet, have claimed a number of attacks such as the February 2023 DoS attack on numerous German websites, including those for German airports, public administration bodies, financial sector organisations, and other private companies. Belarus also reported its railway network was disrupted by a cyberattack, allegedly as retaliation for its use in transporting Russian troops. In some cases, Australia–based operations of European organisations have been impacted. Many cyber actors are involved in the conflict in offence and defence The mix of state and non-state cyber actors participating in Russia’s war on Ukraine has added to an already complex cyberspace domain. While state actors were on the ‘cyber front’, particularly during the earlier stages of the conflict, there was significant activity by hacktivists from around the globe as the conflict progressed. Regardless of whether a malicious cyber actor was a state, state-sponsored, or a non-state actor acting of their own volition, the scale and frequency of malicious cyber activity during the conflict has challenged cyber defenders on all sides. For example, at least 8 variants of destructive malware were identified in the first 6 weeks of the conflict, including wiper malware designed to erase data or prevent computers from booting. Both state and non-state cyber actors have been on the offensive and defensive. Ukraine’s networks have been resilient and have largely withstood sustained cyberattacks. Ukraine has said this resilience is due to robust defences developed following previous cyberattacks, as well as partnerships with private sector IT companies. For example, with the support of private companies, Ukrainian government data was migrated to cloud infrastructure, which assured continuity of government services. Private companies also rapidly released threat intelligence, like indicators of compromise, to assist cyber defenders to repel network attacks. Threat intelligence that might impact Australian entities is obtained by ASD through international partners and shared through cyber.gov.au and ASD’s Cyber Security Partnership Program. Cyber operations can cause disruption and destruction in conflict While the conflict remains ongoing, there are many lessons Australia can learn from Russia’s war on Ukraine. The world is witnessing the destructive impact of cyber operations during conflict, or in the pursuit of a state’s national interests, and how a broad range of critical infrastructure can be disrupted as a result of malicious cyber activity. It also demonstrates the impact non-state participants can have in modern conflict. The conflict has exemplified how government and industry partnerships are critical to boosting national cyber security and resilience. Case study 6: The CTIS community at work – KillNet The Cyber Threat Intelligence Sharing (CTIS) platform, operated by ASD, was developed with industry, for Australian Government and industry partners to build a comprehensive national threat picture and empower entities to defend their networks. CTIS allows participating entities to share indicators of compromise (IOCs) bilaterally at machine speed. Participating entities can use these IOCs to identify and block activity on their own networks, and share IOCs observed on their own networks with other CTIS partners. The number of partners using CTIS increased seven-fold over 2022–23: in July 2022 there were 32 CTIS partners (18 consuming, 14 contributing) in June 2023 there were 252 CTIS partners (165 consuming, 87 contributing) by the end of FY 2022–23, CTIS shared 50,436 pieces of cyber threat intelligence as of 2023, ASD is progressing a further 313 candidate organisations for on-boarding. In March 2023, a CTIS partner shared almost 1,000 IP addresses relating to a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on an Australian organisation. The partner linked the DDoS attack to the malicious cyber actor KillNet, a well-known pro-Russian hacktivist group. Since Russia’s war on Ukraine began, KillNet’s focus had been primarily Europe; however, recent trends suggest a shift to countries abroad, including Australia and its critical infrastructure. CTIS partner contributions help participants defend their networks, and inform ASD’s understanding of threat actors, their motives and their tactics, techniques, and procedures. This information also helps ASD to identify trends within and across sectors. For more information on CTIS, visit cyber.gov.au and become a Network Partner. Existing Network Partners can register their interest in accessing CTIS by either clicking on the ‘Register your interest’ button via the ASD Partnership Portal, or by contacting acsc.services@defence.gov.au. Chapter 4: Cybercrime Profit-driven cybercriminals continually seek new ways to maximise payment and minimise their risk, including by changing their tactics and techniques to mask their actions and extract payment from victims. Ransomware remains the most destructive cybercrime threat to Australians, but is not the only cybercrime. Business email compromise (BEC), data theft, and denial-of-service (DoS) continue to impose significant costs on all Australians. Building a national culture of cyber literacy, practicing good cyber security hygiene, and remaining vigilant to cybercriminal activity – both at work and at home – will help make it harder for cybercriminals to do business. Cybercrime is big business and causes harm Cybercrime is a multibillion-dollar industry that threatens the wellbeing and security of every Australian. Cybercrime covers a range of illegal activities such as data theft or manipulation, extortion, and disruption or destruction of computer-dependant services. In 2022–23, cybercrime impacted millions of Australians, including individuals, businesses and governments. These crimes have caused harm and continue to impose significant costs on all Australians. The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) found, in its Cybercrime in Australia 2023 report, that individual victims and small-to-medium businesses experience a range of harms from cybercrime that extend beyond financial costs, such as impacts to personal health and legal issues. Cybercrime remains significantly underreported in Australia. The AIC’s report revealed that two-thirds of survey respondents had been victims of cybercrime in their lifetimes. ASD needs community assistance to understand the cyber threat landscape. Australians are encouraged to report cyber security incidents and cybercrime to ReportCyber. ReportCyber is the Australian Government’s online cybercrime reporting tool coordinated by ASD and developed as a national initiative with state and territory police. ReportCyber may link Australians to other Australian Government entities for further support. Cybercrime in 2022–23 The number of extortion-related cyber security incidents ASD responded to increased by around 8 per cent compared to last financial year. Over 90 per cent of these incidents involved ransomware or other forms of restriction to systems, files or accounts. ASD responded to 79 cyber security incidents involving DoS and DDoS, which is more than double the 29 incidents reported to ASD last financial year. Cybercrime reports by state and territory Australia’s more populous states continue to report more cybercrime. Queensland and Victoria report disproportionately higher rates of cybercrime relative to their populations. However, the highest average reported losses were by victims in New South Wales (around $32,000 per cybercrime report where a financial loss occurred) and the Australian Capital Territory (around $29,000). Figure 4: Breakdown of cybercrime reports by jurisdiction for FY 2022–23 Note: Approximately one per cent of reports come from anonymous reporters and other Australian territories. Data has been extracted from live datasets of cybercrime and cyber security reports reported to ASD. As such, the statistics and conclusions in this report are based on point-in-time analysis and assessment. How criminals monetise access Profit-driven cybercriminals continually seek new ways to maximise payment and minimise their risk, including by changing their tactics and techniques to mask their actions and extract payment from victims. Their targeting is largely opportunistic but can also be aimed at specific entities or individuals. The professionalisation of the cybercrime industry means cybercriminals have been able to increase the scale and profitability of their activities. For example, initial access brokers sell their services and accesses to other malicious cyber actors who then use techniques, such as ransomware or data-theft extortion, to target victims. The accessibility of criminal marketplaces has also lowered the bar for entry into cybercrime, which has made cybercrime more accessible to a wide range of actors. To gain initial access, cybercriminals may send multiple malicious links to a broad list of people (known as a phishing campaign), or scan for unpatched and misconfigured systems. Once they compromise a network, they may seek to move laterally through the network to gain access to higher-value systems, information or targets. Cybercriminals may draw on a number of techniques to extract payment from victims, including employing multiple techniques at once – known as double or multiple extortion. While ransomware is a well-known technique, cybercriminals can monetise access to compromised data or systems in many different ways. They may scam a business out of money or goods, extort victims in return for decrypting data or non‑publication of data, on-sell compromised data or systems access for profit, or exploit compromised data or systems for future use. Social engineering: how criminals get a foothold Social engineering is a way in which cybercriminals can gain unauthorised access to systems or data by manipulating a person. They may do this by creating a sense of urgency or desire to help, or by impersonating a trusted source to convince a victim to click on a malicious link or file, or reveal sensitive information through other means – such as over the phone. Phishing is one of the most common and effective techniques used by cybercriminals to gain unauthorised access to a computer system or network, and this activity may be indiscriminate or targeted. Once a victim engages with the malicious link or file, they may be prompted to provide personal details, or malware may run on their device to covertly retrieve this information. Cybercriminals may then use this information to steal money or goods, or leverage this information to access other accounts and systems of higher value. Australians are becoming more aware of techniques dependent on social engineering, like phishing, but more can be done to build resilience: think twice before clicking on links from unsolicited correspondence verify the legitimacy of suspicious messages with the source via their official website or verified contact information, particularly if it is a request to transfer money or supply sensitive information. Visit the entity’s website directly, rather than via links in emails, SMS or other messaging services report unusual activity as quickly as possible to ReportCyber and Scamwatch educate staff on corporate-focused social engineering tactics and how to identify risk. Explainer 5: Common cybercriminal techniques Phishing is an attempt to trick recipients into clicking on malicious links or attachments to harvest sensitive information, like login details or bank account details, or to facilitate other malicious activity. Spear phishing is more targeted and tailored: cybercriminals may research victims using social media and the internet to craft convincing messages designed to lure specific victims. Ransomware is a type of extortion that uses malware for data or system encryption. Cybercriminals encrypt data or a system and request payment in return for decryption keys. Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) is a business model between ransomware operators and ransomware buyers known as ‘affiliates’. Affiliates pay a fee to RaaS operators to use their ransomware, which can enable affiliates with little technical knowledge to deploy ransomware attacks. Data-theft extortion does not require data encryption, but cybercriminals will use extortion tactics such as threatening to expose sensitive data to extract payment. The added threat of reputational damage is intended to pressure a victim into complying with the malicious cyber actor’s demands. Data theft and on-sale is when data is extracted for use by a cybercriminal for the purpose of on-selling the data (such as personal information, logins or passwords) for further criminal activity, including fraud and financial theft. Some malware known as an ‘infostealer’ can do this job for the cybercriminal. Business email compromise (BEC) is a form of email fraud. Cybercriminals target organisations and try to scam them out of money or goods by attempting to trick employees into revealing important business information, often by impersonating trusted senders. BEC can also involve a cybercriminal gaining access to a business email address and then sending out spear phishing emails to clients and customers for information or payment. Denial-of-service (DoS) is designed to disrupt or degrade online services, such as a website. Cybercriminals may direct a large volume of unwanted traffic to consume the victim network’s bandwidth, which limits or prevents legitimate users from accessing the website. Ransomware is a destructive cybercrime Ransomware remains the most destructive cybercrime threat in 2022–23 to Australian entities. ASD recorded 118 ransomware incidents – around 10 per cent of all cyber security incidents. A quarter of the ransomware reports also involved confirmed data exfiltration, also known as ‘double extortion’, where the actor extorts the victim for both data decryption and the non-publication of data. Other ransomware actors claimed to have exfiltrated data, but it is difficult to validate these claims until data exfiltration is confirmed or the legitimacy of leaked data is confirmed. Ransomware is deliberatively disruptive, and places pressure on victims by encrypting and denying access to files. A ransom, usually in the form of cryptocurrency, is then demanded to restore access. This can inhibit entities, particularly those that rely on computer systems to operate and undertake core business functions. Customers may also be impacted if they rely on the goods or services from that entity, or if their data is impacted. For example, in January 2023, cybercriminals reportedly compromised the postal service in the UK, encrypting files and disrupting international shipments for weeks. In other instances, ransomware incidents have had cascading impacts, sparking panic buying, fuel shortages, and medical procedure cancellations. ASD advises against paying ransoms. Payment following a cybercrime incident does not guarantee that the cybercriminals have not already exfiltrated data for on-sale and future extortion. ASD’s incident management capabilities provide technical incident response advice and assistance to Australian organisations. Further information can be found in the How the ASD's ACSC Can Help During a Cyber Security Incident guide. Case study 7: Ransomware in Australia In late 2022, an Australian education institution was impacted by the Royal ransomware, which is likely associated with Russian-speaking cybercrime actors. Royal ransomware restricts access to corporate files and systems through encryption. Notably, it uses a technique called ‘callback phishing’, which tricks a victim into returning a phone call or opening an email attachment that persuades them to install malicious remote access software. When the institution detected the ransomware, it shut down some of its IT systems to stop the spread, which resulted in limited service disruption. An investigation revealed that a limited amount of personal information of both students and staff was compromised. The institution notified affected individuals and reminded them to remain vigilant for suspicious emails or communication. The institution also advised all students and staff to reset their passwords and introduced an additional verification process for remote users. An ICT manager from the institution said downtime from the incident was minimal due to an effective business continuity plan and access to regular backups, which were unaffected by encryption. After the incident, the institution began moving toward more secure data storage methods. The ICT manager said the incident highlighted how ubiquitous data is in an enterprise environment. ‘There were no crown jewels affected, so to speak. Important data was spread across the network. This incident taught us some lessons in relation to account management, and the regular review and archival of data’. In January 2023, ASD published to cyber.gov.au the Royal Ransomware Profile, which describes its tactics, techniques and procedures and outlines mitigations. The ransomware profile was informed by cyber threat intelligence that the education institution shared with ASD. Sectors impacted by ransomware-related cyber security incidents The professional, scientific and technical services sector reported ransomware-related cyber security incidents most frequently to ReportCyber in 2022–23, followed by the retail trade sector, then the manufacturing sector. These 3 sectors accounted for over 40 per cent of reported ransomware-related cyber security incidents. Table 5: Top 5 sectors reporting ransomware-related incidents in FY 2022–23 (ReportCyber data) Entities should consider how a ransomware incident could impact their business and their customers. To help prevent a ransomware attack, it is important to secure devices by turning on multi-factor authentication (MFA), implementing access controls, performing and testing frequent backups, regularly updating devices, and disabling Microsoft Office macros. It is also equally important to practice incident response plans to minimise the impact in the event of a successful ransomware incident. Business email compromise is lucrative BEC is an effective and lucrative technique that exploits trust in business processes and relationships for financial gain. Cybercriminals can compromise the genuine email account of a trusted sender, or impersonate a trusted sender, to solicit sensitive information, money or goods from businesses partners, customers or employees. For example, a cybercriminal may gain access to the email account of a business and send an invoice with new bank account details to a customer of that business. The customer pays the invoice using the fraudulent bank account details provided by the cybercriminal, which is often thousands of dollars. A compromised business may only detect BEC once a customer has paid cybercriminals. In 2022–23, the total self-reported BEC losses to ReportCyber was almost $80 million. There were over 2,000 reports made to law enforcement through ReportCyber of BEC that led to a financial loss. On average, the financial loss from each BEC incident was over $39,000. Before replying to requests seeking money or personal information, look out for changes such as a new point-of-contact, email address or bank details. Simple things like calling an existing contact or the trusted sender to verify a request for money or change of payment details can help to prevent BEC. Explainer 6: Business email compromise advice Organisations should implement clear policies and procedures for workers to verify and validate requests for payment and sensitive information. Additionally: Register additional domain names to prevent typo-squatting – cybercriminals may create misleading domain names based on common typographic errors of a website, hoping its customers do not notice. Further information on Domain Name System Security for Domain Owners is available at cyber.gov.au. Set up email authentication protocols business domains – this helps prevent email spoofing attacks so that cybercriminals cannot wear a ‘digital mask’ pretending to be legitimate. ASD has published the Preventing Business Email Compromise guide to help Australian organisations understand and prevent BEC. Case study 8: Scams in Australia In April 2023, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released its Targeting Scams report. The report, which compiles data reported to the ACCC’s Scamwatch, ReportCyber, the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange, IDCARE and other government agencies, provides insight into the scams that impacted Australians in 2022. The report also outlines some of the activities by government, law enforcement, the private sector and community to disrupt and prevent scams. The Targeting Scams report revealed Australians lost over $3 billion to scams in 2022. This is an 80 per cent increase on total losses recorded in 2021. Investment scams were the highest loss category ($1.5 billion), followed by remote access scams ($229 million) and payment redirection scams ($224 million). The most reported contact method used by scammers was text message; however, scam phone calls accounted for the highest reported losses. The second highest reported losses were from social media scams. Older Australians lost more money to scams than other age groups with those aged 65 and over losing $120.7 million, an increase of 47.4 per cent from 2021. First Nations Australians, Australians with disability, and Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse communities each experienced increased losses to scams when compared with data from 2021. On 1 July 2023, the Government launched the National Anti-Scam Centre. The Anti-Scam Centre will expand on the work of the ACCC’s Scamwatch service and bring together experts from government agencies, the private sector, law enforcement, and consumer groups to make Australia a harder target for scammers. Hacktivists are using cyberattacks to further their causes Hacktivism is used to describe a person or group who uses malicious cyber activity to further social or political causes, rather than for financial gain. These malicious cyber actors, which include issue-motivated groups, are typically less capable, less organised, and less resourced than other types of malicious cyber actors. That said, even rudimentary disruptive activity – such as website defacement, hijacking of official social media accounts, leaking information, or DoS – can cause significant harm, reputational damage, and operational impacts to targeted entities. Like cybercriminals, hacktivists may leverage malicious tools and services online to gain new capabilities and improve their ability to degrade or disrupt services for their cause. Case study 9: Australian critical infrastructure targeted by issue-motivated DDoS In March 2023, ASD became aware of reports of issue-motivated groups (hacktivists) targeting Australian organisations. Open source reporting linked the targeting of over 70 organisations to religiously motivated hacktivists. The malicious activity commenced on 18 March with the defacement of, and/or DDoS against, the websites and other internet-facing services of small-to-medium businesses. This progressed to DDoS activity targeting the websites of Australian critical infrastructure entities, with multiple hacktivist groups announcing support for the campaign and publishing ‘target lists’ across a variety of platforms. ASD received several incident reports from organisations experiencing hacktivist activity, including critical infrastructure providers. However, there was no impact on critical infrastructure operations, as only public-facing websites were affected. ASD provided advice and support to organisations, including by identifying IP addresses related to the attacks. ASD also shared indicators of compromise with its Network Partners. In addition to ASD support, critical infrastructure providers worked closely with commercial incident-response providers and their in-house incident-response teams. One critical infrastructure provider identified through open source research that a second DDoS attack was being planned against their servers. To prevent this attack, administrators enabled geo-blocking – where traffic from specific geolocations known to be used by the malicious cyber actor were blocked – to limit malicious traffic. This simple tactic helped the organisation avoid a second attack. As a result, the organisation did not suffer from any additional downtime. ASD urges organisations to report all incidents – even those with minimal impact on operations – to enhance national situational awareness, especially of coordinated malicious activity. Your report to ASD could help prevent or defend against an attack on other Australian networks. Denial-of-service operations are designed to disrupt DoS attacks disrupt or degrade online services such as websites and email, and are another tactic used by cybercriminals and hacktivists. This technique causes access or service disruption to the victim, sometimes to pressure them into payment or to highlight a cause. In these attacks, an online service is overwhelmed by so many illegitimate requests that it loses capacity to serve real users. DoS can also be achieved by hijacking an online service to redirect legitimate users to other services controlled by malicious cyber actors. In some instances, DDoS attacks can use huge numbers of ‘zombie’ computers or bots (hijacked by malware), to direct large volumes of unwanted network traffic to a web service. ASD recorded 79 DoS and DDoS cyber security incidents in 2022–23, with service availability partly or wholly denied for the victim in 62 of those incidents. The remainder of the incidents had no impact on the victim. Entities who maintained situational awareness of DoS threats and proactively implemented mitigations were reportedly less impacted by subsequent DoS. Although entities cannot avoid being targeted, they can implement measures to prepare for and reduce the impact of a DoS attack. This includes using DDoS protection services and exercising incident response and business continuity plans. Defence against cybercrime Both individuals and organisations can take simple steps to help build their cyber security. Many of these steps can often prevent initial access by cybercriminals. All Australians should: enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for online services when available use long unique passphrases for every account if MFA is not available, particularly for services like email and banking (password managers can assist with such activities) turn on automatic updates for all software – do not ignore installation prompts regularly back up important files and device configuration settings be alert for phishing messages and scams sign up for ASD’s free Alert Service report cybercrime to ReportCyber. Australian organisations should also: only use reputable cloud service providers and managed service providers that implement appropriate cyber security measures regularly test cyber security detection, incident response, business continuity and disaster recovery plans review the cyber security posture of remote workers including their use of communication, collaboration and business productivity software train staff on cyber security matters, in particular how to recognise scams and phishing attempts implement relevant guidance from ASD’s Essential Eight Maturity Model, Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents and Information Security Manual join ASD’s Cyber Security Partnership Program report cybercrime and cyber security incidents to ReportCyber. ASD has published a range of guides at cyber.gov.au to support Australians and Australian organisations in building their cyber resilience, including how to defend against ransomware attacks, and how to detect socially engineered messages, phishing emails and texts. Chapter 5: Cyber enabled data breaches During FY 2022–23, ASD received an increase in data breach reports as millions of Australians had their information compromised through significant data breaches. Malicious cyber actors stole data by using valid account credentials or by exploiting internet-facing applications. Sensitive data should be deleted or de-identified when it is no longer needed or required. Organisational policies and processes should consider how to protect gathered and generated data. Data ubiquity Data is valuable to malicious cyber actors as data and data flows underpin almost every modern technology and digital service. During 2022–23, millions of Australians had their private information compromised through significant data breaches, and some Australians were exposed to multiple breaches. A data breach occurs when information is shared with, or is accessed by, an unauthorised person or third party. Isolation and remediation of the breach could cost millions of dollars. The complete recovery cost is hard to quantify, but could include losses due to productivity, legal action and reputational damage. An entity’s customers or staff could experience harm from a data breach if their private information is used by criminals for cyber or other fraud or scams, including identity theft. Protecting data, particularly sensitive personal information, is vital for the safety of the community, the prosperity of business, and the nation’s security. Explainer 7: Vital data Organisations should consider what data is vital to their operations, and individuals should consider what data might affect their privacy. Data can take many forms such as personal information. Personal information includes a broad range of information, or an opinion, that could identify an individual. It can encompass things such as an individual’s name, date of birth, drivers licence or passport details, phone number, home address, health records, credit information, mobile device location history, and voiceprint and facial recognition details. Other forms of data could include sensitive financial information, corporate emails, intellectual property and research, or strategic business plans. Information associated with network telemetry and endpoint security information, or machine learning models, also generate potentially useful information which can be exploited by malicious cyber actors. Data breach incidents in Australia During 2022–23, many data breaches reported to ASD involved cybercriminals stealing customer personal information from organisations to support extortion activities. Organisations should be aware that a data breach could be a precursor to the destruction or encryption of data. Of the cyber security incidents recorded by ASD during 2022–23, 150 were data breaches, making up around 13 per cent of all incidents. Compared to 2021–22, this is up from 81 data breaches or 7 per cent of all incidents. Data breaches were the third most common incident type in 2022–23, behind compromised infrastructure (15.2 per cent) and compromised credentials (18.8 per cent). Phishing, a tactic whereby a user is induced to open a malicious email attachment or to visit a compromised website, was commonly used to steal credentials. Malicious cyber actors also obtained credentials from unrelated cyberattacks and breaches. ASD’s incident data showed an extensive network compromise almost always occurred when a malicious cyber actor successfully accessed privileged accounts. In 2022–23, ASD responded to a number of data breaches that involved common characteristics and intrusion chains. Broadly, these incidents demonstrated either: opportunistic intrusions involving a malicious actor exploiting a single internet-facing application or service which contained data. Actors typically used a ‘smash and grab’ technique to steal data directly from this single initial access vector complex intrusions involving a malicious actor demonstrating a wider variety of techniques after initial access as they escalated privileges, and moved laterally seeking data to exploit. These intrusions resulted in more extensive network compromise. Generally, incidents where malicious actors successfully compromised privileged accounts also resulted in more complex intrusions and extensive incidents. Diving deeper into data breaches ASD conducted a detailed analysis of data breach incidents between 1 November 2021 and 30 October 2022. Analysis revealed the average amount of data reported to have been exfiltrated during a breach was around 120 gigabytes, with the highest reported amount being around 870 gigabytes. Table 6 outlines the top information types exposed during a breach. Table 6: Types of information stolen in data breaches Note: some incidents included the breach of multiple types of information. Different types of information may carry different risks. For example, health information is likely to be more sensitive than contact information and will require greater protection. Table 6 indicates contact information was breached most frequently, likely because this type of data is widely collected and has increased exposure. During the same analysis period, 41 per cent of data breaches involved malicious cyber actors exploiting valid accounts and credentials to access cloud services, local systems, or entire networks. Malicious cyber actors commonly used brute-force attacks to take advantage of simple and re-used passwords to access accounts, or used phishing to obtain credentials. Around 34 per cent of data breaches involved exploitation of internet-facing applications. Common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) were often exploited, and so was human misconfiguration of devices like unsecured application programming interfaces, or common bugs and flaws in software; for example, insecure direct object references. To help Australian organisations, the ASD has published the Preventing Web Application Access Control Abuse advisory. Figure 5: Anatomy of a data breach To steal data from an organisation, malicious cyber actors will commonly exploit online services and internet-facing devices, or penetrate a network’s perimeter using stolen or easily guessed credentials. Once inside a network, malicious actors will often attempt to escalate their privileges, move laterally across a network to find data to steal and/or other systems to exploit, and then attempt to exfiltrate data back through the network perimeter. Stolen data for nefarious use Different malicious cyber actors have differing motivations for stealing data. For example, cybercriminals may use stolen data, particularly personal information, as a basis for identity theft or to conduct phishing campaigns for financial gain. State actors are also interested in personal information, among other data types, although this is more likely for espionage purposes rather than financial gain. Irrespective of motivation, the impacts of data breaches on victims are actor agnostic – Australians can be exposed to harm and organisations can experience losses. Data stolen by cybercriminals typically ends up on the dark web marketplaces where it can be shared, bought, and sold by other malicious cyber actors. For example, stolen credentials may end up with initial access brokers who specialise in dealing stolen usernames and passwords. Malicious cyber actors can also piece together seemingly innocuous information like an email address, a date of birth, or a phone number to target someone for spear phishing, fraud, or to leverage that person to gain other privileged accesses and information. Once exposed, some data can be used in perpetuity for future crime, particularly in cases of identity theft, blackmail, or extortion. A victim’s real name and home address can be difficult to change, unlike stolen credentials which are easily updated. ASD has also received reports of cyber security incidents in which threat actors claimed to have exfiltrated data; however, subsequent investigations have not identified evidence of exfiltration. While a threat actor’s assertion of data exfiltration may be an attempt to elevate urgency or pressure affected entities, it remains important to thoroughly investigate evidence to support or counter the claim. Case study 10: Operation GUARDIAN On 28 September 2022, the Australian Federal Police’s Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3) commenced Operation GUARDIAN to coordinate efforts to protect those at higher risk of financial fraud and identity theft as a result of the Optus data breach. Since the Optus incident, Operation GUARDIAN has expanded to include the Medibank, MyDeal, Latitude, and the Go-Anywhere data breaches. Some breaches have resulted in the exposure of personal information and sensitive data of Australians. The purpose of Operation GUARDIAN is to monitor, disrupt and prosecute any person misusing personal information exposed as a result of data breaches. It aims to deter criminals from using data for malicious purposes and to educate the public. Operation GUARDIAN works with the public and private sectors to search the internet and known criminal online sites to identify exposed personal information and those who are attempting to buy or sell it. Case study 11: Awareness and impact of data breaches in the Australian community According to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey (ACAPS) 2023, three-quarters (74 per cent) of Australians believe that data breaches are one of the biggest privacy risks they face today, and a quarter (27 per cent) said it is the single biggest risk to privacy in 2023. Almost half (47 per cent) of Australians said they had been told by an organisation that their information was involved in a data breach in the prior year, and a similar proportion (51 per cent) know someone who was affected by a breach. Three-quarters (76 per cent) of those whose data was involved in a breach said they experienced harm as a result. More than half (52 per cent) reported an increase in scams or spam texts or emails. There were 3 in 10 (29 per cent) who said they had to replace key identity documents, such as drivers licences or passports. Around 1 in 10 experienced significant issues such as emotional or psychological harm (12 per cent), financial or credit fraud (11 per cent) or identity theft (10 per cent). Nearly half (47 per cent) of Australians said they would close their account or stop using a product or service provided by an organisation that experienced a data breach. However, most Australians are willing to remain with a breached organisation provided that organisation promptly takes action, such as quickly putting steps in place to prevent customers experiencing further harm from the breach (62 per cent) and making improvements to their security practices (61 per cent). Only 12 per cent of Australians said there is nothing an organisation could do that would influence them to stay after a data breach. There are a range of ways organisations can protect personal information. A quarter (26 per cent) of Australians believe the most important step is for organisations to collect only the information necessary to provide the product or service. Australians view the second most important thing organisations can do is take proactive steps to protect the information they hold (24 per cent). The OAIC commissioned Lonergan Research to undertake ACAPS 2023. The survey was conducted in March 2023 with a nationally representative sample of 1,916 unique respondents aged 18 and older. To read the full report visit oaic.gov.au/acaps. Mitigating data breaches Implementing ASD’s Essential Eight, and the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top Ten Proactive Controls will help protect data by minimising the risks to systems and networks, online services and internet-facing devices. At least fortnightly, organisations should use an automated method to scan for security vulnerabilities and apply timely patches or mitigations to minimise risks. Other effective controls to help mitigate data breaches include: deploy multi-factor authentication (MFA) to mitigate stolen credential abuse enforce strong passphrase policy to secure accounts block internet-facing services that are not authorised to be internet-facing immediately decommission unnecessary systems and services configure server applications to run as a separate account with the minimum privileges to mitigate account abuse mandate user training to recognise phishing or social engineering attempts. Encryption can further protect data that is stored or in transit between systems. For example, sensitive data about former customers that must be legally retained should be encrypted and stored offline, inaccessible to the internet. Data communicated between database servers and web servers, especially over the internet, are susceptible to compromise and should be encrypted. Further guidance about how organisations can protect data is contained within ASD’s Information Security Manual. The most cyber resilient organisations have a well-thought-out and exercised cyber incident response plan that includes a data breach response plan or playbook. A robust plan will help organisations respond to a data breach, rapidly notify relevant organisations and individuals to minimise the risk of harm, restore business operations, comply with relevant obligations, and reduce the costs and potential reputational damage that may result from a breach. Organisations should include a strategy for communicating with customers in their cyber incident response plan, and consider how to protect customers from, and assist with, the consequences of a breach. For example, organisations can inform their customers whether or not hyperlinks will be used in their communications after a breach – or at all – to help them avoid falling prey to phishing attempts. ASD has published guidance on cyber.gov.au, like the Guidelines for Database Systems to help organisations enhance database security. Chapter 6: Cyber resilience Cyber resilience is helping to ensure an entity is resistant to cyber threats. For enterprise, this includes organisation-wide cyber risk management and consideration of third-party risks, such as vendors, service providers, and new technologies. Artificial intelligence (AI) has great benefits to organisations but also poses security challenges; a risk-based approach to using AI within ICT environments as per other services is recommended. Invest in prevention, response and recovery to reduce the impact of a compromise and build the resilience of Australian systems. Practice good cyber hygiene at work and at home. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), use unique passphrases, enable automatic updates, regularly back up important data, and report suspicious cyber activity. Cooperation on a national scale is one of Australia’s greatest advantages against malicious cyber activities. Keep up to date at cyber.gov.au, and engage with ASD’s Cyber Security Partnership Program to help build the nation’s collective cyber resilience. Digital supply chains increase the attack surface Most entities have some component of their ICT outsourced to a third party, such as hardware supply, web and data hosting, and software-as-a-service or other enterprise resource planning tools. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Characteristics of Australian Business data, during 2021–22, around 85 per cent of Australian businesses used ICT, and 59 per cent used cloud technology. These measures have been trending up year-on-year. During 2022–23, ASD published a number of alerts warning Australians about vulnerabilities relating to products commonly found in ICT supply chains, like Citrix Gateway and Application Delivery Controller devices. During March 2023, ASD published an alert describing a supply chain compromise affecting multiple versions of the 3CX DesktopApp – a popular voice-over-IP application. While an entity can outsource ICT functions to access specialist skills, increase efficiency, and lower costs, it must still manage and be accountable for cyber security risk. ICT supply chain expansion can increase the attack surface, particularly as there may be varying levels of cyber security maturity among both customers and suppliers. A malicious cyber actor can compromise numerous victims at scale by targeting a single upstream or third‑party supplier. An ICT supply chain attack comprises 2 attacks: an initial attack on a supplier, and a subsequent attack on its customers. For example, a managed service provider (MSP) might have privileged network access to hundreds of customers or hold huge amounts of sensitive data. After compromising an MSP, a malicious cyber actor could then exploit the MSP’s privileged network accesses, or steal sensitive data to extort its customers directly. This highlights that, while an entity might have leading-edge cyber defences, its security posture will only be as strong as its weakest link, which may be in its ICT supply chain. To conduct an ICT supply chain attack, malicious cyber actors will commonly abuse misconfigurations in devices and the trust between supplier services and customer networks, conduct phishing attacks, and exploit common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs). Figure 6 outlines some of the common adversary goals and techniques associated with ICT supply chain attacks. Defeating ICT supply chain threats requires effort from both customers and suppliers. The most effective measures combine both business and technical controls conducted at the earliest stage of ICT procurement or development. While a downstream customer may have no influence over their supplier’s security posture, they can improve their own cyber security to help mitigate risks. Suppliers should prioritise the secure-by-design and secure-by-default principles to improve their own product security and therefore their customers’ security. Customers should clearly state cyber security expectations upfront as part of any contract, such as requiring that a supplier meet particular cyber security standards. Entities should appraise their suppliers of their risk tolerances, and might want to ask how the supplier will demonstrate good security practices, justify their product’s accesses and privileges, and guarantee genuine product delivery. Entities should also consider whether their supplier may be subject to foreign control or interference. Figure 6: ICT supply chain threats Australian organisations face many cyber threats, including from the ICT supply chain. Malicious cyber actors who target upstream suppliers, such as by compromising a cloud host, may be able to impact downstream customers by exploiting the trust between that supplier and its customers. An attacker could then conduct data theft and extortion activities, or other attacks like denial-of-service. An organisation’s cyber security posture is only as strong as its weakest link, which could be an entity in its ICT supply chain. Mitigating ICT supply chain threats Organisations can boost their ICT supply chain defences in many ways, including by implementing ASD’s Essential Eight. The most effective technical controls to mitigate risks combine both mitigation and detection techniques, and are supported by a positive organisation-wide cyber secure culture. Some controls for both customers and suppliers include: deploy MFA to mitigate stolen credential abuse regularly scan for vulnerabilities and update software to minimise risks from vulnerabilities segment networks and enforce account management to isolate critical systems correctly configure software to minimise security risks use network and endpoint detection systems to identify malicious traffic and files monitor logon and network logs to detect unusual activity mandate user training to recognise phishing or social engineering attempts. To help Australian organisations, ASD has published guidance, available at cyber.gov.au such as Identifying Cyber Supply Chain Risks, Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management, Guidelines for Procurement and Outsourcing, and Shifting the Balance of Cybersecurity Risk: Principles and Approaches for Security-by-Design and Default. Secure-by-design and secure-by-default products Secure-by-design products are those where the security of the customer is a core business goal, not just a technical feature, and start with that goal in mind before development. Secure-by-default products require little to no configuration changes out of the box to ensure security features are enabled. Together, these approaches move much of the burden of staying secure to the manufacturers, which reduces the chances that customers will fall victim to security incidents resulting from misconfigurations, insufficiently fast patching, or many other common issues at the user end. Entities are encouraged to prioritise secure-by-design and secure-by-default products in procurement processes, and collaborate with industry peers and manufacturers to help improve upcoming security initiatives in products. Shifting the Balance of Cybersecurity Risk: Principles and Approaches for Security-by-Design and Default, offers further advice to software manufacturers and customers. Artificial intelligence cyber security challenges In early 2023, AI tools were among the fastest growing consumer applications globally. Broadly, AI is a collection of methods and tools that enable machines to perform tasks that would ordinarily require human intelligence. AI tools are increasingly being used to augment human activities like sorting large data sets, automating routine tasks, and assisting visual design work. Machine learning (ML) is a sub-discipline of AI encompassing models that use feedback mechanisms to update model behaviour. ML models are typically used to make classifications and predictions, and to uncover patterns or insights in large data sets that may be impossible for a human to spot. Over the last 3 years, the practical applications for AI have expanded, the costs have come down, and AI tools are more accessible than ever. Australians already interact frequently with AI, as AI drives internet searching, shopping recommendations, satellite navigation, and can aid complex activities like logistics management, medical diagnosis, and cyber security. AI tools can be used to provide human-like customer responses for help desks or call centres, and can help predict upcoming maintenance for industrial equipment. While AI has benefited the economy and society, it has also created new challenges and data security risks. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into business environments and ICT infrastructures, additional and potentially unforeseen risks could be introduced. And, like any tool, AI can be misused either inadvertently or deliberately. In 2022, a medical research collaboration for a pharmaceutical company trained an AI model using ML techniques to catalogue thousands of molecules for therapeutic use while discarding toxic molecules. While the researchers were able to catalogue many beneficial molecules, the researchers also wanted to know how AI could be misused. So they changed the AI model to find toxic rather than safe molecules. Using open source data, their AI model generated over 40,000 potentially lethal molecules in less than 6 hours. Security researchers have also shown how data sets used for ML can be attacked and ‘poisoned’ with anomalous data to produce misleading outputs. In 2016, Microsoft abruptly ended testing of a chatbot after a subset of its users deliberately provided data containing misinformation and abusive material, resulting in offensive text being produced by the chatbot. Malicious cyber actors could also use AI tools to augment their activities. For example, a cybercriminal may be able to produce low effort, high quality material for phishing attacks. AI could also be used to create fraudulent deepfake content like voice and video clips, or to create malware. Security researchers have demonstrated with existing technologies that malicious actors could use AI to help orchestrate cyber intrusions. AI tools may also challenge the protection of sensitive information. For example, AI tools that produce or summarise text may not guarantee data privacy if it is fed sensitive or proprietary information. Additionally, using sensitive information for AI models and ML may contravene privacy laws, policies, or rules in some instances. As online adversaries can use AI tools, so too can system defenders. AI can sort through large volumes of logs or telemetry data to look for malicious behaviour, identify malware, detect and block exploitation attempts, or derive intelligence insights. AI can also help triage information and automate security tasks, so humans can focus on other problems. Entities wanting to adopt AI tools should treat them with the same care as any other ICT service, use a risk-based approach to procurement, and consider: if the AI tool is secure-by-design and secure-by-default, including its ICT supply chain if there are inaccuracies in the AI tool’s model or bias in its algorithms how the AI tool will be protected from misuse and interference (including foreign) how the AI tool will affect the entity’s privacy and data protection obligations how the AI tool will support, rather than outsource, human decision-making who is accountable for oversight or if something goes wrong with the AI tool. Explainer 8: Ethical AI at ASD In early 2023, ASD published the Ethical AI in ASD statement, which outlines ASD’s framework of ethical principles governing AI usage. This includes: lawful and appropriate use of AI consistent with the legislation, policies, processes and frameworks that govern ASD’s functions and protect the privacy of Australian citizens enabling human decision-making, allowing our workforce and customers to make informed decisions based on AI system outputs, and to maintain trust in AI systems reliable and secure AI, ensuring that technologies continue to meet their intended purpose and remain protected from external interference accurate and fair AI mitigating against unintended bias accountable, transparent and explainable AI allowing human oversight and control, with clear accountabilities enacted for all stages of the AI development lifecycle, facilitating appropriate and proportionate operations. Ensuring remote work cyber security Many organisations rapidly adopted new remote work solutions to support business continuity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of Australian companies advertising remote work post-pandemic continues to grow, and it is clear that remote work will be an ongoing feature of many organisations and an expectation of many employees. Some hastily implemented remote working solutions may not have fully considered cyber security implications. For example, bring-your-own-device policies are popular with organisations, but could introduce additional information management risks to corporate networks if not appropriately managed. During 2022–23, ASD recorded extensive corporate network breaches that stemmed from employees conducting work from compromised personal devices. In 2022, US company LastPass suffered a data breach due to credentials being stolen via keylogger malware installed on the home computer of one of its employees. Remote work often relies on employees using their own devices like home computers and internet routers, which usually have limited security features and less secure default settings when compared to enterprise products used in corporate environments. Internal corporate networks could be exposed to the internet directly via a remote employee’s home router, if that home router is misconfigured. Adding to the risks, employees may not regularly update their personal devices or use anti malware software, may access dubious websites or use illegal software, or may have failed to change the default credentials of their devices. Malicious cyber actors are known to compromise common small-home-office products and internet-of-things devices to steal sensitive information, target corporate networks, or to enslave them into botnets for distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Organisations should consider how cyber security mitigations for remote solutions are implemented, maintained, and audited. Organisations should also verify that policies are in place to ensure staff know how to securely use systems, and to ensure compliance with legal obligations like the protection of sensitive data. ASD has published a number of guides at cyber.gov.au including Guidelines for Enterprise Mobility, Remote Working and Secure Mobility and Risk Management of Enterprise Mobility (including Bring Your Own Device). Explainer 9: Working from home and cybercrime The Australian Institute of Criminology’s Cybercrime in Australia 2023 report examined whether working from home was a risk factor for cybercrime victimisation. Small-to-medium business owners who transitioned to working from home due to public health measures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic were 1.4 times as likely to be a victim of identity crime and misuse, 1.2 times as likely to be a victim of malware attacks and 1.3 times as likely to be a victim of fraud and scams. There are various reasons that moving to remote working may have increased the likelihood of cybercrime victims. For a business working remotely, home internet connections may be less secure, devices may no longer be protected by corporate security controls or routine maintenance, and there may be a tendency to store or share sensitive work information on unsecure personal devices. Cyber security through partnerships The speed with which cyber threats spread and evolve means that no single entity can effectively defend against all threats in isolation. Cooperation on a national scale is one of Australia’s greatest advantages against malicious cyber activity. It is vital cyber security incidents are reported to ASD to help build a national cyber threat intelligence picture, which better supports Australian organisations and individuals through informed guidance and mitigation advice. There are many other ways in which Australian organisations can engage with ASD. ASD’s Cyber Security Partnership Program enables Australian entities to engage with ASD and fellow partners, drawing on collective understanding, experience, skills and capability to lift cyber resilience across the Australian economy. ASD’s Cyber Security Partnership Program is delivered through ASD’s state offices located around Australia. An ASD Network Partnership is available to organisations with responsibility for the security of a network or networks (either their own or on behalf of customers) as well as academic, research and not-for-profit institutions with an active interest and expertise in cyber security. An ASD Business Partnership is available to those with a valid Australian Business Number. Individuals and families can sign up to the ASD Home Partner Program. By strengthening our ties with agencies like ASD and broader cyber security partners within the transport and logistics sector, the Toll Group is proud to contribute to building resilient supply chain capability in Australia and around the world. ASD’s partnership, training, and participation in industry forums have been of tremendous value in promoting strong cyber security practices and cooperation across government and critical services, which our teams continue to benefit from. – Toll Group The National Exercise Program (NEP) helps critical infrastructure and government organisations validate and strengthen Australia’s nationwide cyber security arrangements. The program uses exercises and other readiness activities that target strategic decision-making, operational and technical capabilities, strategic engagement and communications. The Critical Infrastructure Uplift Program (CI-UP) assists Australian critical infrastructure organisations to improve their resilience against cyberattacks, with a focus on critical infrastructure assets and operational technology environments. As an intelligence-driven program, CI-UP focuses on improving the cyber security of critical infrastructure in a range of areas, including: enhancing visibility of malicious cyber activity and awareness of vulnerabilities enhancing the ability to contain and respond to an incident furthering culture and cyber maturity. The Cyber Threat Intelligence Sharing Platform (CTIS) shares indicators-of-compromise in real‑time, within a growing community of Australian government and industry partners. CTIS also supports community partners to share their threat intelligence. Co-designed with industry, CTIS alerts security operations centre analysts to threats targeting Australian organisations. AARNet has been engaged with the CTIS project from its inception and has seen firsthand the value of industry and government partnerships for threat intelligence sharing. By sharing information, the breadth and depth of our visibility of unwanted cyber attention is much greater. – AARnet The Australian Protective Domain Name System (AUPDNS) is an opt-in security service available to all federal, state and territory government entities to protect infrastructure from known malicious activity. Information from AUPDNS directly assists ASD’s mission to build a national cyber threat picture, which in turn is shared with ASD partners, including individuals, businesses, academia, not-for-profits, and government entities. The Cyber Hygiene Improvement Programs (CHIPs) track and monitor the cyber security posture of the internet-facing assets of entities at all levels of government. CHIPs also conducts High-priority Operational Tasking (HOT) CHIPs scans when potential cyber threats emerge, such as newly disclosed vulnerabilities. CHIPs builds visibility of security vulnerabilities across governments and provides notifications to system owners. Figure 7: ASD’s program highlights Through ASD’s Cyber Security Partnership Program, Australian organisations can draw on the collective understanding, experience and capability of the community to lift Australia’s cyber resilience. ASD Network Partners bring their insights and technical expertise to the community to collaborate on shared threats and opportunities. Explainer 10: Incident response to stay ahead of adversaries There is an actor behind every cyber security incident, and each actor will have different intent and capability. For example, state actors are usually focused on long-term goals in opposition to Australia’s national interests, whereas cybercriminals are generally focused on short-term financial gain. Additionally, the techniques different actors use will vary due to their risk appetites for being detected. For example, cybercriminal actions are often ‘loud and public’, as opposed to state actors whose intent is to usually remain undetected for long periods. Customising the incident response method ensures the best outcome for impacted organisations. For example, during a cyber security incident, ASD can provide immediate incident response advice and assistance to support impacted Australian organisations. ASD can also work closely with commercial incident response partners in support of an incident. If the incident is likely the result of a state actor, ASD may offer a more detailed approach such as a comprehensive digital forensic technical investigation to ensure comprehensive remediation. Public communications on an incident may also differ. An immediate public statement may be required in some incidents. However, there is a need to balance public statements with remediation efforts – particularly when a state actor may be involved. If a state actor is responsible, a public statement could cause the actor to ‘lay low’, impacting a defender’s ability to detect the actor – including tradecraft or accesses that may help them to remain on an organisation’s network. ASD’s tailored approach to incident response is consistent with industry best-practice, and highlights the importance of public–private partnerships to stay ahead of Australia’s cyber adversaries. ASD’s ACSC Incident Response Our role ASD’s incident management capabilities provide tailored incident response advice and guidance to Australians impacted by a cyber security incident. ASD is not a law enforcement agency or regulator; however we work closely with these agencies if needed. Report a cybercrime or cyber security incident Report at cyber.gov.au/report or call the 24/7 Australian Cyber Security Hotline on 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371). Cybercrime Cybercrime reports are automatically referred directly to the relevant state or territory law enforcement agency. Cyber security incidents All cyber security incidents should be reported to ReportCyber. An incident does not have to be a confirmed compromise to be reported and could include: denial-of-service (DoS) scanning and reconnaissance unauthorised access to network or device data exposure, theft or leak malicious code/malware ransomware phishing/spear phishing any other irregular cyber activity that causes concern. For ASD to help you effectively, we may request: indicators of compromise logs memory dumps disk information network traffic captures. How ASD can help ASD will provide you with immediate advice and assistance such as: tailored information on how to contain and remediate an incident advisory products to assist you with your incident response linking you with other Australian Government entities that may further support your response such as the Australian Federal Police, or Department of Home Affairs through the National Cyber Security Coordinator and the Cyber Security Response Coordination Unit we may also link you to other government partners like IDCare, ScamWatch, or the e-Safety Commissioner. How your reporting matters ASD uses information from your report to build our understanding of the cyber threat environment. This understanding assists with the development of new and updated advice, capabilities, techniques and products to better prevent and respond to evolving cyber threats. Some of these products include: advisories published on ASD’s Partnership Portal alerts published on cyber.gov.au quarterly Trends and Insights reports the ASD's Cyber Threat Report. Your confidentiality is paramount ASD does not share any information provided by you without your express consent. Only information about the incident is captured when you report. Figure 8: ASD’s support to Australians During 2022–23, ASD monitored cyber threats across the globe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to alert Australians to cyber threats, provide advice, and assist with incident response. ASD’s ACSC is a hub for private and public sector collaboration and information-sharing on cyber security, to prevent and combat threats and minimise harm to Australians. ASD’s advice and assistance is for the whole economy, including critical infrastructure and systems of national significance, federal, state and local governments, small and medium businesses, academia, not-for-profit organisations and the Australian community. Cyber resilience for all Australians The average Australian household has well over a dozen internet-connected devices and this number is growing. The explosion of remote and hybrid work has also seen corporate networks extend into Australian homes. While growing digitisation and virtualisation of services may have improved consumer convenience and boosted business productivity over the last 3 years, it has also increased the cyber risks for Australians. Every Australian should practice basic cyber security hygiene to help protect themselves from online threats. The most effective cyber defences are also some of the easiest to use and fastest to setup. The top things Australians can do are: enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for online services when available use long unique passphrases for every account if MFA is not available, particularly for services like email and banking (password managers can assist with such activities) turn on automatic updates for all software – do not ignore installation prompts regularly back up important files and device configuration settings be alert for phishing messages and scams sign up for ASD’s free Alert Service report cybercrime to ReportCyber. At cyber.gov.au, ASD has published a range of simple how-to guides for all Australians, including children and seniors, that explain how individuals and families can improve their home cyber security. Australians are encouraged to report cyber security incidents and cybercrime to ReportCyber, or by calling the Australian Cyber Security Hotline on 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371). The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Act Now, Stay Secure ASD provides tailored cyber security guidance to protect Australia against evolving cyber threats. The Act Now, Stay Secure cyber security awareness-raising campaign identified key cyber threats to individuals and small-to-medium businesses, and highlighted ASD advice and tools to help improve the audience’s cyber security posture. Over 2022–23, the campaign: reached a potential audience of more than 490,000 Australians and achieved over 11,500 engagements, such as likes, shares, and comments through social media was amplified by 170 stakeholders across government, industry, non-profit sectors, and peak body associations, who shared campaign content to their channels attracted over 30,000 visitors to the cyber.gov.au website, resulting in nearly 73,000 page views of campaign content and cyber security guidance bolstered content delivered at 15 tailored events by ASD state offices. Monthly cyber security themes were developed to promote planned or new ASD guidance, tools and products to enhance the cyber posture of Australian individuals and small-to-medium businesses. The themes for 2022–23 were: REDSPICE REDSPICE is the most significant single investment in ASD’s history and will equip ASD to ensure that Australia is best prepared to respond to the strategic environment. Commencing on 1 July 2022, ASD scaled existing services and introduced new intelligence and cyber capabilities to enhance Australia’s cyber defences. To help achieve this, in FY 2022–23, ASD opened new facilities in Brisbane and Melbourne, and received over 26,000 job applications across Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. ASD also: undertook innovative first-of-type ‘cyber hunt’ activities on the most critical government and critical infrastructure networks engaged over 175 new customers onto the Cyber Threat Intelligence Sharing platform to improve machine-speed cyber threat intelligence sharing across government and industry deployed over 25,000 new host-based sensors to customer networks to build increased visibility of emerging threats to Australia’s most critical systems established a secure design and architecture team to provide advice to major government information and communications technology projects expanded ASD’s national incident response footprint and 24/7 defence operations capability, including additional upgrades for the Australian Cyber Security Hotline (1300 CYBER 1) and ReportCyber, and a new incident response team in Melbourne improved the resilience of critical infrastructure through a number of uplift activities to increase cyber security maturity across Australian industry. About the contributors Australian Federal Police The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is responsible for enforcing Commonwealth criminal law; contributing to combating complex transnational, serious, and organised crime impacting Australia’s national security; and protecting Commonwealth interests from criminal activity in Australia and overseas. The AFP’s cybercrime teams within the ACSC enable the AFP to collaborate with other ACSC partners, triage new referrals, undertake targeted intelligence development and coordinate law enforcement responses to cybercrimes of national significance. The AFP also leads the Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre to harness the powers, experiences and investigative capabilities of Australian policing jurisdictions. Australian Institute of Criminology The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) is Australia’s national research and knowledge centre on crime and justice. The AIC informs crime and justice policy and practice in Australia by undertaking, funding and disseminating policy-relevant research of national significance. Australian Prudential Regulation Authority The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) is an independent statutory authority that supervises institutions across banking, insurance and superannuation, and is accountable to the Australian Parliament. APRA is concerned with maintaining the safety and soundness of its regulated financial institutions and promoting overall financial system stability. Australian Security Intelligence Organisation The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is Australia’s security intelligence service. It protects Australia and Australians from threats to their security, including terrorism, espionage, and interference in Australia’s affairs by foreign governments. ASIO’s cyber program is focused on investigating and assessing the threat to Australia from malicious state-sponsored cyber activity. ASIO’s contribution to the ACSC includes intelligence collection, investigations and intelligence-led outreach to business and government partners. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) promotes and protects Australia’s international interests to support our security and prosperity. DFAT leads Australia’s international engagement on cyber and critical technology across the Australian Government. This work is coordinated by Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology. DFAT is leading on the international elements of the new 2023–2030 Cyber Security Strategy, the development of which is being coordinated by the Department of Home Affairs. Defence Intelligence Organisation The Defence Intelligence Organisation coleads the ACSC’s Cyber Threat Assessment team in partnership with ASD to provide the Australian Government with an all-source, strategic, cyber threat intelligence assessment capability. Department of Home Affairs The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for central coordination, and strategy and policy leadership of cyber and critical infrastructure resilience and security, immigration, border security, national security and resilience, counter-terrorism, and citizenship. Office of the Australian Information Commissioner The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) regulates Australian Government agencies, organisations with an annual turnover of more than $3 million and some other organisations’ compliance with the Privacy Act 1988 and other laws when handling personal information. The OAIC receives data breach notifications under the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme and publishes regular statistical information to help organisations and the public understand and address privacy risks identified through the scheme. The National Anti-Scam Centre The National Anti-Scam Centre was launched on 1 July 2023 and will build its information‑sharing capabilities over the next 3 years. We bring together experts from government and the private sector to tackle harmful scams. Together, we are making it harder for scammers to take money and information from Australians. The National Cyber Security Coordinator The National Cyber Security Coordinator leads on cyber security policy, coordination of responses to major cyber incidents, whole of Government cyber incident preparedness and strengthening of Commonwealth cyber security capability. The Coordinator is supported by the National Office of Cyber Security, which is housed within the Department of Home Affairs.

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Australia’s Cyber Security Coordinator says the Australian government is working with seaport terminal operator DP World Australia to resolve what he calls a serious and ongoing “nationally significant cyber incident.” Air Marshal Darren Goldie released a statement on November 12, 2023, two days after unidentified hackers breached DP World Australia’s cyber defences. The state-owned Dubai-based multinational stevedoring company handles around 10% of the world’s container traffic and 40% of Australia’s container traffic, including those passing through Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle ports. DP World Australia cut off internet access on November 10 in a bid to thwart the attack. In the process, it shut down its Australian port operations and halted the movement of a reported 30,000 containers. While DP World Australia has not yet disclosed the nature of the attack or what data was stolen, it is known that the breach affected systems that managed the transfer of containers between ships and trucks. Some limited operations were beginning to occur on November 12. “DP World Australia appreciates this development may cause concern for some stakeholders,” said the company on the weekend. “DP World Australia is working hard to assess whether any personal information has been impacted and has taken proactive steps to engage the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Currently, DP World Australia teams are testing key systems crucial for the resumption of normal operations and regular freight movement.” The Australian government rapidly ramped up its involvement, holding a crisis meeting on Saturday to coordinate a response. Further meetings between the stevedoring business, law enforcement officials, and government agencies continued over the weekend. “The government is receiving regular briefings and is working with DP World Australia to understand the impacts of this incident and enable engagement across government,” said Cyber Security Minister Clare O’Neil. The minister added that Air Marshal Goldie is leading the government’s response. On Sunday afternoon, Goldie said DP World Australia’s operations remained offline. DP World Australia confirmed they had not received a ransom demand. “While I understand there is interest in determining who may be responsible for the cyber incident, our primary focus at this time remains on resolving the incident and supporting DP World to restore their operations,” he said, adding that the latest advice from the company is that operational disruptions may continue for several more days. The cyberattack threatens to upset further already strained supply chains in the lead-up to the Christmas holidays. DP World Australia says it is working to retrieve any sensitive inbound freight. The attack is the latest in a line of port terminal operator breaches in the past several months, including the July LockBit ransomware attack on the Port of Nagoya and the September DDoS attacks on the Dutch ports of Amsterdam and Groningen. “Today (Sunday), I co-chaired a meeting of the National Coordination Mechanism, together with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to consider and address impacts arising from the cyber incident,” said Goldie “The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is engaged with DP World Australia and is providing technical advice and assistance. The Australian Federal Police has commenced investigations into the incident.” The Australian government recently released a review into critical infrastructure security risks, including cybersecurity risks. On the weekend, answering questions on the DP World Australia breach, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the government had a “huge focus” on cybersecurity. “Incidents like this just highlight how dependent we are upon the cyber realm,” he said. “ ENJOY SOME OF OUR OTHER CYBER SECURITY CHANNELS Cyber Security Experts - Australian Cyber Security TV Media Channel Author Nerdcore Computers 11/16/2023

A Cyber attack hack strands 30,000 shipping containers DP World hack strands 30,000 shipping containers Dp Cyber attack is damaging to Australia Security Reputation Tens of thousands of shipping containers stuffed with consumer goods like electronics, clothing and food remained trapped at ports around the country on Sunday after stevedore DP World Australia was struck by a cyberattack on Friday. The Middle Eastern-owned stevedore, which operates terminals in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth and handles about 40 per cent of the goods coming in and out of Australia was forced to shut down technology systems at 10am on Friday. The shutdown prevented some 30,000 containers of goods from moving in or out of its terminals, including refrigerated containers that can hold anything from lobsters and wagyu beef to blood plasma. While ships could still offload and pick up containers, the technology systems that allow trucks to share data with the stevedore were turned off, meaning trucks could not get into DP World’s terminals to collect or drop off containers. Containers piled up on docks over the weekend, using up about 90 per cent of the stevedore’s storage space. The Danish boss of DP World’s Oceania business, Nicolaj Noes – who has only been running the stevedore for three months after a long career with Danish shipping firm Maersk and its subsidiary Svitzer – told The Australian Financial Review it was difficult to put a financial value on the 30,000 containers. “You can have a container of blood plasma that’s worth a million dollars, and then you’re going to have some used clothing for export worth $800,” Mr Noes said. “Frankly, we don’t know,” he said. He added the company had acted as if it was covered by the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act even though it was unsure whether it was required to comply, and contacted all relevant agencies around noon on Friday. The Australian Federal Police and Australian Cybersecurity Centre are both investigating the hack. The government has been told by DP World that it has “a limited ability” to get certain sensitive or time-critical cargo off ships and out of the port if necessary, Mr Goldie said. “At the moment, it’s a case of working out what their timelines are for them to restore their port operations to full capacity rather than starting to complicate matters by looking at individual consignments.” Christmas stock unaffected Paul Zahra, chief executive of the Australian Retailers Association, said the attack and ongoing industrial action at DP World underscored the sensitivities of supply chains and the need for urgent investment in supply chain resilience. “We understand most retailers already have their Christmas stock holdings in country, but retail is a 52-week a year operation and so any significant disruption to port operations is potentially harmful,” Mr Zahra said. Harvey Norman executive chairman Gerry Harvey said the disruption would hurt the company’s ability to import goods “across the board” but was unlikely to have a significant impact. “If it lasts for a few days, it probably won’t have an impact at all,” he said. “Normally these things resolve themselves quite quickly.” Department stores and supermarkets said they had already received most of their Christmas stock. Woolworths’ shoppers, who encountered bare shelves during the COVID-19 pandemic, are not expected to see similar shortages because only a portion of the supermarket chain’s stock is handled by DP World and Christmas products have already arrived in Australia. “We’re monitoring the situation, however we don’t anticipate any immediate impacts at this time,” a Woolworths spokeswoman said. Senator James Paterson said that if the cyber incident was not resolved quickly, there could be serious consequences for the economy. “Whoever is behind this attack, this is another test of the resilience of our critical infrastructure and whether we have sufficient redundancies in place,” he said. Jim Wilson, policy advisor at Shipping Australia, which represents shipping liners, said some ships had been omitting port calls at DP World in recent months due to industrial action and that he expected other stevedores like Patrick to handle DP World’s containers temporarily. “Typically, if one set of terminals is disrupted they subcontract to the other,” Mr Wilson said. “The really big disruption tends to happen when the second set of the terminals runs out of capacity, that’s when you get massive land-side disruption.” Shipping liners were flexible and could slow down or sail to alternative ports to avoid stopping at DP World’s terminals, but the incident showed the need for Australia to get on and build more container ports, he added. Call to waive penalties Neil Chambers, director of Container Transport Alliance Australia, said importers and exporters wanted to know if foreign container shipping lines would waive their penalty fees for the late return of empty import containers, or the detention fees that they can charge to exporters if containers are held for too long before being loaded onto vessels. “There are import containers in DP World terminals that have been there over a week because of the difficulties in accessing them due to the protected industrial actions by the MUA,” Mr Chambers said. “Now it will be further days – perhaps weeks – before those containers can be picked up.” Few foreign shipping lines gave blanket exemptions from container detention fees during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Chambers said. Transport operators had been told that Sunday’s slots had been cancelled, but were in limbo over whether trucking companies could collect and drop off containers on Monday or Tuesday. They received messages from DP World Australia terminals on Sunday afternoon that the stevedore was hopeful of re-opening some terminals for container collection on Sunday evening but estimated times kept getting pushed back, Mr Chambers said. Trucking companies expect DP World to concentrate on clearing imported containers before accepting more containers for export. Freight and Trade Alliance director Paul Zalai said the cyber incident highlighted the need for more regulation. “The Productivity Commission completed its review on Australia’s maritime logistics system in December 2022 and we are still awaiting a response,” Mr Zalai said. “We can’t understand why the federal government is sitting back at a time when cascading costs are flowing down the supply chain fuelling inflationary pressures.” Stevedores have been raising fees they charge trucking groups to bring containers in and out of ports, with DP World increasing fees on containers exported from Melbourne by 52 per cent to $175.70 per container from January. NSW Ports, which operates Port Botany, Port Kembla and the Port of Melbourne, said they were trying to assist DP World Australia restore operations. DP World hack strands 30,000 shipping containers DP World handles some 2 million container lifts annually, a smidgen less than the 2.1 million handled by rival Patrick according to the competition watchdog’s most recent annual container ports monitoring report released in December 2022. Other stevedores operating in Australia, including Victoria International Container Terminal and Hutchison Port Holdings, handle 500,000 container lifts or less annually. This will take weeks to recover from the owner of Dp world. They should of known before it ever happened. Author Nerdcore Computers

MGM Cyber Attack: Cybersecurity Lessons Learned for Businesses In early September, MGM Resorts International faced a severe cyberattack that left its operations in disarray for days. The incident shed light on the vulnerabilities that even large corporations can face in the digital age and served as a stark reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures. Let’s delve into the details of the MGM cyber attack and explore what businesses, both large and small, can learn from it to better protect their digital assets. The Cyber Attack Explained On September 5, 2023, MGM Resorts International found itself reeling from a crippling cyber attack that disrupted its operations, primarily affecting its Las Vegas hotels. The attack, which targeted the company’s computer systems, forced MGM to shut down its booking and reservation systems, leaving guests stranded and causing widespread chaos. MGM Cyber Attack: Cybersecurity Lessons Learned for Businesses It is believed that the attack was attributed to the Scattered Spider, and they used ransomware made by ALPHV, or BlackCat. This group carried out the attack for five days, which is estimated to have cost MGM up to $80 million in revenue. Social engineering played a significant role in what happened with MGM Resorts. The threat actors likely used deceptive tactics to manipulate individuals within the organization, such as employees or third-party vendors, into divulging sensitive information or clicking on malicious links. This manipulation could have facilitated initial access to MGM’s systems, allowing the ransomware group to infiltrate and encrypt critical data. This incident underscores the evolving and sophisticated nature of cyber threats faced by organizations today, emphasizing the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and proactive security strategies to defend against such attacks. Key Takeaways for Businesses The Importance of Cybersecurity Layers: One of the key lessons from the MGM cyber attack is the critical importance of recognizing that relying on a single security measure is not enough to protect against sophisticated cyber threats. MGM’s breach serves as a stark reminder of this fact. Businesses must adopt a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity by implementing multiple layers of defense. This can include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, endpoint security solutions, and robust employee training programs. Regular security audits and updates: Cyber threats evolve rapidly, and businesses must stay proactive in identifying and addressing vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and system updates are essential to ensuring that a company’s defense mechanisms are up-to-date and capable of fending off modern threats. Incident Response Plan: MGM Resorts International faced significant chaos during the cyberattack, highlighting the need for a well-defined incident response plan. Businesses should have a clear protocol in place to respond swiftly and effectively in the event of a breach. This includes communication plans to keep stakeholders informed and minimize damage. Employee training and awareness: Human error is a significant factor in many cyber incidents. Employees may inadvertently click on phishing emails or use weak passwords, making it easier for attackers to gain access to systems. In the case of MGM, hackers appear to have employed social engineering by impersonating employees and making a fraudulent call to the service desk. Regular cybersecurity training and awareness programs can help employees recognize and respond to potential threats effectively. Third-party risk management: Just weeks before the MGM breach, another Las Vegas casino fell victim to a serious ransomware incident. Caesars Entertainment says their customer data was accessed following an attack on an unnamed third-party IT vendor. Businesses must assess and manage the cybersecurity risks associated with their ecosystem of suppliers, partners, and service providers to mitigate external vulnerabilities. Electric offers a Solution Electric offers a comprehensive IT security solution that can help businesses fortify their defenses against cyberattacks like the one that targeted MGM Resorts. With Electric’s IT security enhancements, businesses can: Implement robust cybersecurity layers: Electric provides tools and expertise to help businesses establish multi-layered security strategies, enhancing protection against a wide range of threats. Continuous Monitoring and Threat Detection: We offer a similar platform which offers continuous monitoring and real-time threat detection to identify and respond to potential security breaches promptly. Automated Patch Management: Electric automates the process of patching and updating systems and software, reducing vulnerabilities and the risk of exploitation. Incident Response Support: Electric assists in developing and executing incident response plans, ensuring businesses can effectively respond to security incidents. User Training and Awareness: Electric can provide training and resources to educate employees about cybersecurity best practices, reducing the risk of human error leading to security breaches. By leveraging Electric’s IT security enhancements, businesses can proactively strengthen their cybersecurity posture, mitigating the risk of cyberattacks and the potentially devastating consequences they can bring. Author Nerdcore Computers

Ransomware Never Sleeps - But It Strikes Whilst You Do Among the many threats facing businesses on a day-to-day basis, none is quite so prevalent as ransomware. It was the most common attack method in the first half of 2023, accounting for 68.75% of all attacks. That is far more than network breaches (16.25%), data extortion (16.25%), and data exfiltration (2.5%) put together. To make things more difficult for cyber security teams, ransomware attacks don’t stick to business hours. In fact, Sophos found that in 81% of ransomware attacks the final payload was launched when the office was empty and laptops were switched off. On the occasions where the attack was deployed during business hours, only five happened on a weekday. Ransomware is Now a Career Choice Ransomware Never Sleeps - But It Strikes Whilst You Do Why is ransomware so popular amongst cyber criminals? A lot of ransomware gangs operate on a model that mirrors normal businesses with many cognizant parts. Initial access brokers - the criminals who specialise in infiltrating computer network systems - identify the vulnerabilities to make way for malware; the expertise of malware engineers is used to build ransomware; it is then sold on the dark web ‘as a Service’. Any semi-cyber-savvy person can pay to download ransomware from the darkweb, and turn their sights on an organisation of choice, as easily as ordering something on Amazon. With a few other tools in place, these Ransomware as a Service offerings from the likes of LockBit and many others, offer a plug and play service for any wannabe cyber criminal. Just like any successful business, hackers know their market too. They know which businesses are most likely to pay, and how much they will pay after negotiations; they know the best route into an organisation’s IT systems; and they know the best times to execute the payload to catch security staff off guard. This is what makes cybercriminals profitable and motivates them to continually evolve. In addition to the sophistication of threat actors, the sheer quantity of attacks is increasing, while the capability and variety of attacks also grows at an alarming rate. Hackers can now execute a wide range of attacks beyond classic scams and ransomware, making use of automation, impersonation and rapid adaptation to overcome even robust defensive structures. For already stretched IT and security teams, staying ahead of hackers’ evolution is getting more difficult. The Challenge of Ransomware Defence In the world of cyber crime, ransomware attackers know how to catch businesses off guard to extort the maximum amount of money from their target. Traditional defences alone simply aren’t enough to fend off attacks around the clock. Common cybersecurity measures, such as firewalls and antivirus software, act like a thick wall around your business. They do a great job of defending from threats, so long as there are guards around to actively keep a lookout. But the problem is, when fewer people are staffing the barricades, your business is more vulnerable to attack. That’s why ransomware actors strike under the cover of darkness, over the weekend, or even over a public holiday - as was the case during the Lazarus heist in 2016. Introducing MDR With the democratisation of ransomware, Managed Detection and Response (MDR) systems have become increasingly essential. Unlike a traditional system that requires local monitoring to be safe, MDR provides you with a 24/7 security team, leaving no quiet point for ransomware actors to make their move. But an MDR does a lot more than simply deliver round-the-clock monitoring. It’s much smarter than that. It also uses telemetry from your business, as well as thousands of others using the same system, in order to create more actionable threat analysis. Threat telemetry enables organisations to identify, understand, and anticipate emerging threats, before they have a chance to turn into something much more sinister. And, with dwell times dropping from ten days to eight in 2023, quick reactions are becoming increasingly essential for fortifying defences and enhancing incident response, thereby ensuring data remains safe when an attack occurs. But, with the support of detection capabilities, the security industry is fighting back. There’s now much less time for a malicious actor to get what they want, before MDR tools unmask them. This rapid detection makes the window of opportunity for an attacker much shorter and puts pressure on hackers - perhaps even forcing mistakes. Accumulating actionable threat analysis is indispensable. The need for constant 24/7 monitoring, threat detection and response has to be part of organisations’ cybersecurity strategies, as ransomware grows in sophistication. Because if ransomware doesn’t sleep, your defences can’t either. Author #Nerdcore Computers

Effortless enterprise password manager Using a company password manager boosts your business cybersecurity. Your employees' sensitive data is encrypted with the latest encryption algorithm that would take millions of years to break. Just compare it to a post-it note, which can be lost or easily stolen by whoever walks into the office. Running a business comes with a lot of different accounts and devices. Managing and keeping them all secure is no easy task. With a corporate password manager that is, suitable for a small and large company alike, your employees can store all their login credentials in a single place. All they need to remember is their Master Password to unlock their enterprise password vault. With this Enterprise tool, they can securely share passwords with coworkers and access them on multiple devices, even offline. No more forgotten passwords after a long vacation. Having a secure enterprise password manager that is built under the principles of zero-knowledge architecture, meaning only you can view and manage your passwords — even the software controlled password manager have no access or any team has no access to them. How to choose best enterprise password manager? Choosing the best corporate password manager depends on your business needs. We recommend considering the following: Security standards. Check what encryption algorithm the service provider uses and whether it has a zero-knowledge policy. The stronger the encryption, the more difficult it is to break. Zero-knowledge policy means that employees of the provider will not be able to access your passwords. Features. Decide on the features you need. Most enterprise password management software providers will offer auto save and auto fill, encryption, and password sharing by default. But some, including NordPass, will provide you with extra perks, like imports from other platforms, biometric authentication, data breach scanners, and more. Reputation. Do your research. Do other companies praise it? Who designed the app? Has it been audited? Answers to these questions will help you decide whether you can trust the password manager you’ve chosen. Even though NordPass is an enterprise password management tool, it was designed to meet the needs of small businesses as well as large corporate enterprises. What is enterprise password manager? Enterprise password management (also called privileged password management) is a security practice or a set of techniques used by large corporations to protect company credentials and secure access to its business accounts, services, systems, and applications. Enterprise password management solutions reduce the risk of cyberattack and data leakage by helping you store all passwords in one secure place and effectively manage each access point. How much does an enterprise password manager cost? While some browser password managers are available for free, paid versions usually range from $5 to $60 depending on the provider and included features. Effortless enterprise password manager Why not a browser password manager? There are several reasons why you should not use a browser password manager. First of all, by choosing this solution, you limit yourself to using only one browser. Secondly, it is often the case that browser password managers do not allow for quick, safe, and effective sharing of credentials. Third, your browser's vulnerabilities can affect the security of your passwords. This means that hackers can exploit your browser's vulnerabilities to get your credentials. Last but not least, using a browser password manager involves a greater risk of your passwords becoming compromised. This is because the use of such a tool relies on the security of the device on which the browser is installed. In other words, anyone with access to your device will be able to know your passwords and log into your accounts. Therefore, a safer solution is to use enterprise password management tools. Author Team nerdcore

How do i troubleshoot my Netgear Wireless Network? The following information assists you in troubleshooting any Netgear wireless network Modem or Router which has problems with the internal configuration of these routers, wireless access points, wireless extenders, and wireless USB adapters. To troubleshoot any Netgear wireless network problems: Follow nerdcore installation steps. For new routers that have yet to be connected to the internet, refer the installation guide and user manual that was supplied with the router. The manuals can also be found on the NETGEAR Support website. To search for your specific product, see NETGEAR Support. How do i troubleshoot my Netgear Wireless Network? If the router has been connected to the internet and worked in the past, confirm the signal from your internet service provider (ISP) is not the problem. Turn off the wireless function and directly connect your computer to the router with an Ethernet cable. Reboot the computer and check for an internet connection. If there is still no internet connection reboot the router and any modems in use. You can also repeat this scenario with your computer directly connected to the modem instead of the router. If you are still not getting an internet connection, contact your internet service provider. For additional solutions, see I recently lost my Internet connection; how do I get my connection back? If you are able to access the internet with a wired connection but not wirelessly, your wireless network may be not be emitting a signal. To enable the wireless router signal, see the following: How do I turn my NETGEAR router’s wireless radios on and off using the router web interface? How do I turn the WiFi radios off or on using the WiFi On/Off button? How do I find and select the WiFi network on my Nighthawk router? If you cannot access the wireless network because of an issue with your password, see How do I change my NETGEAR router's WiFi password or network name (SSID)? If the WiFi signal strength is weak or intermittent see the following: Improving wireless range: Overview How do I resolve poor wireless range or a weak WiFi signal from my NETGEAR router? What do I need to know before selecting a different wireless channel? How do I change the wireless channel on my NETGEAR router? To troubleshoot wireless access points: Ensure the access point is correctly configured using the following: Connecting a NETGEAR access point to your network I’m setting up my NETGEAR router for the first time, how do I set it to Access Point (AP) mode? How do I change my NETGEAR router to AP mode? To test the connection, see Testing network connectivity with ping. To troubleshoot wireless extenders: Ensure the wireless extender is properly configured, see How do I set up my NETGEAR WiFi range extender? If you are still experiencing problems, see Troubleshooting NETGEAR WiFi range extenders To troubleshoot wireless USB adapters: If the USB adapter is not detected, see Troubleshooting - USB adapter not detected If the wireless adapter is not achieving desired speeds or range, see NETGEAR USB wireless adapter is not achieving desired speed/range How to fix this netgear router that is not working? Netgear router not working? Whether it won't connect to the internet or doesn't show up in your Wi-Fi settings at all, here's how to get your router working again. How Do I Get My Netgear Router to Work? The first step is setting up your router correctly. Plug it into the power source and press the power button if it doesn't turn on automatically. The name of your router's Wi-Fi network (SSID), which you can find in the manual or on the bottom of the device, should appear in your Wi-Fi settings. Select the network, select Connect, then enter the password (which can be found alongside the network name). Why Is My Router Not Connecting to the Internet? While you can use a router without a modem to communicate with other connected devices, you'll also need a modem and an internet service provider (ISP) to access the internet. Make sure you correctly set up your modem, and it's securely connected to the yellow port on your router with an Ethernet cable. If you can connect to your Wi-Fi network but can't use the internet, then you likely need to troubleshoot your modem. If you can't connect to the router's network at all, it could be due to one of the following reasons: Interference from physical objects or other devices Your password is incorrect or has been changed Your router's firmware is out-of-date Hardware issues such as a faulty antenna or capacitator Your router has an invalid IP address How Do I Fix My Netgear Wireless Router? Whatever problem you're having, here are some general router troubleshooting tips: Restart your router. Unplug the power supply and wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. A simple restart will clear out most temporary technical hiccups. Move the router or move closer to it. Walls and other physical objects can obstruct the wireless signal. Other electronics can also cause interference, so place your router in a central location away from anything else. If your router's signal can't reach all corners of your home, consider investing in a Wi-Fi extender. Upgrade your router's firmware. If the router's built-in software is outdated, you could run into glitches. Search for your model on the Netgear website to find the most up-to-date firmware. Replace the antenna. All routers need an antenna, whether internal or external, to work properly. If your router has a defective antenna, you may be able to find a replacement online. Change your router's IP address. If your default gateway IP address has been changed, change it back to the default. Change the Wi-Fi channel. If the internet is slow, your router could be assigning too many devices to a single Wi-Fi channel. Try splitting them up between the two channels by choosing the best wireless channel for each device (some devices can't connect to 5 GHz). Reset your router. A reset returns to the router to how it was when you first took it out of the box. That means you'll lose any custom preferences you set up, but a reset may be the only option if you don't know the password. After the reset, you can log in to your modem with the default username and password. Switch DNS servers. You can't access the web if your DNS server is offline or corrupted. Try connecting to one of the many other public DNS servers. Replace or repair your modem. If you've tried everything on this list with no luck, you could have a hardware issue, such as a damaged internal antenna. Before buying a new one, visit the Netgear Hardware Warranty page to see if your device qualifies for a free repair or replacement. What Lights Should Be on My Netgear Router? The Power light on your modem should be a solid color (usually green). The Internet light (traditionally represented by an “i” or a planet with a ring around it) and the Wi-Fi light should be solid or blinking. The icons might look slightly different if you have a router-modem combination unit. Some more helpful information for troubleshooting your netgear router. Why is the default username and password for my Netgear router not working? Ensure you're entering the correct information, as listed on the device, in the product manual, or on this list of Netgear default passwords. If your model supports it, you might be able to log into the router and use the Netgear password recovery feature. Otherwise, hold down the factory reset button to return the username and password to the defaults. What steps should I take if a Netgear router reset isn't working? Look at the documentation to make sure you're holding the reset button down long enough. You could also try the 30-30-30 reset, which involves 30 seconds of pressing the reset button, unplugging the router, and plugging it in again while holding the reset button. If that doesn't work and your firmware is up to date, you might want to contact Netgear customer support. Most default passwords for the Netgear Product is To determine your product's default password, find your product type in this list: Most NETGEAR products: Username for all models: admin Password for current models: password Password for older models: 1234 NETGEAR ReadyNAS and ReadyDATA products: Username for all models: admin Password for ReadyNAS OS and ReadyDATA OS: password Password for RAIDiator firmware: netgear1 Password for Infrant firmware: infrant1 Published by Team nerdcore

What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)? Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that requires the user to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource such as an application, online account, or a VPN. MFA is a core component of a strong identity and access management (IAM) policy. Rather than just asking for a username and password, MFA requires one or more additional verification factors, which decreases the likelihood of a successful cyber attack. What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and How Does it Work? Why is MFA Important? The main benefit of MFA is it will enhance your organization's security by requiring your users to identify themselves by more than a username and password. While important, usernames and passwords are vulnerable to brute force attacks and can be stolen by third parties. Enforcing the use of an MFA factor like a thumbprint or physical hardware key means increased confidence that your organization will stay safe from cyber criminals. How Does MFA work? MFA works by requiring additional verification information (factors). One of the most common MFA factors that users encounter are one-time passwords (OTP). OTPs are those 4-8 digit codes that you often receive via email, SMS or some sort of mobile app. With OTPs a new code is generated periodically or each time an authentication request is submitted. The code is generated based upon a seed value that is assigned to the user when they first register and some other factor which could simply be a counter that is incremented or a time value. Three Main Types of MFA Authentication Methods Most MFA authentication methodology is based on one of three types of additional information: Things you know (knowledge), such as a password or PIN Things you have (possession), such as a badge or smartphone Things you are (inherence), such as a biometric like fingerprints or voice recognition MFA Examples Examples of Multi-Factor Authentication include using a combination of these elements to authenticate: Knowledge Answers to personal security questions Password OTPs (Can be both Knowledge and Possession - You know the OTP and you have to have something in your Possession to get it like your phone) Possession OTPs generated by smartphone apps OTPs sent via text or email Access badges, USB devices, Smart Cards or fobs or security keys Software tokens and certificates Inherence Fingerprints, facial recognition, voice, retina or iris scanning or other Biometrics Behavioral analysis Other Types of Multi-Factor Authentication As MFA integrates machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), authentication methods become more sophisticated, including: Location-based Location-based MFA usually looks at a user’s IP address and, if possible, their geo location. This information can be used to simply block a user’s access if their location information does not match what is specified on a whitelist or it might be used as an additional form of authentication in addition to other factors such as a password or OTP to confirm that user’s identity. Adaptive Authentication or Risk-based Authentication Another subset of MFA is Adaptive Authentication also referred to as Risk-based Authentication. Adaptive Authentication analyzes additional factors by considering context and behavior when authenticating and often uses these values to assign a level of risk associated with the login attempt. For example: From where is the user when trying to access information? When you are trying to access company information? During your normal hours or during "off hours"? What kind of device is used? Is it the same one used yesterday? Is the connection via private network or a public network? The risk level is calculated based upon how these questions are answered and can be used to determine whether or not a user will be prompted for an additional authentication factor or whether or not they will even be allowed to log in. Thus another term used to describe this type of authentication is risk-based authentication. With Adaptive Authentication in place, a user logging in from a cafe late at night, an activity they do not normally do, might be required to enter a code texted to the user’s phone in addition to providing their username and password. Whereas, when they log in from the office every day at 9 am they are simply prompted to provide their username and password. Cyber criminals spend their lives trying to steal your information and an effective and enforced MFA strategy is your first line of defense against them. An effective data security plan will save your organization time and money in the future. What's the Difference between MFA and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)? MFA is often used interchangeably with two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA is basically a subset of MFA since 2FA restricts the number of factors that are required to only two factors, while MFA can be two or more. What is MFA in Cloud Computing With the advent of Cloud Computing, MFA has become even more necessary. As companies move their systems to the cloud they can no longer rely upon a user being physically on the same network as a system as a security factor. Additional security needs to be put into place to ensure that those accessing the systems are not bad actors. As users are accessing these systems anytime and from anyplace MFA can help ensure that they are who they say they are by prompting for additional authentication factors that are more difficult for hackers to imitate or use brute force methods to crack. MFA for Office 365 Many cloud based systems provide their own MFA offerings like AWS or Microsoft’s Office 365 product. Office 365 by default uses Azure Active Directory (AD) as its authentication system. And there are a few limitations. For example, you only have four basic options when it comes to what type of additional authentication factor they can use: Microsoft Authenticator, SMS, Voice and Oauth Token. You also might have to spend more on licensing depending on the types of options you want available and whether or not you want to control exactly which users will need to use MFA. Identity as a Service (IDaaS) solutions like One Login offer many more MFA authentication methods when it comes to strong authentication factors and they integrate more easily with applications outside of the Microsoft ecosystem. Published Nerdcore Computers

Why Data Backup is Important for Your Business? According to reports from tech industry leaders such as Cisco and Microsoft, cyber-attacks against businesses of all sizes are on the rise and doing more damage than ever. What This Article Will Cover: What a Data Backup is and How It Works Reasons Why Your Business Needs to Backup Data Protecting Valuable Business Data With a Nerdcore Cyber Backup Plan A Few Facts about Cyber Attacks and Data Loss More than half of all businesses that are victims of a cyber-attack or data breach are subsequently subject to public scrutiny and suffer losses in brand reputation, customer loyalty, and customer trust. Its very bad for business. 29 percent of businesses that are victims of attacks lose revenue, and nearly 40 percent of those businesses lose more than 20 percent of total revenues. Among companies that suffer attacks or breaches, nearly a quarter of them lose significant business opportunities following the data-loss event. More than 20 percent of businesses that experience data loss or suffer a cyber-attack lose customers as well. And, 40 percent of those companies lose more than 20% of their customers. As you can see, the results of data loss due to cyber-attacks can be devastating for a business. However, as we will soon cover, cyber-attacks and ransomware are not the only threats to your business data. So, in this article, we will discuss the various threats to your business data and how an effective data disaster recovery plan can help protect against them. Why Data Backup is Important for Your Business? Risks to Business Data Are Everywhere Reports of malicious software and hackers are everywhere these days. And, while these types of threats do pose significant risks for businesses, they are also certainly not the only ones out there. So, with that in mind, we will cover some of the things that threaten your business data and put it at risk on a daily basis. Hackers, Viruses, and Ransomware As noted above, cyber-attacks are wreaking havoc for businesses everywhere. And, while hackers and ransomware outbreaks are certainly causing damage and making headlines, old-school malware, spyware, and old-fashioned viruses continue to be among the leading reasons for system breaches and data loss. With these types of threats, it is not a matter of when your business will become a victim; it’s just a question of when. Anti-malware and anti-virus software can help. Still, even with updated security software, most businesses remain exposed to the threat of data loss due to hackers, malware, and ransomware. Physical Disasters With all the reports of cyber-attacks, hackers, and malware in the news these days, it is easy to overlook some of the more conventional physical threats your data faces every day. A fire, flood, or another type of natural disaster can wipe out all the data in your location and make recovery virtually impossible. And, if you don’t have multiple backups available, the simple theft of a hard drive or storage device could easily result in significant data loss. If that’s not enough, you should never take for granted the very real possibility of hard drive failures and other another types of hardware mishaps. Protecting Business Data: Backup Basics Simply put, a data backup is just a copy of files from your computer or device. And, as illustrated with the numerous threats described above, keeping a backup of your important business files and data is essential for several important reasons. Virtually all computer and technology experts will tell you that any backup is better than none at all. Nevertheless, not all backup devices and technologies are the same; nor do they all offer the same levels of protection. Consequently, for optimal protection, it is best to safeguard your data using what we here at Nerdcore Computers call the 3-2-1 rule. Put simply, the 3-2-1 rule states that you should: Keep at least three (3) copies of your data (so no single event will destroy all copies); Store the data in at least two (2) different formats (i.e. disk, tape, cloud, etc.); Keep one (1) copy offsite to protect against fire, flood, theft, and other physical disasters. To give you an idea of available options that can help you implement the 3-2-1 rule, let’s take a look at some of the most common methods businesses use to back up data. Local and Network Backups One of the easiest ways to create backups of business data is to simply store copies of important files on hard drives, tape drives or other storage devices connected to your systems or network. Copying files to hard drives, USB flash drives, external drives, or other devices attached to individual systems or devices connected via a local or wide area network is an effective way of ensuring backups are available locally when you need them. With any good data recovery plan, keeping local copies of backups is essential. However, due to risks associated with physical disasters, ransomware, theft, and other threats, keeping local backups should never be the only facet of your strategy. In addition to keeping up-to-date local backups of your files and data, you should always store at least one copy offsite as is required with the 3-2-1 rule (i.e. an offsite backup server or in the cloud.) Cloud Backups These days, it seems that wherever you turn, there is talk or news about businesses migrating to the cloud (or running software and systems remotely via the Internet.) And, backup solutions are no exception. In short, cloud backups are secure offsite copies of data that are stored on remote servers and accessed via an Internet connection. Cloud backups are an excellent option for providing additional redundancy and security for businesses that want to ensure their important data is available if and when onsite or physical data disasters strike. Cloud Backups and Online File Storage Are Not the Same Many businesses use Dropbox, Google Drive, and other online storage websites to store backup copies of important files. And, while these types of services are okay for storing and sharing a few files, limitations with online storage sites (i.e. limited file versioning, lack of automated backups, limited backup folders, etc.) prevent them from being true cloud backups. A true cloud backup service enables you to create automated backups of complete systems and store as many versions of backups as you need.) Nerdcore Computers Cyber Backup Methods is The Trusted Backup Solution for Businesses like yours. As we covered above, there are many ways for your business to create backups of important data, and you should use multiple methods to ensure your files are always available when needed. Therefore, your business needs a backup solution that provides maximum ease of use and compatibility across all the mediums and platforms that you need and use. Nerdcore Cyber Backup is that solution. Trusted by more than half a million businesses worldwide, Nerdcore Cyber Backup enables your team to create complete backups with as few as three mouse clicks. With our award-winning backup software, you can choose to backup entire systems, or limit backups to mission critical data and files. Get Up and Running Fast: World’s Fastest Data Recovery When disaster strikes, every minute your team is without data could be costing your business resources, money - and customers! So, when you need to restore data from a backup, a quick data recovery is essential to getting up and running again as quickly as possible. With Nerdcore Computers Instant Restore, backup recoveries that used to take hours (or even days) now take only seconds. Lightning fast backup and recovery is just the beginning, though. Nerdcore Premium Backup and Data Security Features for Business NerdCore Cyber Backup is the premier backup and data protection solution for business. And, more than 10,000 companies all over Australia agree. Why is Nerdcore Computers Cyber Backup the backup solution of choice for so many businesses? Well, the answer simple. Our team provides a software monitoring solutions that provides businesses with protection and features that just can’t be found anywhere else. Here are just a few of the benefits that Nerdcore Cyber Backup Monitoring delivers: Extensive Compatibility – Nerdcore Cyber Backup works will all major operating systems. Not only is Nerdocre Cyber Backup compatible with Windows and Mac, but the software provides top-notch Linux server data protection as well. Complete Disk-Imaging Backups – Our software enables you to protect your entire business with complete and reliable backup images of entire systems – not just select files or folders. Virtual Server Protection – Virtual machines and servers are the future of business operations and software. And, with Nerdcore Computers Cyber Backup, you can perform a VM backup as easily as you can with a physical machine. Nerdcore computers Cyber Backup supports the six leading hypervisor platforms and migrations between virtual and physical environments (i.e. P2V, V2V, V2P, P2P.) Bare-Metal Recovery – Nerdcore Cyber Backup helps your business reduce RTOs considerably with bare-metal recoveries. Our exclusive bare-metal recovery technologies let you restore systems to dissimilar hardware, automate recoveries with scripting, and even restore servers remotely via wide-area networks (WAN.) Flexible Storage Options – With Nerdcore Cyber Backup, you can reduce RTOs by being able to back up to virtually any local or network based storage device – without the need to deploy expensive backup or media servers. Our software not only supports backups to hard drives and external drives but also lets you back up to a tape drive, auto loaders, tape libraries, NAS, SAN and the secure nerdcore Cloud. No other backup software supports as many storage options. Intuitive, Scalable Management – With powerful administrative tools like centralized Web management, role-based admin access, customizable dashboards, and advanced reporting features, Nerdcore computers Cyber Backup provides your business with all the tools it needs to streamline all your data backup, management, and protection efforts. Innovative Data Protection – A good backup strategy is central to protecting business data. However, it’s not the only part. With Nerdcore Computers Cyber Backup, you get world-class backup features, of course; but, you also get complete data protection with advanced features such as active ransomware protection, strong military-grade encryption, and advanced compliance and authentication tools. As you can see from the list above, Nerdcore Cyber Backup offers our customers power and features that the competition just can’t match. If you want to find out for yourself why Nerdcore Cyber Backup is the best data protection solution for business, we encourage you to start your free trial today. Publisher Nerdcore Computers

Server Room Emergency Power Off The server room has an Emergency Power Off (EPO) system which will cut all power to any and all equipment and electrical circuits in the machine room. There is one EPO button at each exit door. The EPO buttons have a protective cover to avoid accidental shutdowns. If there is any situation in the room which may present a danger or adversely affect the safety of people, immediately contact the Department’s Facilities or Computing Support Staff, located in the hallway adjacent to the server room, for assistance. If no Department staff is available, activate the EPO system by pressing any EPO button in the room. Server Room Emergency Power Off The EPO system will shut down the entire server room and should only be used when there is a present danger or safety concern. In such a case, if no CSE Facilities or Computing Support staff are available, do not hesitate to shut down the machine room. Personal safety is the highest priority. Conditions that warrant shutting down the machine room with the EPO system include, but are not limited to: fire, smoke or water flowing into the room. Several automated systems will also be capable of triggering the EPO system. These systems will activate when they detect smoke, excessive heat (due to cooling system failures), fire or water under the floor. Once the EPO system has been triggered, CSE Facilities or Computing Support staff will need to be present to ensure any condition that caused the room to shut down has been remedied, and no further safety issues exist. Key access is required to reset the EPO system and reactivate power to all the equipment in the machine room. Published By Nerdcore Computers

Mavic 3 Pro Cine! Let’s Review It The announcement of the DJI Inspire 3 seemed to be the most popular topic recently, but suddenly the “DJI Mavic 3 Pro” and “DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine” series teaser videos were released. It was a shocking debut that also said that the price was even cheaper, despite the fact that it was equipped with a three-lens camera that integrated 1x, medium telephoto, and telephoto lenses while maintaining the compact size of the aircraft. This time, we would like to introduce the Mavic 3 Pro / Mavic 3 Pro Cine with our own review. High-performance compact drone Mavic 3 with a trinocular camera The most obvious feature of this drone is this 3-lens camera. Life size (24mm), medium telephoto (70mm/approx. 3x), and telephoto (166mm/approx. 7x) are combined, and can be easily switched by tapping the radio screen. Screen capture of the DJI RC Pro radio. You can switch the lens to use by simply tapping “1”, “3”, and “7” on the right side of the screen.The airframe of the drone inherits the previous Mavic 3, and the Cine line continues to have a 1TB SSD built into the aircraft. It is possible to shoot in Apple ProRes422 format. Drone Features: High-quality shooting (up to 5.1k/50fps, DCI 4k/120fps) Timed flight (maximum flight time 43 minutes) High-precision positioning function (32 GNSS can be acquired in places with good sensitivity) Equipped with obstacle detection optical sensors in all directions (fisheye lens cameras on the front, back and bottom, wide-angle lens camera on the top) Abundant shooting menu (slow motion, master shot, time lapse, panorama, etc.) Stable transmission and reception of radio waves such as video transmission (catalog value maximum transmission distance 8km by O3+ system) The Mavic 3’s high-performance flight and shooting performance remains the same (rather, the operability is improved). However, the price of the Mavic 3 Pro is cheaper than the old Mavic 3, and it is an amazing cost performance that is almost the same as the entry model “Mavic 3 Classic” before the price revision. Product lineup DJI Mavic 3 Pro (DJI RC): $3,199 DJI Mavic 3 Pro Fly More Combo（DJI RC): $4,999 DJI Mavic 3 Pro Fly More Combo（DJI RC PRO): $5,889 DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine Premium Combo: $6,799 High-performance gimbal camera that achieves stable camera operation even with a telephoto lens You can see how huge the trinocular camera is compared to the old Mavic 3 camera. The sensor size is 1x: 4/3 inch, 3x: 1/1.3 inch, and 7x: 1/2 inch. higher image quality). Also, with the old Mavic 3, when I switched to the 166mm lens (7x telephoto), I was worried about the shaking of the gimbal, but with the Mavic 3 Pro, that shaking has been considerably alleviated. With a 70mm lens (3x medium telephoto), it’s almost unnoticeable, so with the Mavic 3 Pro, it seems that 3x and 7x can be actively used for shooting. A little flight review! Not only higher image quality, but also smooth behavior and flight performance update A full-fledged shooting review, such as the difference in depth of field depending on the lens, will be delivered next time, but I tried a light flight as a test. First of all, the moment I let it fly, I was surprised at its smooth behavior. I usually use the Mavic 3, but compared to the previous iteration of the Mavic 3, I have an image that it accelerates very smoothly from the start of movement to the low speed range. And as I mentioned earlier, the gimbal also works very stably even when using a telephoto lens, so even when using a medium telephoto lens or a telephoto lens, you can shoot smoothly even with a changing angle of view that combines the movement of the gimbal and the aircraft. increase. According to DJI’s development team, it has been “optimized”, and it may be a surprising change for those who are already using the Mavic 3 series. Also, I wanted to see how the angle of view changes due to the difference in focal length from the same hovering location, so I shot a sample video. As for the image quality, I feel that there is a little noise only with the 166mm lens (7x)

Critical Cyber Crime Statistics in Australia 2023 As the threat of cyber crime continues to escalate in Australia, greater awareness and preventative measures are crucial. According to the latest Annual Cyber Threat Report 2021-2022, the Australian Cyber Security Centre recorded a staggering 76,000 cyber crime reports, representing a 13% increase from the previous financial year. With an alarming rate of one cybercrime report made every seven minutes, it’s clear that the problem is only getting worse. As a CFO, you understand the potential for cyber attacks to hurt your business, whether it’s financial losses or reputational damage. To mitigate those risks, it’s vital to implement robust security measures and educate your employees on best practices by promoting a strong anti-cyber-crime culture. In our cyber-crime statistics, we delve into the current state of cyber-crime in Australia, along with cyber-criminals’ most common tactics. By staying informed on the latest trends and statistics, you can equip your business with the necessary tools to protect against potential cyber threats. Cybercrime Statistics 1. In the Annual Cyber Threat Report 2022, the ACSC received over 76,000 cyber crime reports, an increase of nearly 13% from the previous financial year. Over the 2021-2022 financial year, Australia saw an increase in the number of sophisticated cyber threats like extortion, corporate espionage, and fraud. The number of reports increased from receiving one report every 7 minutes compared to last financial year, every 8 minutes. Share statistic Source: ACSC 2. From 2020-to 21, cyber crime was on the rise, with nearly 13% more cases. (Australian Government Cyber Security Centre) Over 67, 500 reports were filed from 2020 to 2021. This has increased by 13% percent compared to 2019. The cyber crime reporting equates to one cyber attack every 8 minutes compared to one every 10 minutes in 2019. Share statistic Source: Australian Government Cyber Security Centre 3. Queensland (29%) and Victoria (27%) report disproportionately higher rates of cyber crime relative to their populations in 2021-2022. The highest average reported losses were by victims in the Northern Territory (over $40,000 per cyber crime report). Along with most targeted locations in Australia, the most frequently reported cyber crimes included online fraud (27%), online shopping (14%), and online banking (13%). Not to mention, the increased popularity of ransomware attacks. Critical Cyber Crime Statistics in Australia 2023 4. More than a third of companies in America have had their intellectual property pilfered by Chinese competitors within the past decade Protecting a business against cyberattacks can impact the relationship between the company and its customers. Therefore, as cybercrime becomes more sophisticated, businesses will have to stay one step ahead, even if that means increasing defence mechanisms with employees and processes. Share statistic Source: Investopedia 5. Cybercrime is on the rise, and cyberattack attempts reached an all-time high in the fourth quarter of 2021 Cybercrime is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and Log4shell is a perfect example of this. This obscure but nearly ubiquitous piece of software can be found on millions of computers, and it is incredibly vulnerable to attack. The researchers who discovered this flaw have defined a cyberattack attempt as a single isolated cyber occurrence that could be at any point in the attack chain. 6. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made this problem worse, with cybercrime rates increasing by 600%. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cybercrime has increased drastically by 600% affecting all types of businesses. During this critical period for businesses, cybercrime has been amplified by targeting exposed employees who are currently remote working. 7. There is a rise in the average cost per cyber crime report to over $39,000 for small businesses, $88,000 for medium businesses, and over $62,000 for large businesses. An average increase of 14%. In the ACSC Annual Cyber Threat Report 2022, medium-sized businesses had the highest average loss per cyber crime. Small to medium businesses should follow the ACSC’s advice for ransomware, business email compromise, and other cyber threats. This will allow them to better understand and combat sophisticated cyber threats. Share statistic Source: ACSC 8. 300,000 cyber crimes are committed in Australia each year. With an increase in cyber crime statistics reported in Australia, UNSW Canberra cyber security expert Mr Phair estimates that only about one-fifth of the actual amount of online crime. In 2022, the ACSC identified that one of the cyber security trends in the 2021-2022 financial year was Russia’s war against Ukraine. Russia had used malware designed to destory data and prevent computers from booting. Share statistic Source: UNSW 9. In the past 20 years, 300 investigations into cybercrime were completed and only 150 were prosecuted. Mr Phair states the following “We spend so much of our time online, particularly via mobile smart devices, that the internet has become a fabric of our work and social lives,”. With so much cybercrime in the Australian economy, attackers are becoming more sophisticated making it challenging to prosecute. 10. 52% experienced fraud during the past 24 months; within that group, 18% of those companies reported that their most disruptive incident had a financial impact of more than US$50m. The aftermath of a cybersecurity incident can have far-reaching and long-lasting impacts on a business. Other than financial losses, the cost of chaos includes reputational damages, legal liability issues, system repairs and more. It’s important for CFOs to understand the risks and have procedures in place to manage cybersecurity events. This can include investing in cybersecurity infrastructure, having a comprehensive incident response plan and maintaining regular communications with stakeholders. 11. The cost of cybercrime is predicted to hit $8 trillion in 2023 and will grow to $10.5 trillion by 2025. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the global annual cost of cybercrime is predicted to reach $8 trillion USD in 2023. Compounding this is the rising cost of damages resulting from cybercrime, which is expected to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025. Some of the reasons that explain the uplift of cybercrime are: Advancements in technology: As technology continues to evolve, so do cybercriminals and their attack tactics Lack of cybersecurity awareness: Despite the growing threat of cybercrime, many businesses lack the basic understanding of attacks and how to protect themselves Financial gain: Cybercriminals can demand larger ransoms or make a profit from data breaches through the use of the dark web Low risk of prosecution: Cybercriminals often operate from countries with weak legal systems, making it difficult for law enforcement to prosecute them 12. Self-reported losses in 2021-2022 increased significantly to over $98 million. Nationally, the average loss per successful business email compromise (BEC) attack increased to over $64,000. Most BEC reports came from Queensland (389 reports), however, average self-reported financial losses were highest in Western Australia at approximately $112,000 per report. Share statistic Source: ACSC 13. Businesses lost $190 000 when their supplier's email was hacked. The story is based on one real scam report received by the ACCC that was scammed by email through their supplier as the supplier’s email had been hacked. With updated details on the invoice, this led to the belief owners of the business were paying the correct supplier losing $190,000 in financial loss. 14. Western Australia had several reports of financial losses of over $1 million due to BEC attacks, lifting its overall average in 2022. BEC attacks are a popular technique that organisations face regularly. Cybercriminals use BEC to impersonate senior executives in order to deceive employees into revealing confidential information like financial information, login credentials, etc. The compromise of a single employee email can be a prelude to a major ransomware attack. Share statistic Source: ACSC 15. Business email compromise scams caused the highest losses across all scam types in 2019 costing businesses $132 million. Any type of scam can be costly, both financially and emotionally. But some scams are more harmful than others. Business email compromise (BEC) scams, for example, caused the highest losses across all scam types in 2019, according to the ACCC’s Targeting Scams report. BEC scams occur when a scammer intercepts a legitimate invoice and changes the payment details to include their fraudulent information. Share statistic Source: ACCC 16. Roughly 1,300 reports of business email compromises were made to Scamwatch, accounting for $14 million in losses. In 2020, scam victims reported the biggest losses in the Business Email Compromise. However, employees are not always aware of the scam in action. As the scam increases, becoming more consistent in business loss the ACCC reports that “real losses will be even higher”. 17. 78% of organisations saw an email-based ransomware attack in 2021. According to the State of the Phish report, 83% of survey respondents said their organisation experienced at least one successful email-based phishing attack in 2021, a 46% increase over 2020. Ransomware is a type of malicious software (malware) that can be used in these attacks. 18. In March 2022 Aussies lost in scams by more than 150% from February and nearly 400% from the $20 million reported. According to the latest data from Scamwatch, Australians have been losing more than $100 million each month in financial scams. The number of reports remains low but at 16,446 schemes reported this March – down 10% on February’s total. Share statistic Source: Business Australia 19. Accounts payable (AP) departments continue to be the department most susceptible to BEC with 58% of survey respondents indicating their AP departments were compromised through email scams. AP departments continue to be the most susceptible to BEC attacks in 2022. It’s critical that your AP team are equipped with knowledge around emails scams, how to identify them and respond. In 2023, cybercriminals now have the advantage use of AI tools to craft a sophisticated email scam. Without updating your employee security training program, your business could be at risk. Share statistic Source: Association for Financial Professionals 20. Businesses lost $2.4 billion to BEC in 2021 - more than one-third of the total cybercrime losses for the year. Followed by ransomware $50M. B2B payments fraud is on the rise in 2023 with more than 70% of firm experiencing fraud attacks compared to previous year. Since the pandemic cybercriminals have taken advantage of remote working employees by sending an email that appears to come from a known source like their manager or CFO. This type of technique can be tricky to spot however, managers should look to improve their security awareness training through workshops and detection tools. Share statistic Source: PYMNTS 21. The average BEC wire fraud demand grew from $91,436 in Q1 2022 to $109,467 in Q2 2022, a record amount. BEC attacks over they years have become harder to detect and increasing convincing, making it easier for attackers to deceive even the most diligent accounts payable teams. The psychology factor behind such attacks involve heavily on creating fear or a sense of urgency. It’s important that AP teams have clear procedures in place, such as verifying the authenticity of requests and avoid on clicking unknown links or attachments. Share statistic Source: Newswire Business Identity Theft Statistics 22. 1 in 4 Australians has been a victim of identity crime at some point in their lives. Identity crime is a major concern for governments around the world. The Australian Institute of Criminology released findings from an annual survey showing that identity theft and misuse remain high in Australia. 23. In 2021, Australians made 124,491 reports attempts of to steal personal information. Identity theft is a serious issue that can lead to financial losses for victims. Identity theft is caused by criminals who steal personal information and use it to take over your finances or manipulate you into giving away sensitive data like passwords. In Australia, identity theft has resulted in major financial losses. Share statistic Source: Take A Tumble 24. Victims of identity crime spend an average of 34 hours repairing the damage caused. Financial loss from identity theft can be difficult for businesses to recover. The difficulty lies in determining how much they are owed, what expenses need to be paid and when those payments should happen relative to their income levels before the crime occurred. According to the Australian Intelligence Commission, identity theft has cost businesses in Australia around $36 billion annually. Share statistic Source: Australian Institute of Criminology 25. 19% of respondents reported they had experienced misuse of their personal information at some point. The use of personal information has been on an increase for years, and in 2019 it was identified as one of the top methods that cyber criminals used to obtain this sensitive data. Recent surveys found between 1-23 different types being misused by victims recently including mobile phones or email addresses. Share statistic Source: Australian Institute of Criminology 26. Australians aged 15 years and over (154,300) experienced identity theft in 2020-21. According to cyber crime statistics, personal fraud was on the rise back in 2015 sitting at 8%. There are other common types of fraud, though. Card fraud was reported to be the most common type of fraud to be committed by criminals. Share statistic Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 27. 11% of Australians experienced personal fraud in 2020-21. 2020-21 was a prevalent year for personal fraud in Australia. Personal fraud is any activity that occurs between two individuals where one person uses the other for their own gain. Statistics reference that most of the reporting was towards a bank or financial institution. Share statistic Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics Phishing Statistics 28. 286,607 scam reports in Australia in 2021, 71,299 were filed about phishing scams. Phishing is the act of using fake websites or malicious emails to gather personal information like passwords. This can be done in order for someone else, such as hackers who want to access your email account. In Australia 2021 there were 71,299 phishing scams reported. Share statistic Source: Take A Tumble 29. In 2020, 1 in every 4,200 emails was a phishing email. When it comes to phishing, there’s no place safe. Email communications networks are now riddled with cybercrime as more people get their information from emails. The most common subject lines in emails for phishing were urgent, request, important, payment & attention. 30. 96% of phishing attacks arrive by email. Another 3% are carried out through malicious websites and just 1% via phone. Nearly all (96%) of fraudulent emails come as incoming messages, with 3% coming from malicious websites and just 1% from phone calls or text messages (vishing). 31. 44,000 reports were made about phishing scams, Which represented a 75% increase during the pandemic. The scammers took advantage of the pandemic to con unsuspecting people, according to a new report from Australia’s ACCC. Australians lost over $851 million in 2020 alone. This forces businesses to tighten their security measures for employees who are remote working. Share statistic Source: ACCC 32. 92% of Australian organisations were hit with phishing attacks in 2021. The latest research from Proofpoint shows that Australian organisations are being hit hard when it comes to cyber-attacks. Australians are more likely to be successfully phished than people in other countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. 92% of Australians have experienced some form of phishing in the last year. Share statistic Source: Technology Decisions 33. Phishing scams: 546 reports and $1.1 million in losses. According to the ACCC, scammers are becoming more sophisticated and it only takes one click to fall victim to a phishing scam. Share statistic Source: ACCC 34. Australians have reported over 62,000 phishing scams in 2022, with a record amount of over $3.72 million in losses reported. Research conducted by Avast has reported that phishing scams can come in the form of email, phone, or text messages. With more and more people receiving their information through email, the risk of being tricked into giving up sensitive data increases daily. 35. There is a monthly average of over 6,000 phishing attacks per 100,000 people in Australia. Stephen Kho with Avast Cybersecurity Expert says that they have seen an increase in phishing attacks reaching almost 6 thousand per month on average: Share statistic Source: Avast 36. Australians reported 44,084 phishing attacks, up 75% from the 25,168 reported the previous year. In 2020, phishing scams made an incredible record in Australia affecting SMEs. Unfortunately, phishing emails are easy to create where fraudsters can pretend to be important individuals or business entities solely relying on users to click for a scam to succeed. Share statistic Source: Channel Life 37. The Anti-Phishing Working Group observed almost 1.1 million total phishing attacks in Q2 2022, the highest number of such attacks the international coalition has seen in a single quarter. According to Newswire, phishing attacks climb to new record high in Q2 2022. The OpSec Security found that the financial sector including banks are hit the hardest with phishing attacks. John Wilson, senior fellow, threat research at HelpSystems said “Ninety-five percent of the threats found in enterprise user inboxes in Q2 were either credential threat or response-based attacks.” Share statistic Source: Newswire Ransomware Statistics 38. The ACSC received 447 ransomware cyber crime reports equating to a 10% decrease in 2021-22, compared to the 2020-21 financial year The top 5 reporting sectors for ransomware attacks accounted for 47% of all ransomware-related cyber crime. This is a result of top-tier ransomware organised groups that are continuing to target large Australian organisations that are high profile or high value. Their tactic is a combination of data encryption and threats also known as ‘double extortion’. Share statistic Source: ACSC 39. Respondents aged 18 to 24 years and 25 to 34 years were most likely to have been victims of ransomware. In a recent study, it was found that ransomware victimisation was significantly higher among males in their lifetime. This is likely due to the fact that males are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviour, such as downloading pirated software or clicking on malicious links. 35. There is a monthly average of over 6,000 phishing attacks per 100,000 people in Australia. Stephen Kho with Avast Cybersecurity Expert says that they have seen an increase in phishing attacks reaching almost 6 thousand per month on average: Share statistic Source: Avast 36. Australians reported 44,084 phishing attacks, up 75% from the 25,168 reported the previous year. In 2020, phishing scams made an incredible record in Australia affecting SMEs. Unfortunately, phishing emails are easy to create where fraudsters can pretend to be important individuals or business entities solely relying on users to click for a scam to succeed. Share statistic Source: Channel Life 37. The Anti-Phishing Working Group observed almost 1.1 million total phishing attacks in Q2 2022, the highest number of such attacks the international coalition has seen in a single quarter. According to News wire, phishing attacks climb to new record high in Q2 2022. The OpSec Security found that the financial sector including banks are hit the hardest with phishing attacks. John Wilson, senior fellow, threat research at Help Systems said “Ninety-five percent of the threats found in enterprise user inboxes in Q2 were either credential threat or response-based attacks.” Share statistic Source: Newswire Ransomware Statistics 38. The ACSC received 447 ransomware cyber crime reports equating to a 10% decrease in 2021-22, compared to the 2020-21 financial year The top 5 reporting sectors for ransomware attacks accounted for 47% of all ransomware-related cyber crime. This is a result of top-tier ransomware organised groups that are continuing to target large Australian organisations that are high profile or high value. Their tactic is a combination of data encryption and threats also known as ‘double extortion’. Share statistic Source: ACSC 39. Respondents aged 18 to 24 years and 25 to 34 years were most likely to have been victims of ransomware. In a recent study, it was found that ransomware victimisation was significantly higher among males in their lifetime. This is likely due to the fact that males are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviour, such as downloading pirated software or clicking on malicious links. 40. 10% of ransomware victims reported that they had money stolen as a result of their victimisation. Ransomware attacks can cause significant financial losses for victims, as they may be unable to access their critical files or data until the ransom is paid. In some cases, victims have also reported that their personal information has been stolen as a result of ransomware attacks. Share statistic Source: Australian Institute of Criminology 41. The Education and training sector (11%) reported the most ransomware incidents in 2021-2022. Other than the education and training sector, other sectors targeted included information media and telecommunications (10%), professional, scientific, and technical services (10%), government (8%), and health care and social assistance (8%). It’s likely that ransomware remains significantly unreported due to public disclosure, embarrassment, or ignorance. Share statistic Source: ACSC 42. The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) reports that in the 2020-21 financial year, there were almost 500 reports of ransomware attacks. During the 2020-21 financial year the ACSC observed that ransomware attacks had a significant increase as there were almost 500 reports of the type of cyber attack. The high proportion of attacks was mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in larger organisations starting to implement working from home.

Looking for Quality Motherboard Computer Repairs? MotherBoard Repairs Are you are searching for a proven Motherboard repairs, you found us. Nerdcore Computers is one of the best providers of Motherboard repair services in the whole of Australia. Rather than disposing of your motherboard, its 100% guarantee we can fix it! MotherBoard Repairs Best 8 Reasons to try Nerdcore Computers for any Motherboard Repairs; Guaranteed Fixed Price Repairs up front no surprises Experienced Chip Level Engineers that repair individual burnt chips 1-2 days everything is fixed an ready to use again We are the cheapest when it comes to quotes Motherboard Repair experience over 20 years Nerdcore technicians have experience in fixing and repairing most of the gaming Motherboard brands. Heres a extensive list of the most common brands of boards that we 100% guarantee our service: MSi ASRock ASUS DELL HP ACER GIGABYTE Intel Nerdcore Computers will help you answer any Motherboard error codes or anything else Nerdcore Motherboard repair technicians are very professional an there experience skills in fixing these motherboards. With there capable skills of finding all types of software and hardware issues directly on your Motherboard, Computer, Notebook, Tablet etc. From bent CPU socket pins to dead CMOS Batteries plug in or soldered, we can do it all the complete package service. We also provide a worthy No Fix, No Fee guarantee for all the services. In case our repair motherboard repair technicians cannot resolve the problem or offer you a solution, then we won’t charge you nothing. Our Motherboard Repair department feels that we must deliver a reliable and guaranteed upfront service to our loyal customers. Here is the list of the Motherboard issues that we can assist you with. Motherboard running too slowly, taking a very long time to log me in Motherboard M.2/SSD Hard drive upgrades Motherboard Data recovery from built in disk drives Motherboard CMOS Battery replacement soldered or plugged in Motherboard BIOS Software upgrades Motherboard System will not boot from the hard drive Motherboard Pin damage Mother Board Repairs Motherboard unable to power on Motherboard Memory upgrades Motherboard Fan is not working properly, Fan is noisy, Fan is blowing very hot air out Motherboard BIOS Virus removal Motherboard Overheating issue Motherboard Onboard Video graphics are faulty Motherboard Liquid damage repairs Motherboard Graphics Card mismatch Motherboard Power jack is broken or bent Motherboard BIOS post beeps and will not power on Motherboard Motherboard needs repairing or replacement Motherboard is not booting and warning lights are on Motherboard System shows error code and unable to turn on Motherboard Abruptly shutting down Motherboard Blown/Damaged Capacitor Top 5 Reasons to choose our Computer Repairs? Our full time staff technicians are completely skilled and certified When they can locate the problem, the tech will give you a fixed price on the spot were charges applicable for resolving the error, Once you accept the service charges, our experts will take care of the rest. We can is cater to all the businesses that have motherboard repair requirements and we will ensure our service for providing all the needed services for your Motherboard computers and Laptops are of the highest standards. Feel free to call us on 1300637326, and one of our expert help desk members will be more than keen to have an over the phone assessment about your issue and recommend the best way to fix your problem. Author Nerdcore Computers 09/12/2023

Upgrading PC - Same-day service near you Did you know? Every year we dispose of 44.7 million tonnes of e-waste which is expected to increase by 20% every year. Is it un believable how much we waste and no longer re-use. So for this exact very cause, Nerdcore Computers encourages every person to re-use what they have and upgrade their computers ever where possible. Our IT services have a Australian attention footprint so we have a certified pc technician near you who can perform a combination & variety of upgrades to your desktop, laptop or servers. From upgrading your operating system from Windows 10 to improving the overall load up times of your slow dragging applications, or even allowing your PC to run memory-hungry applications. There isn’t a PC upgrade you can think of that we cannot do. Our upgrade service - 5 things our technicians can do to speed up a tired PC Storage mediums have changed an are every changing everyday. Replacing a hard drive with a Solid State Drive or SSD is one of the best upgrades you can do for any Desktop or Laptop PC. Performance of an old PC is improved dramatically actually by even 400% faster. With removing the old hard drive which has moving parts, an replacing it with an ssd which requires less power to operate, The SSD drives work more quietly and efficiently. You can expect boot times to much quicker and all your applications will feel responsive again. So stop defragging and get your old PC upgraded to an SSD today you will be very happy with the outcome. Upgrading PC - Same-day service near you Faster Frequency Memory, more memory, more memory will be the best too. Do your programs frequently stop responding? Does your PC take time to catch up to you? Are you clicking on an icon and not getting a response? Is the PC just sitting there with a white screen an then it jumps into the program. Low memory installed. Not enough for applications to run smoothly/ If the answer is Yes; Then your PC computer or laptop is likely to have small amount of RAM (or better know as memory). Most Computer PCs can add more memory even doubling it in most computers. Our PC upgrade technicians will ask a few questions about the purpose you use your PC for and suggest how much memory you should need. Our Pc upgrade technician will install the best fastest and maximum amount of memory your PC can handle. Making sure it is 100% compatible with your system. Our service covers PCs, Laptops and Servers. Upgrading your Video Graphics Card All programs require fast graphics processing units (GPUs) to rendering the pictures you see on your PC display. Even now days windows uses smooth graphics for even its desktop applications icons. Applications like AutoCAD, Revit, Microstation, 3d Studio publisher and advanced technology advanced games require the capabilities of high end graphics card and work best with the correct Motherboard cpu an power supply all combined together. A new card can also improve the overall computing by playing videos more smoothly and freeing up memory. Faster network access means a quick response Another major improvement to an out dated PC can be made by way of replacing the Network (Ethernet) or WiFi card built into any pc desktop, laptop or server. A small easy upgrade can have a huge impact on the overall transmitting signal performance, with greater range and throughput for your device. Reaching the highest best possible speeds over a wired or wireless connection. Distance between the computer an the modem router also impact the traveling of strong or weak signal strengths. Our WiFi experts technicians will look at your access point Modem, NBN Box, Router connection an decide how your signal infrastructure is going to out put the the best possible signal it can We find the most compatible WiFi adapters that will work with your existing hardware devices for example, Modem, Router, Access points. We can also upgrade your Home and Office WiFi routers and access points to increase your wireless connection to the Internet. Upgrade to the latest operating system Our Software Support service can also upgrade your PC to the latest version of operating system that your computer can handle. Sometimes you have an old computer an you ask can i upgrade it to the latest version of Microsoft. Sometimes that is not possible. Let me explain, Microsoft in 2010 decided to follow apples algorithm of having software version like operating system be changed every 10 years. Apple change their os every 2 years. So since microsoft copied this theory an newer version of windows is not suitable for hardware more than ten years old. It just doesnt work, at the start it will be fine for up to 6 months then it will stop responding. If you had a free upgrade to Microsoft Windows 10 for many old PCs that were running windows 7 or 8. However that upgrade window has now passed and users are encouraged to purchase the latest version from 2018 all computers were eligible for windows 11. However before you do that it will take 5 minutes to contact us an one of our technicians reviews your system to insure that Windows 10 will be 100% compatible. Talk to us about upgrading to Microsoft's new OS called Windows 11 if you want to skip a release.

An orange light on a motherboard is a warning sign that indicates potential issues with the system's hardware, power supply, or BIOS/UEFI firmware The orange light on motherboard may indicate some issues with your computer. What causes the issue? How to fix the issue? This post from nerdcore computers tells you how to fix the orange light on motherboard. The motherboard is the key component of a computer system, connecting all the hardware components. However, some users see an orange light on motherboard. Depending on whether the orange light is static or blinking, it can indicate different types of problems. If it’s solid, it’s probably related to the RAM, while a blinking orange light indicates a problem with the power supply. What Is Orange Light on Motherboard and 8 ways to Fix the Issue? There are several reasons for the “orange light on motherboard” issue. Hardware Malfunctions ( A part connected to motherboard is broken blocking the signal ) What Is Orange Light on Motherboard and 8 ways to Fix the Issue? Power is not enough ( Faulty Motherboard ) Computer is overheating ( Lose Fan ) BIOS/UEFI issues - Has been updated to a newer bios an is not installed or flashed correctly Motherboard is damaged - Power outages or surges can cause the board to burn. RAM is incompatible - or has developed bad connection on motherboard. The motherboard has been surged an there is a power spike in the boards electronics. Loose Connection between cable from inside the case - Hdd sata connection - Add on card Liquid damage on the desktop case. Disconnecting Non-Essential Components How to Fix Orange Light on Motherboard Then, we will introduce how to fix the “orange light on motherboard” issue. Fix 1: Clear CMOS CMOS is a tiny chip on the motherboard that holds all BIOS settings and system configuration information. Clearing CMOS will reset all configurations to default. This can help fix issues with the orange light triggering due to incorrect BIOS setup or configuration. All you need to do is find the CMOS battery on the motherboard and remove it. After removing the battery, just leave it out for a few minutes (5 minutes or so) and then place it back in its slot. For more detailed steps, refer to this post – Fix 2: Check the Power Supply Make sure that enough power supplies are installed in the computer to power every component connected to the motherboard. Insufficient or faulty power supplies may trigger voltage fluctuations, causing the orange light to come on. Always choose a good power supply to protect against any type of power surge that could damage the motherboard and trigger the error light. Fix 3: Check RAM Make sure your RAM fits evenly in the sockets on the motherboard. A bad connection between the RAM and the motherboard socket can cause beeps or error lights. Make sure that all other components are connected to the motherboard. Fix 4: Check CPU If you have checked RAM and it’s working fine, it’s time to check the CPU. To do this, you should remove the CPU cooler and check for any thermal paste left on the CPU. If there is, you should remove it with rubbing alcohol and a lint-free cloth. Visually inspect the CPU for any signs of damage. If you see any bent pins, there is a problem with the CPU. If the CPU is damaged, it needs to be replaced. 8 Useful Solutions to Fix Your CPU 100% in Windows 10/11 Sometimes your CPU is running at 100% and the speed of your computer becomes slow. This post will provide 8 solutions for you to fix this issue. Read More Fix 5: Update BIOS In many cases, orange light issues are caused by an incomplete BIOS upgrade or a corrupted BIOS itself. Therefore, a clean update to the BIOS may overwrite corrupt or incomplete files. To update your BIOS, you have to visit your motherboard manufacturer’s official website, and then search for your motherboard model to find if there are any new BIOS updates. Tips: Updating BIOS may cause system crashes. Thus, you had better create a system backup for your PC in advance. If your Windows cannot boot after a BIOS update, you can perform fast disaster recovery to restore the PC to a normal state. Final Words Here is all the information about the orange light on motherboard. If you have any other useful solutions to this issue, let us know by leaving a comment below. Author Nerdcore Computers

So you just bought a new computer, now what? There is a lot more involved in setting up a new computer for the first time than simply plugging in a cable and hitting the power button. If you have never tried to set up a computer, this guide will help you get up and running in no time. And for seasoned users, included are some tips and tricks that should make your next home PC setup faster and easier than ever. Note: this guide is specific to computers running Windows. Here is a great Mac setup tutorial. PHYSICAL SETUP – CABLES AND PORTS If you purchased a laptop, this part is easy. Simply plug the laptop into an electrical socket with the included A/C adapter and let it charge. You can even use the laptop while it is charging. For how to hook up a desktop computer, there are a few more steps involved, but nothing too difficult. Below is a picture of the various ports that are on desktop computers. Computer models do vary, and your computer might be missing any of the ports included in the picture. However, all computers have a combination of the ports shown, and it is beneficial to familiarize yourself with them even if your current computer does not have them all. The main ports and cables you will need for basic use are the: Power connectors from computer to the power socket Monitor display (will be one of these: DVI/VGA/HDMI) How to set up a New Computer And Ethernet Giving you power, monitor display, and internet access, respectively. Plug the cables into their associated ports and you’ll almost be ready to power up the computer for the first time. If you’re still having a tough time hooking up your cables, a good rule of thumb is if the cable fits, it’s probably in the correct place (without forcing it, of course). Most are designed to only fit into one type of port. Keep in mind that your monitor display cable will need to run between the monitor and the computer, and the Ethernet cable between your internet router and the computer; the power cords (both your computer cable and the monitor’s power cable) are the only ones that will need to be plugged into an electrical socket. HOOK UP PERIPHERALS To actually use the computer, you’ll need to connect a mouse and keyboard. The vast majority of recent keyboards and mice use a USB connection, making it simple to find a usable port. Simply plug your mouse and keyboard, or their adapters if they are wireless, into any available USB ports and they will be ready to go. If you are using an older keyboard and mouse setup, you will need to connect them using the green and purple PS/2 ports shown in the chart above. Luckily, these cables are color-coded at the ends; simply match up the color with its corresponding port and you’ll be on your way to using your new computer. Now is a good time to connect any other peripherals you may have, such as a printer/copier/scanner or speakers. Most of these items will be connected through a USB port. However, some older printers use the pink parallel port shown above. Likewise, some speakers still use the green/pink, circular audio jack. Use the chart above along with color coding and size to get all your cables in their correct ports. Once all your cables are connected and you’ve double-checked for accuracy, you’re ready to turn on your new computer. FIRST TIME SETUP If you’ve purchased a refurbished or pre-configured machine, chances are you will not have to go through the first-time setup and it will boot straight to the desktop. In that case, skip to the next section. If you see a welcome or setup screen upon booting your machine, you’ll be taken through a first-time setup. This will be a fairly simple process that will ask you to set your preferred language, time zone, and other basic questions to customize your user experience. Follow the onscreen instructions and you’ll eventually be booted to the desktop where our real work begins. CONNECT TO THE INTERNET For desktops connected directly to a router using an Ethernet cable, you’ll be automatically connected to your network and generally won’t need to take any further steps. For laptops and desktops utilizing wireless cards for WiFi capability, you’ll need to connect to your chosen network. The first-time setup if present will help you through this process, but if you are booted straight to the desktop or need to add additional networks, follow this guide. First, ensure you know any needed credentials, such as if you have a network password setup to prevent others from using your WiFi or connecting to your network without authorization. Also, make sure you know the name of the network you’ll be connecting to. Often this will be displayed on your router itself, or you named it yourself during the setup of your home internet network. Navigate to Network Connections/Network and Sharing Center, either using the Control Panel via the Start Menu or by typing “network” into the Start Menu search bar. Click or right-click on the desired network and hit “connect”, the computer will work to connect you to the network wirelessly and may ask you to enter in the password if there is one set up. Alternatively, you may also see a Wi-Fi signal icon in the Windows taskbar in the lower right-hand corner of your desktop where the time and date are located. This icon will also take you to the internet options you need to get set up. If you simply can’t get connected to the network or the PC tells you your password is incorrect, call your internet service provider and they will help you get connected correctly. SECURITY AND ANTIVIRUS/MALWARE Before you start surfing away on the internet, you will want to make sure your new computer is protected against viruses and malware. Some computers will come with a free basic antivirus, such as Microsoft Security Essentials, installed already. It may also have a trial subscription included, commonly Norton or McAfee. If you are happy with the protection that already comes with the computer, simply open it to make sure the software is up to date and active and go through any setup process required. Our recommendation for paid antivirus protection is Kasperasky total security. Kasperasky total security is a great program that is very lightweight and won’t slow your computer down while it is running, and tends to stay the most up-to-date with new virus and malware definitions as they are found. Kasperasky total security offers 30 day free trials of all its antivirus software, making it a good program to test on a new computer without having to immediately commit. Avast and AVG are also popular free alternatives to Microsoft Security Essentials if you are not satisfied with Microsoft’s protection. Whichever program you choose, make sure you are equipped with some sort of antivirus protection before working online. For additional protection, try MalwareBytes Anti-Malware to keep pesky malware and adware at bay. SOFTWARE AND WINDOWS UPDATES If your computer is brand new, there will be a number of Windows Updates needed to get it up to the latest version. Even with a refurbished machine, it is good practice to check for any new updates that may have come out since the computer was last worked on. Navigate to the Windows Update screen by either typing “Windows Update” into the Start Menu search bar, or using the Control Panel. Windows Update center – Click “Check for updates” in the left-hand menu, and wait for Windows to scan for the latest updates. When it is finished, you will be notified of the amount of “Important/Required” and “Optional” updates available. Important updates are things like patches, security updates, and other items that are critical to keeping your computer running smoothly and up to date. Optional updates commonly include things like driver updates for both internal and external hardware, free Microsoft software or toolbars, and other minor updates that are not necessarily integral to your computer but can be helpful and sometimes needed to keep connected devices like printers running properly. While you should install all the required updates, you can be a little more choosy with the optional ones. Click on the highlighted text from the Windows Update screen to view all the available updates, make sure that the boxes next to them are checked, then click install and Windows will begin downloading and installing the selected updates. You will likely have to restart your computer afterward to complete this process, which Windows will let you know. For a new computer, running Windows Update around three times should be enough to make sure you’ve downloaded everything needed. Updates beget updates, and many times the first round of updates will install something that in turn needs another update to work properly. Checking for updates three times and installing should ensure you’ve gotten everything. If there is an optional update you know you don’t need and want to keep it from cluttering your update page, you can stop Windows from offering you any one optional update by right-clicking it and selecting “Hide this update”. Keep in mind though you will have to repeat this step each time Microsoft ships a new release of the optional download. Most computers are set to automatically download and install Windows Updates, and you can change this setting at any time by clicking “change settings”. However, it is recommended to leave it working automatically to avoid missing any important updates. Software After you’re done with Windows Update, now is a good time to ensure you’ve got any additional needed software on your computer. This could include Microsoft Office or a similar office program, Adobe Reader, a media player like VLC Player or iTunes, Skype, or anything else you use. While this can be done manually piece by piece, a much quicker method is to use a program called Ninite. Ninite lists a majority of these commonly used and downloaded programs, allowing you to choose which programs you want to install and bundling them in a simple installer that downloads and puts them on your computer all at once without you having to do much work at all. Ninite also helps keep you from accidentally installing malware, adware, or the optional downloads that companies sometimes like to sneak into their installers that will put ugly toolbars and other unnecessary junk on your PC; Ninite automatically says “no” to these optional, annoying downloads. Navigate to Ninite’s homepage, put a check in the box of the programs you wish to install, then click the green “get installer” button. Allow the download, open the installer, and Ninite will get to work downloading and installing all the programs while showing you the progress along the way. Additionally, you can also use Ninite to update these programs once installed on your computer. Simply run the installer again or go through the Ninite website, and it will update any selected programs to their latest versions. This process will save you a great deal of time and frustration over trying to download every program individually. Ninite only lists programs that are free to use, so if you have any paid software to install, such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop, those will have to be installed manually. REMOVE BLOATWARE “Bloatware” is the slang phrase used to describe software that generally has lots of features and requires considerable disk space and memory to install and run, and commonly comes pre-packaged on new computers. As the cost of memory and disk storage has decreased, there is a growing trend among developers to disregard the size of applications and the end result is bloated software aka bloatware. This software may or may not be useful to you, and each manufacturer will have different programs pre-installed on new machines, so it is up to the end-user to determine what should stay and go. Bloatware takes up a sizable chunk of space and power on your computer, so it is good practice to remove anything unneeded to keep your PC running as quickly and smoothly as possible and keep disk space available. Computer manufacturers package bloatware on their computers to make additional profits on their machines: software developers pay the companies to put their software on computers. Examples of this could be audio or video players, photo editing applications, CD burning software, etc. If you like these programs and plan on using them, there is no harm in keeping them on your computer. However, if you have no use for them and want to de-clog your computer, you’ll want to uninstall as many extraneous programs as possible. Uninstalling unwanted programs can be done manually using Windows’ built-in program uninstaller, but a much easier way is to use an automated program that recognizes these types of software. PC Decrapifier is one of these programs and is free to use, simply install it on your new computer and let it run, finding the programs that you likely don’t want or need and making it quick and simple to uninstall them. This process of testing and uninstalling unwanted programs may take a while but is well worth it in the long run, usually cutting full minutes off of boot time and making your computer run much more quickly. CREATE A BACKUP Now that you’ve got your new computer exactly how you like it, it is a good idea to set up a backup in case of a hardware failure or crash. Backups can be done to physical hardware, such as an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or CD/DVDs. But with new cloud technology many people are choosing to use a cloud backup service such as Carbonite or OneDrive to ensure that even in the event of a complete hardware failure or loss, your files will still be safe and accessible from any internet-connected device. We have written a comprehensive backup guide that includes choosing the right storage medium for you, and how to create your initial and ongoing backups. Read our two-part series here for step-by-step instructions and explanations: Part One – Choosing a Storage Medium Part Two – Choosing a Method and Configuring Your Backups After following this guide your computer will be optimized and updated, protected against virus infections, and ready for you to begin using. While it can be a fairly time-consuming process, setting yourself up for success initially is much easier than trying to combat problems later on down the road. Author Nerdcore Computers 09/08/2023

Assembling a computer yourself is a good way to learn how they work. Alot of us have different computers for every day use, but never really get into the bottom of how they work. It’s nice to put together a new computer build with your very own hands that you'll use for what ever reason on a every day basis. That’s what this build your new computer guide is about: Want a Better PC? Try Building Your Own How to build a PC from the ground up. It can be daunting for a lot of reasons—it’s expensive, it’s complex, it can get complicated an scary that you have spent thousands of dollars buying all the parts an then something terrible happens. But I want to make sure you really understand: If you can build an bunnings table, bookshelf, bed, or anything that comes in more than one of those deceivingly flat boxes that is delivered to you with man with a van, you can very easily put together a beast of a computer. The biggest speed bump part? I can't tell you how to build your PC. Not really. Not unless I know exactly which hardware you're using. I can, however, explain what each component does and what my recommendations are for each category. Want a Better PC? Try Building Your Own Once you’ve built your new gaming or cad workstation computer, it might be time to check out some other items to further accessorize your new computer. Be sure to have a look at our guides for the best gaming keyboards, best gaming mice, best gaming headsets, and best gaming controllers. Updated on September 2023: We've revamped advice and added new picks in every section. Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to Antivirus Kaspersky for just 140$ ($25 off). This includes unlimited scans to your computers and our 24 hour technical support (if you'd like). Subscriptions help fund our work we do every day. What Do You Need? Finding the right list of components together is the price right, no matter what your experience level is, you should use Nerdcore Computers New Custom Build Catalogue. Not only does it have everything computer parts you need to buy, it also lets you build your PC piece by piece right on the website and makes sure all your new computers hardware will work nicely once all connected together. It even has a few example new computers builds you can continue to improve your new computer. We recommend keeping a list of what you want, what you have, and what budget you have in mind is. I do this in my laptop, with the title of each build right up at the top. It comes in handy to keep track of things. Regardless of what kind of PC you’re building (home office or gaming), the components you need are going to be the same. For the purposes of this guide you're going to see a lot of abbreviations but let this section act as your glossary. First off, you’ll need a motherboard, a central processing unit (CPU), a solid state drive (SSD) or hard disk drive (HDD) for storage, memory (RAM), a power supply (PSU), a case, and a monitor. The only thing you might not need if you're mostly using this PC for home-office tasks is a graphics card (or GPU), but it's necessary for photo or video editing and gaming. That’s a lot of stuff! Here's all you need to know of what each component does, along with some hardware recommendations. Every other component plugs into this circuit board. Memory, Hard Drive, Graphics Card, Power Supply. It’s the foundation each part uses to communicate and fire its collaboration. Each parts come in different sizes and configurations, and each one looks a completely different, but they all do the same function. Make sure you know which processor you want before you select a motherboard. Motherboards come in a couple of flavors, but the most important thing to know is what kind of socket it has. There are basically two: LGA and AM. You'll always see them listed with a number after them, like “LGA1150” or “AM3.” The exact numbers after the LGA and AM portions of these socket names will change over time, to indicate which generation of Intel or AMD chips they support, but the current standards as of 2022 (which will work with the latest chips from either maker) are LGA1700 for Intel and AM4 for AMD. Motherboards also come in a couple of sizes, the most common being ATX (or “full size”). That’s what I generally recommend, especially if this is your first build. Your PC case will list which size motherboard it supports, so make sure they match up. I've made that mistake before and it's always a pain to realize your motherboard is too big for your snazzy little case. Buying advice: Okay, What is practical: What separates a fancy motherboard from a cheap motherboard? The truth is, not much. A more expensive motherboard like the MSI MPG Z590 is going to mean you get more ports, more slots for internal components like storage drives, and more slots for RAM or support for more RAM. Nicer boards also typically have more lights on them, too which is of vital importance for a gaming PC. Level Up With the Games Newsletter Sign up for the latest gaming tips, reviews, and features, in your inbox every week. Your email By signing up you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement The question though, is whether or not you need those extra ports. When it comes to storage drives, two M.2 slots is plenty, more than that is kind of a luxury. With regard to RAM, 16 GB is what I'd say is the minimum for a gaming PC. Moving up to 32 GB is essential for video editing, and it's really nice to have for gaming but it's not a requirement by any means. This list has motherboards of all price points on it, but there are way more out there than we can ever test and cover for you so if you see one that you like, write down its specs and compare it to others on the market to find a good fit for your budget and your vibe. We try to keep this list updated regularly with prices that aren't too much higher than MSRP, but if any of the prices here increase between updates, i suggest look around for a shop around to compare. Suggested Hardware ASUS ROG Strix B450-F (AM4 Socket): For a rig designed for 1080p gaming, start here. Asus ROG Strix B550-F (AM4 Socket): This motherboard has a few extra ports (including Thunderbolt 3) you'll appreciate if you're building a mid to high end gaming PC on an AMD processor. MSI MPG Z490 (LGA 1200 Socket): This one is great for 10th and 11th-generation Intel processors and mid-tier machines. ASUS ROG Strix (LGA 1700 Socket): This is a high-performance motherboard for gaming machines. If you're picking up a 12th or 13th-generation Intel processor, this is our recommendation. This is the brain of your computer. It sockets directly into the motherboard, and it’s the single most important component of your PC. That doesn’t mean it has to be the most expensive (we’ll get to that later), or that it's the most important for gaming performance. Like your brain, everything your PC does goes through here. Your legs are important for running, but it's your brain that tells them to move. Buying advice: You're going to see the highest markups on your CPU and GPU. But these prices will move around quite a bit, so keep checking back if you can't afford the component you want at the moment. If the CPU doesn't mention including thermal paste, get some. Don't eat it. I know it looks tasty, but it's not actually food. Suggested Hardware Intel Core i5-12600K 6-Core 3.7 GHz (LGA 1700 Socket): Intel's 12th-generation i5 offerings are a great choice for everyday workloads and won't get bogged down by your games, as long as you have the GPU horsepower to pull most of that weight. Intel Core i7-12700K 8-Core 3.6 GHz (LGA 1700 Socket): An Intel i7 will see you through most heavy workday tasks and 4K gaming. Intel Core i9-13900K 8-Core 5.8 GHz (LGA 1700 Socket): Intel's high-end gaming option, the 13th-gen Core i9, is an incredibly versatile performer. This thing pushes games to their absolute limit and shreds content creation workloads. It is very pricey as it just hit store shelves and it's one of the highest-end processors on the market, but it's an absolute beast. AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 6-Core 5.3 GHz (AM5 Socket): The Ryzen 5 7600X is an excellent choice for a gaming or video editing PC. It's not as quick or nimble as AMD's top-end offerings but honestly it keeps pace with the more expensive processors surprisingly well. AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 16-core 5.7 GHz (AM5 Socket): AMD's 16-core behemoth is a killer CPU for high-end 4K or 144-Hz gaming, but it has some special requirements. It gets so hot there's no way you should put it into a PC without a liquid cooler like Asus ROG Ryujin II Liquid Cooler. If you’ll be playing games on this PC, you’ll need a graphics processing unit (also called a graphics card). This is a specialized processor that’s designed and optimized for handling visual data like the graphics in games. It's also used in video and photo editing and other graphics-intensive tasks. Your CPU is the best of the best when it comes to processing information sequentially—one message after another—it does this lightning-fast, millions of times per second, but that's still not quick enough to run a graphically demanding game at a high frame-rate. For that you need a special kind of processor, one that's not designed for sequential processing, but for parallel processing. Your GPU can process thousands, millions, of things at the same time–think about all the things your GPU is rendering any time you play a game. Every rock, every tree, every gun, every player, every enemy, and on and on. She's got to think about all those things all at once and weave them into a coherent three-dimensional environment for you to explore and enjoy. Buying advice: Even though they're more available than they have been in years, graphics cards are among the most in-demand PC components, and their prices still swing a bit higher than MSRP in some cases. That's why the picks on this list are generally mid- to high-end. In my opinion, it's better to put the bulk of your budget toward a graphics card. The higher you go now, the longer it's going to last—like buying a $100 pair of shoes that lasts you years, instead of a $120 pair of shoes that fall apart every couple months. Cheap graphics cards are dollar wise but dollar foolish for gaming PCs. For a regular old home office PC, any cheap card from the past couple years will do you just fine. Suggested Nvidia GeForce Hardware Nvidia has recently released its latest generation of graphics cards, the GeForce RTX 40-series, but there aren't any on this list. As of this writing, they still have some kinks to work out (not the good kind), they're extremely expensive, and the 30-series is just a better value for performance that's almost as good and sometimes better than the latest, most expensive cards. MSI GeForce RTX 2060: If you're looking to get into medium-end gaming, this card strikes a good balance between power and price. Also a great pick for an office computer that will do some video editing or some light gaming. Asus ROG Strix RTX 3060: Nvidia’s 30-series graphics cards are often out of stock due to the global chip shortage, but if you can find one for a reasonable price, the RTX 3060 is a killer 1080p and 1440p gaming graphics card. Zotac GeForce RTX 3080: Honestly, this is still one of the top performing graphics cards on the market right now, even if you're running games at 4K with ray-tracing on. Add on to that the fact that it's under $1,000, and it's a very appealing card. For an Nvidia build, you can't do much better. Suggested AMD Radeon Hardware A note for anyone looking to buy a Radeon card right now: Don't! The newest generation of Radeon graphics cards, the 7000-series, is likely to be announced in early November. Even if you're not interested in a top-end, bleeding-edge card, the imminent release of the new generation will drive current (6000-series) graphics cards down further, so you'll save a little extra if you wait. Radeon RX 6600: The RX 6600 is a really solid pick for 1080p gaming on an AMD chip. Radeon RX 6800 XT: If you're going all-out, the RX 6800 XT is my top choice right now. It's a beast of a GPU that can handle anything you throw at it, even Cyberpunk 2077 at full 4K resolution. This is your PC’s walk-in closet. This is where you store all your files, your games, your movies, your documents, your photos, your everything. You can always add more storage later. Suggested Hardware Samsung 980 Pro M.2 SSD: Samsung's M.2 drives are always a good choice. They're quick, durable, and itty-bitty (about the size of a stick of gum), so they can pair with just about any other internal SSD you'd like. Most motherboards have an M.2 slot either on the front of the board or around back, and you don't even have to mess with any cables. This one clocks in at around 6,980 MB/s read speed, and 4,876 MB/s write speed. Samsung 970 Evo M.2 SSD: The Evo line is cheaper though a bit slower, but it's still an excellent buy for any build. This M.2 drive tops out at around 3,500 MB/s read speed and 3,300 MB/s write speed. Slower than others on this list but still pretty quick—quick enough for gaming for sure. If you're on a budget, go with the Evo. Corsair MP600 M.2 SSD: Corsair's MP600 drive comes with a built-in heat sink to keep temperatures down while it transfers your data at blazing speeds. It features a 4,950 MB/s read speed and 4,250 MB/s write speed. WD Blue 1-TB Internal SSD: It's reasonably quick, with plenty of storage space but this Western Digital model is better for a secondary storage drive—not the one you run games or your operating system off of. You’ll see a lot of the same terms when you’re looking at memory and storage, but they’re very different. Memory is more like that one table you toss things on to deal with later. It’s scratch paper; it’s short-term. It’s very important, though, because software uses memory to cache (temporarily store) data in a place where it can be retrieved quickly. Suggested Hardware Corsair Vengeance LPX 16-GB 288-Pin RAM: High-end gaming rigs always go for 32 or 64 GB of RAM, but a good old pair of 8-GB sticks will see you through most 1080p games and everyday tasks. G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32-GB 288-Pin RAM: With this much RAM, you should be pretty well set for everyday tasks and gaming. Corsair Dominator Platinum 64-GB 288-Pin RAM: If you need extra heft for content creation or high-end gaming, consider stepping up to 64 GB of RAM. Your power supply unit is a little box that keeps the electricity running to every component. It determines how quick and powerful your PC can be. The faster it is, the more power it needs, and you always want to have a little more than you need, just in case. Just like GPUs, PSUs are also in and out of stock right now. Suggested Hardware EVGA SuperNOVA 750 GA Power Supply: You should always err on the side of having more power than you need, and this unit will provide exactly that. NZXT E850 850-Watt Power Supply: This 850-watt power supply should provide enough horsepower to run even the most high-end and demanding builds. EVGA SuperNOVA 1,000-Watt Power Supply: For PCs with multiple graphics cards or a whole lot of storage, EVGA's 1,000-watt PSU is a good pick. Your case is just what it sounds like. It’s a metal box. It might be covered in glass panels and etched aluminum, but inside it’s just a big metal box that holds everything together. Make sure you match it up with your motherboard size. For example, if you have an ATX motherboard, you need an ATX (or “full-size”) case. Suggested Hardware Corsair Obsidian Series ATX Full Tower: There are lots of kinds of cases. Some are super small, others are enormous. And your decision will ultimately come down to the design you like as much as anything else. If you're unsure what to get, this one is great for your first build. Other case manufacturers we like are NZXT, Fractal, Phanteks, Cooler Master, and Lian Li. NZXT H710i ATX Mid-Tower: This is one of my faves. It has a slick aesthetic and slightly compact silhouette without compromising cooling capability or accessibility. MSI Gungnir 110R ATX Mid-Tower Case: This budget-friendly case is a solid option for most people. Be aware that it'll be a tight fit—there's almost no wiggle room for bulky cables or hyperspecific configurations. It looks nicer than you'd think for the money, and the RGB button syncs up your lights with very little effort. The smokey tempered glass allows them to shine through without turning your office into an EDM show. Operating System When you build a PC, you don't automatically have Windows included. You'll have to buy a license from Microsoft or another vendor and make a USB key to install it. Or you can check out the newly released Windows 11. The internal layout of every gaming PC is a little different, so we're not going to get too far into the weeds here. Your best bet for specific instructions for your hardware will be referencing your manuals and searching for your components on YouTube. It can be super helpful to actually see a person handle and install your exact hardware, especially when you're stuck and can't quite figure out what the hell your manual is talking about. But here are some general tips for putting all these components together. First, Tidy yourself a clean workspace. This can be a dining room table, a cleared-off desk—just any surface big enough for your case to lay flat on its side, with ample room around it for the rest of your components. You’ll also need a Phillips-head screwdriver that will fit the screws on your case. When you put these parts together, be sure to discharge any static buildup and work on a nonmetallic surface like a wooden table. Or you could just assemble the motherboard on top of the cardboard box it comes in. Most of the components you bought are going to come with instruction manuals; keep them handy. We’re going to start with the motherboard, so open up the instruction manual to the installation page. It can be pretty intimidating—there’s a lot to look at—but think of all this as a big Lego set. Each piece fits into each other piece. For the motherboard, your first job is going to be seating your CPU. Installing Your CPU Depending on what kind of CPU you purchased (Intel or AMD), the chip will have either little prongs on one side (don’t touch them) or little golden contacts on one side (don’t touch them). Seriously, don’t touch that side of your chip. Oils from your fingertips can damage the contacts, or you might bend a pin. Do either one and your processor becomes nothing more than an expensive hunk of silicon. Seating your processor is pretty easy. First, double-check your motherboard’s instructions and make sure you’ve unlocked the processor socket. It’ll be a big square with a bunch of little holes (or contacts), with a lever or button beside it. Your motherboard’s instructions will say explicitly how to unlock the socket so you can put your processor in without any issues. Once you’ve confirmed that it’s unlocked and ready, just find which corner of your processor has a little golden triangle and line it up with the same symbol on your motherboard’s processor socket. Gently lower the processor into the socket, then gently flip the latch or locking mechanism. You shouldn’t have to fight it. If you have to press really hard, double-check that the processor is socketed correctly. Next, you’re going to need your thermal paste. That little tiny plastic syringe of silvery goo is very important for this next step. Now that your processor is seated, take a look at the shiny square of silicon in the center of it. That’s where your heat sink is going to sit. Your processor came with a heat sink, and on one side of it, you’ll see a copper circle. You’re going to be putting the heat sink directly on top of the processor after we apply the thermal paste, with the silicone square and the copper circle lining up perfectly. Go ahead and carefully squeeze a tiny ball (no bigger than a pea) of thermal paste onto the silicon square on your processor. You’ll want it as close to the center as you can get. Now line up your heat sink with the screws surrounding your processor, and gently lower it into place. You’re gonna squish the thermal paste, and the goal here is to create a thin layer covering the back of your processor. It’s OK if it oozes a little bit, but if it oozes out and over the edge of the processor, you used too much. Get some isopropyl alcohol, dab it on a lint-free wipe, and wipe the processor and heat sink. Wait till they’re thoroughly dry and try again. If it looks all right, screw your heat sink into place. Flip back to your motherboard instruction book and find the right place near the processor socket to plug in your heat sink’s cooling fan. It should be very close to your processor socket. Once you’ve found it, plug it in—congratulations, you just installed a CPU. This was the hardest part, and it’s over. Great work! Installing Your Storage and Memory Memory is maybe the easiest thing to install. See those vertical little sockets beside the CPU? Line up your sticks of RAM and slot them in, starting from the left-hand slot. They’ll lock into place once you’ve seated them properly. If you have two sticks of RAM, make sure to skip a slot between them. Your motherboard manual should say which slots to use. For your hard drive or solid-state drive (SSD), find an empty bay in the front-facing part of your case. Slide your drive in and screw it into place. If you have an M.2 drive (a tiny SSD about the size of a stick of gum), there should be a place on the motherboard where you slot it in directly. Check out your motherboard’s manual to see where the M.2 slot is if you can't find it. Installing Your Motherboard and Power Supply The rest of this is formulaic. Start by putting your motherboard into your case. Consult your motherboard’s instructions, line up the screw holes in the case with the ones on your motherboard, and get to work. Next, you’ll want to install your power supply. There should be a spot for it near the top or bottom of the case, a big square spot that will fit your supply perfectly. If you’re having trouble finding it, look at the back of your case: There’ll be a big empty square. That’s where the power supply goes (and where you’ll plug in your PC when you’re all done). Once you've found its home, slot it in and screw it into place. Make sure all the snaky cables coming out of the power supply will reach your motherboard with room to spare. Don’t plug in anything yet; we’re going to come back to the power supply in a bit. Your GPU is going to be pretty big. Even a modestly powerful GPU like the GTX 1060 is large compared to your other components. That means how it fits into your case is important. Once you put your GPU in there, space is going to start getting tight. Flip open your motherboard’s instruction book again and look for a PCIe slot. It’s going to be a horizontal slot with a little plastic latch beside it, near the middle or bottom of your motherboard. That’s where the GPU plugs in. All you need to do is identify the back of your GPU (the side with the HDMI and Display Ports), line that up with the back of your case, and push the GPU into the horizontal slot. It should lock into place easily enough; if it doesn’t, make sure you’re inserting it correctly. Find another one of those tiny little screws and fasten your GPU to the case. There’s a little spot for that on the same piece of metal with the HDMI ports. It should be easy to find. Now, take a look at the cables coming out of your power supply. There should be a few that look like they could fit into the square (or rectangular) socket on the side of your GPU. It should look like six or eight little holes in a rectangle shape. If you’re having trouble, take a look at this video from hardware manufacturer Asus. Some of the specifics will be different, but it’s a great look at how to install a GPU. Ribbon Cables The motherboard needs to be hooked into all your devices. The power supply unit I used in this build is what's called fully modular, which means that you can select the cables you need and leave the rest off to eliminate clutter. Otherwise, power supplies have a ton of cables, and you'll have to deal with the unused power connections dangling inside your case. You'll need to connect the PSU to the SSD and the motherboard. You also need to plug the motherboard into your case—the power buttons, audio plugs, and USB ports on the front of your case. There are special headers for each kind of plug scattered around the board, so you'll want to check your manual for the location and function of each grouping of pins. These tiny pins need to be plugged in a certain way, and they're unbelievably minuscule. There's also a hookup for the case's fan—in the case I used there was one header on the motherboard but three fans installed. Then there's the SATA cable for your SSD, which plugs into the motherboard. This part of your build really depends on the hardware you purchased, so consult the manuals for each component to ensure you've correctly plugged it into your motherboard and the power supply. Boot It Up and Install Windows The final stage of your build is a simple one: Hit your power button. If the PC whirs to life, you probably put it together perfectly! If it doesn't, don't despair. There are a lot of potential problems that could cause a PC to fail to boot up for the first time. This video from Kingston goes over some pitfalls that might cause you some headaches, so if you're not able to boot your PC, give it a watch and retrace your steps. There's also a chance you could have received faulty components. This video goes over some tips on how to check your parts. In general, if you’re having trouble with a specific component, YouTube is your friend. There are tons of helpful PC-building tutorials. If it started up just fine, the next step is super easy: Turn it off. Remember that Windows flash drive you made earlier? Plug it into the PC and boot it up again. If you set it up right, your computer should just do its thing and get started installing Windows. If not, you might need to open your BIOS (check your motherboard's manual for how to do that) and set the USB drive to be a “boot device” first. You Completed It we done Mate Congratulations on building your first PC. It's a bit of a pain, but it's a great way to spend an afternoon. Or a couple of days, depending on how many unforeseen headaches you run into. Seeing as the pandemic is still sticking around, and there's even a fun new booster to get (yay), you can use your new PC to help you spend all those extra indoor hours productively (or just grinding out loot in Destiny 2).

We all have an old computer or laptop laying around that we just can't let go. Unfortunately, there comes a time when it's better to upgrade to something faster and more secure. Here's when to replace your old device. Here are some very good reasons to let it go. Slow Load or Boot Times Desktop Computers and laptops are constantly evolving. Every New year, new models are released by HP, Dell, Asus, Lenovo, Panasonic, MSI, Gigaybte, Alienware, Asus Rog, Msi Katana, Msi Trident, Hp Probook, Acer, Microsoft surface book with better specs and features. And with today's technology, you're able to boot your system in a matter of seconds and browse your favorite websites at lightning speed. You can surf the web, run applications, and work on documents smoothly, without any hiccups. When to Replace Your Old Computer or Laptop If you are using an little bit older computer and you find yourself constantly having to count the minutes around for your device to start or to load web pages or even applications that used just open up in seconds, then it will be time for an upgrade an to put this old machine into retirement. However, it could be worth trying a factory reset to see if that makes any difference. This will make the computer like it was when you first turned it on & fix all problems, including a slow computer, errors codes, random crashes, and hardware and software issues. All your files and programs will be removed, so back up everything you wish to keep. A recently purchased rig, anywhere from a year to seven or so years ago may not need to be replaced, depending on your needs. Sometimes a smaller upgrade, such as more RAM, a better graphics card or CPU, or an SSD drive will make your old machine feel new again. If you're not familiar with the your computer's internal components, you can always take your rig to a local computer store to get personalized advice. So When to Replace Your Old Computer or Laptop We highly recommend this if you're not tech-savvy, as choosing the right parts for your machine takes some thorough planning. Learning to modify or build a PC can be lots of fun if you have the time for it, though! You just don't want to blow a bunch of money on parts that aren't compatible with your system or overspend on something you don't need. Alternatively, you can head to your local computer store to try out some computers and laptops on display. You'll be surprised at how far technology has come. Of course, you don't have to burn a deep hole in your pockets to get a fast machine. You can find excellent computers and laptops for a reasonable price, so find one that's within your budget. There are plenty of budget-friendly options that still offer excellent performance. Outdated Security Software Securing your private information has become more important than ever. As technology continues to advance, so do the methods that criminals use to break into systems and steal people's data. If your PC doesn't support the latest security software, you're more vulnerable to so many attacks. So if you're using an older version of Windows or macOS and your security software either doesn't work or starts complaining about compatibility issues, it's definitely time to contact a professional to upgrade or replace your current antivirus security software. Poor Graphics and Display If you're a creative professional or someone who enjoys playing video games or watching movies, having a computer with a good graphics card and display is valuable. Older computers may not be able to run the latest games or video-editing software smoothly. They also have duller and lower-resolution displays that can make working on projects or watching movies unpleasant. Nowadays, modern computers and laptops offer gorgeous high-resolution graphics on big and vibrant displays. They make your time on the computer much more enjoyable, as you're able to see all the fine details the way they were meant to be seen. The colors look full and the graphics are sharp and clear, giving you an immersive experience you'd never have on an old, outdated machine. You're probably asking yourself, "Can't I just get a better monitor?" The answer is yes, assuming your rig is powerful enough to handle the software you use. For example, if your computer can't run Adobe Photoshop CC smoothly, a new monitor won't make any difference. The same goes for gaming and watching high-definition movies. Your Needs Change You can find a computer or laptop to fit all kinds of lifestyles these days. Whether you need specific software on a Mac or a powerful rig to mine cryptocurrency, it's important to figure out exactly what you're looking for in a PC. For example, if you've been anchored to the tower on your desk for years, you might not realize how much you might enjoy the freedom of a laptop. Or, if you only use your computer for social media and other casual purposes, a Chromebook might be even more convenient at a lower price. Maybe you want to start streaming, which means you should look for a powerful rig with a higher-end GPU. Remember that desktops will be far cheaper than laptops with similar specs. Take your time thinking about what your daily computer use is and what you want in your personal computer so that you find the best device for your daily use. Author Nerdcore Computers 09/06/2023

It's all about cleaning and, while you’re busy folding clothes, organizing drawers, and dusting shelves, your computer is slowly suffocating. It’s easy to overlook cleaning your PC, but you shouldn’t put it off for too long. If left powered on, a computer will slowly build up dust, which can impede airflow, resulting in higher temperatures and possibly hardware failure. Try swiping your fingertip across the top of it and see how much dust you’ve picked up. Now try the same with areas near a vent. In this cleaning guide, we’re not only going to cover PCs, but also peripherals. When's a Good Time to Clean up Your Computer Gaming Desktops Cleaning To keep things cool and operational, desktops are outfitted with intake and exhaust fans. These fans usually have a grille or dust filter of some sort covering them, that’s probably lined with dust by now. So, your weapon of choice? The Vacuum. As opposed to compressed air with a ozito that is available at bunnings, the Vacuum is a compact dusting unit with a 1500W motor capable of producing 270CFM of air flow. Since our computer expert technician own one, we can say, yes, it pushes a lot of air and yes, it’s quite loud when in use. Why would you use it rather than canned air? Because it’s more powerful, cost-effective, and comes with multiple nozzle attachments for different scenarios. When's a Good Time to Clean up Your Computer Now that you’re ready, let’s get to it! Turn off your computer and unplug all devices, peripherals, and cables from the desktop, including the power cable. If your power supply has an off switch, turn it off. Move it somewhere you won’t mind having dust everywhere, preferably outside. Connect your Vacuum to an accessible outlet nearby or get your cans of compressed air ready. Remove both side panels and the front panel if possible. Dust filters, too. Don’t forget to check the bottom. Clean them using the Vacuum/compressed air. Be thorough and dust both sides. For the internals, since the Vacuum is quite strong, I’d suggest using it in short bursts and at a distance. Aim it at wherever you see dust, but not at the fans, yet. Dust the motherboard, ports, the space in-between the RAM modules, storage drives, graphics card, power supply, and so on. You can remove components if needed. (This is where the Vacuum’s multiple nozzle attachments come in handy. Some places are hard to reach and some dust particles won’t let go without a light brush.) For fans, due to the strength of the Vacuum, it’s recommended you hold onto a fan blade when dusting so it won’t spin. While it may be entertaining, having a fan spin the opposite way or too fast can damage its internal components. And that’s pretty much it. Give everything a once-over before you put the panels back on. It doesn’t need to be spotless as long as there are no visible dust bunnies hanging around. This is also the perfect time to redo your cable management. Gaming Laptops Cleaning Laptops are either easy to clean or a bit more involved. Since many trending systems now are focusing on portability, they feature a uni body design with no visible fans and minimal vents (if any). With these, there’s not really much to clean aside from the exterior, screen, and keyboard, which a microfiber cloth will do. Take your time cleaning and be extra cautious on the display so you don’t scratch it. Some water on the cloth can be used on stubborn smudges. Stay away from chemical solutions and rubbing alcohol because they could discolor the system or strip the lettering from keys. Also, consider getting a case or screen protector. As for systems with removable panels and larger vents, your best bet is a compressed air compressor. When cleaning the vents, spray in bursts to prevent damaging the fans inside. Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth Peripherals The keyboard is probably one of the filthiest items in your house, especially if you eat food over it. Seriously. Take a good look and see if you can spot the dust, grime, crumbs, hair, chips, and whatever else is hidden in between the keys. It gets even worse with greasy and Doritos-covered fingers, which invite more dust and things to stick to it. Take a picture of your keyboard or leave a picture of one on your screen. If you know where every key goes by heart, good for you. Using a keycap puller, pen, or whatever tool fits the job, remove every single key. (Please note that chiclet/laptop-like keys should not be removed. Instead, clean them with some damp paper micro towls.) The naked keyboard is appalling, so shake it over a trash can to remove the junk in there. For things that didn’t fall off, pick at it or use a brush. For sticky residue left over from soda and drinks, try using a slightly wet paper towel. To clean the key caps, throw them in a container of warm soapy water. Let them sit for 10 minutes or so, stir if you feel like it, and then hand dry them with a towel. Finally, put them back in place. Optimally, get a keyboard cover to keep your keyboard clean when it’s not in use. While you’re at it, you might as well clean your mouse. Flip it over and clean what ever’s latching onto the mouse feet, the sensor and the area around it, as well as the gaps in-between the scroll wheel and buttons. For the exterior, some water on a cloth goes a long way. If you have a device with a rubbery coating, avoid chemical solutions and rubbing alcohol at all costs, because they can strip the coating away. Speakers can be cleaned too. Give them a light dusting with a soft brush or a microfiber cloth. Now that everything looks shiny and brand new again, continue practicing good hygiene habits. Do you have any tips of your own for cleaning your computer and peripherals? Share them with us in the Comments section, below. Author Nerdcore Computers 09/05/2023

My computer will turn on, what do I do now? How can i fix this problem fast so i dont lose any time from work. First check the computer's power cord to make sure it is completely plugged into the wall socket. If you are using a plug strip, make sure it is completely plugged into the wall socket and that the power switch on the plug strip is turned on. Some plug strips also have a built in circuit breaker which usually looks like a black or red button near the power switch. Press the button to reset it and see if that solves the problem. Why doesn't my computer turn on? What do I do when my computer crashes? Who can guide me to fix my issue fast as i dont want to lose any time from work. There are many reasons why a computer may just stop working or "freeze". Most of the time there isn't much we can do about it, it is a fact of life that computer programs have become so complex that occasionally users will experience problems even when performing common tasks. When your computer no longer responds to keyboard commands your best bet is to restart the computer. What do I do if my hard disk fails to work? As with most computer errors, your first step is to shut down your computer and restart it. This will help you determine whether or not you actually have a hard disk problem. If the disk is severely damaged then your computer will probably fail to restart properly. If this is the case then contact MCWare IT Solutions, this is a job for the professionals. Monitor FAQs There is no display on the monitor, what do I do now? Make sure the monitor is on. If no power light (green or orange light) is seen on the monitor display try pressing the power button until it comes on. If your computer monitor was on and you stepped away from the computer and upon returning it was black, it's likely that the computer is asleep. Try moving your mouse, clicking the mouse buttons, and/or pressing any key (space bar) on the keyboard to wake it up. Make sure that the monitor is connected properly to the back of the computer. What do I do if the image on screen is distorted or skewed? You may receive a distorted image when the cable is loose or defective. Disconnect the video cable going from the back of the computer and verify that no pins are bent, burnt or broken. Once verified re-connect the monitor cable. If the refresh rate is not properly set the monitor may have a wavy or an appearance that lines are going down or across the monitor slowly or fast, this may also cause a flickering affect. A distorted image can be caused by magnetic or other types of interference. Verify no speakers, fans or other magnetic devices are close to the monitor. I get a 'no signal input' message, what do I do? Verify that the monitor is properly connected in the back of the monitor as well as to the back of the computer. If the monitor appears to be connected properly, verify that a cable is not loose by disconnecting all cables that can be disconnected in the back of the monitor (generally the data cable cannot be disconnected). Next, disconnect the data cable connected to the back of the computer and then reconnect the cable. When connecting the cable in the back of the computer ensure the cable connection is tight. Most Computers will also have screw ends that can be screwed in to hold the connector in place. There are black borders on my screen, what do I do? If the resolution was recently changed it is possible for the monitor to not auto adjust or shift to the correct size. If this occurs, the resolution can be changed back to the original setting or you can manually adjust the monitor. If a black border exists on the monitor it can generally be resolved by manually adjusting the horizontal or vertical width. Because each monitor is different, the method of adjusting this setting will vary; consult your monitor documentation. Mouse & Keyboard FAQs Why is my mouse acting erratically? Users who have an optical mechanical mouse (most common mouse for desktop computers) are likely experiencing erratic behaviour because the mouse is not clean or is dirty. If you've cleaned the mouse and continue to encounter issues and this mouse has worked in the past fine unfortunately your mouse is likely defective. One additional test that can be done to help determine if this is the case or not is to connect the mouse to another computer. Otherwise we suggest replacing the mouse. The wheel on my mouse isn't working properly, what do I do? If you're running any version of Microsoft Windows and are encountering issues with the mouse wheel, first attempt to adjust the mouse settings through the Mouse Properties window. This window can be accessed by opening the Control Panel and double-clicking the Mouse icon. How can I clean my keyboard? The keys on a keyboard are only clipped on, with a knife or other thin object, carefully pop the keys off, this will allow you to clean under the keys as well as cleaning the keys themselves (make sure you remember where they went!). Windows FAQs How do I get into safe mode? To get into the Windows 7 / 10 Safe mode, as the computer is starting up press and hold your "F8 Key" which should bring up the "Windows Advanced Options Menu". Use your arrow keys to move to "Safe Mode" and press your Enter key. I can't delete a file because it is being used by Windows? Close all programs running on the computer and try again. If after closing all programs running on the computer you are still encountering the same issue when attempting to delete files, load the computer into Safe Mode and delete the files. How can I update my Microsoft Windows computer? If you are running Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 10, or a later version of Microsoft Windows, you are eligible to update Microsoft Windows, and in some cases, your computer hardware with the latest drivers through Microsoft's update site, visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com. In most cases your computer should be set to automatically update when a new update becomes available. Is it safe to turn off a Windows computer without doing a shut down? Users should not simply press the power button or restart the computer while Windows is still running unless there is an issue with the computer. Microsoft has included the shut down feature because it enables a computer to go through all the necessary steps that are required before turning off the computer. In fact many versions of Microsoft Windows will check the computer for any problems if the computer is not shut down properly. How can I recover a file from the recycle bin? Double click the recycle bin icon on your desktop, here you will see all of the files within your bin. Select the files you wish to recover, right click and choose restore. Email FAQs I am unable to send or receive email? Verify that your computer is able to see the Internet and/or other computers to ensure that your computer is not encountering a connection issue, which would be causing your e-mail issue. Ensure that your Internet e-mail server or your Network e-mail server is not encountering issues by contacting either your Internet Service Provider or your Network administrator. I can't receive any email attachments? If the e-mail box is full of other e-mail messages, and/or your storage space is only a few megabytes, it's possible that the attachment being sent cannot be received. Often if this problem is occurring the person sending the e-mail should get a response back from your e-mail server indicating that your mailbox is full and/or has exceeded its allocated size. Because computer viruses and other malware are best distributed through e-mail, many e-mail service providers, companies, and e-mail programs prevent certain types of file extensions from being distributed or received through e-mail. For example, Microsoft Outlook protect its users by automatically disabling certain file extension types from being received in e-mail. Are spaces allowed in email addresses? Just like an Internet URL no spaces are allowed in an e-mail address. However, names can be broken up using a period; for example, John Smith may have an e-mail address: john.cranny@example.com or john.c@example.com because no spaces are allowed in the e-mail address. Printer FAQs My printer is printing smudged/distorted pages? When printing on non traditional paper your printer may experience smudges, un-even or crooked text, and/or text that runs off the edges of the paper. Your printer may be printing fuzzy, blurry, and/or other faint text because of dirty print heads. All modern printers have some type of printer cleaning, self-test, and/or diagnose mode that can be performed to check and clean the printers print heads and other internal equipment used to print. How do I fix a paper jam? Turn off the printer. Inspect the location or tray the printed paper ejects to. If the stuck paper is visible manually remove it. Remove all paper trays and any paper that may be stuck between the tray and the printer. If the stuck paper is visible manually remove it. Open the printer door that allows you access to the printer ink cartridges or toner and look for any stuck paper. If the stuck paper is visible manually remove it. Turn the printer back on. I lost my printer installation disk, how can I install my printer? Thankfully a missing printer installation disk or disc is not the end of the world and will not require you to wait until a new diskette or CD can be sent to you. Today all printer and other hardware manufacturers are providing downloads on the Internet to their software programs and drivers that are included with their products. Network FAQs I can't connect to my network drive anymore? Verify that the network cable is properly connected to the back of the computer. In addition, when checking the connection of the network cable, ensure that the LED's on the network are properly illuminated. For example, a network card with a solid green LED or light usually indicates that the card is either connected or receiving a signal. Note: generally, when the green light is flashing, this is an indication of data being sent or received. How do I map a network drive? Open Microsoft Explorer. From Explorer, click the Tools drop down menu and click the option "Map Network Drive." Specify the network drive or network computer as the folder. If the computer's name was hope, to map to that computer, type \\hope If you wished to map to a shared folder on the hope computer such as a mp3 folder, you would type \\hope\mp3. If a different username or login is required to connect to this computer or drive it must be specified in this window before clicking the finish. How do I determine my computer's name? Right-click My Computer. Click Properties. In the Properties window, click the Computer Name tab. Within this tab you'll be able to see the full computer name, workgroup and also a description. If you wish to change the name or workgroup, click the Change button. Virus FAQs What is a computer virus? A computer virus is a software program that has been intentionally created to cause a user grief, spread to other computers, or destroy data on an individual's computer. To help prevent a computer from becoming infected by a virus, software developers have developed anti virus programs that stay active on the computer helping to protect it. It is important to realize that many computers do not come pre-loaded with these already installed and that if computers do come with these programs, the programs may expire within 90 days. Does Windows come with a virus protection program? All versions of Microsoft Windows do not come pre-installed with a virus protection program. This includes: Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows 10. Can a virus damage computer hardware? No. Computer viruses are software code designed to spread to computer files and other computers, delete files, and cause other problems with the data on the computer. So if you're experiencing an issue with a hardware device such as your printer, video card, sound card, etc. it is not due to a virus. If I format or erase my hard drive will it remove a virus? If your computer is infected with a virus formatting or erasing the hard disk drive and starting over will almost always remove any type of virus. However, keep in mind if backups have been made that contain the virus, other media or drives connected to the computer have a virus, your computer is connected to another computer on a network with a virus, and/or the virus is stored on some other type of software you use with your computer it can become re-infected if not properly protected. Other FAQs How do I delete Internet cookies? Microsoft Internet Explorer users can go to 'Tools' (or the little cog icon in the top left), then go to 'Safety' and choose 'Delete browsing history...', you can then choose to delete your Internet cookies. In Google Chrome, go to 'More Tools' and choose 'Clear browsing data...'. Firefox users can go to 'History', then choose 'Clear recent history. 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Wastage in ad spend has been an increasing problem in the advertising industry. In 2018, Nerdcore Australia Advertising, formerly known as Nerdcore Marketing, published a survey that claimed that 26% of all media ad spending was a waste. Fast forward to today, that number has only gotten bigger — up to 40% in some reports — and the estimation process is even more complicated. Each year, the waste rises to unimaginable heights, towering over the preceding year. 7 Ways to Stop Wasting Your Daily Ad Budget There has been so much talk around this phenomenon, and who is really to blame is another issue entirely. Nonetheless, businesses can't afford to wait until the public verdict is passed. Each advertiser needs to take active measures to stop their budget from pouring down the drain if they're to remain competitive in today's fast-paced digital landscape. In this article, we pinpoint a few ways to reduce such wastage in your daily ad budget. Create clearer campaign goals Unfocused campaign goals will always yield unhappy results. It is paramount to define campaign goals before selecting which ad campaign model to go for. Lead generation, brand awareness, or conversions, all have distinct approaches in crafting and execution that'll make it worthwhile whatever you're planning on spending. Clear campaign goals will also help you select better KPIs to gauge the success of your campaigns. CTR might work well for some campaigns, for example, but for others, it might be more productive to aim for measuring conversions. By using a different metric, you might be able to more accurately judge how you spend your money. ‍ Get more specific with your target audience/keywords Don't be too broad with your keywords. Spending your money on broad keywords doesn't necessarily mean you'll get much traction. Instead, narrow down your keywords. Make sure the keywords resonate well with your target market both in terms of audience interests and contextual relevance — it should be both what they are searching for and what they're looking for at that point in time. On Facebook and similar social media ad platforms, the game flips to that of audience and target groups instead of keywords. The narrower you get, the more likely you'll be reaching that precise audience that'll bring in the necessary value to justify your ad spend. ‍ Tighten your targeting status options This is mainly applicable to geo-targeted PPC ads. When targeting through Facebook or Google Ads, you have many options for targeting status. Choosing an option incompatible with your campaign goals could result in draining your ad budget by advertising to people you didn't mean to reach. ‍ An example would be reaching people who had recently been to Queensland with a campaign that was meant for the locals in Gold coast — both could be targeted with the key location "Paris," but your ROAS depends on which of the two target groups you end up reaching. ‍ Invest in an effective fraud-prevention tool If you're dealing with online business advertising, it is paramount you invest in a robust anti-ad fraud tool. With the prevalence of ad fraud in recent years, this is more of a necessity than it is an option. An advanced fraud detection tool that thoroughly analyzes ad campaigns can easily detect inconsistencies in the data from your ad campaigns at an early stage. It will lower the chances of your ad campaigns being compromised for any exploits by fraudsters. This will give you added assurance over your ad spend, make you more confident in your ad budget, and allow you to better streamline your entire marketing operations. ‍ Optimize your landing page Landing pages are your audience's gateway to conversion. Although the pages don't make up the main focus of an ad campaign, they constitute the most significant point of any sale. The pages should be optimized for speed, image/video appeal, clear call-to-action buttons, a harmonious color scheme, and generally a more intuitive UI/UX design. An ill-conceived landing page, therefore, will not yield any returns on your ad spend and could even harm the relevance and quality scores of your ads. ‍ Experiment with different ad platforms While Facebook and Google Ads are widely popular, there are other ad platforms to consider — such as Bing Ads, Pinterest Ads, LinkedIn Ads, AdRoll, Yahoo Gemini, and others. Every platform has its pros and cons, which means not all of them are going to be suitable for your business and campaign models. If you believe you're wasting your ad budget despite several attempts to mitigate the issue, perhaps you should start to experiment with other platforms. ‍ Avoid over diversifying If you're already using two or more of the ad platforms, don't try to diversify further. At the end of the day, each platform that you add to your arsenal takes resources away from a primary platform you could be dominating. Make sure you use tactics that work best with the platform you are using. If a platform supports your objectives better, don't feel pressured to switch it. It is in your best interest to ensure your ads are being shown most of the time to the people you're aiming to reach. ‍ Use retargeting features Retargeting can save you a fortune on your cost per acquisition and convert up to 10x as compared to regular ads. With retargeting — also called remarketing — you'd be paying to reach people that previously interacted with your website or socials. ‍ Almost all ad platforms support variations of the feature. When done right, it is a fantastic way to deepen engagement with users and keep them engaged with your brand for a longer time. ‍ Conclusion Several factors can explain why you're wasting your advertising budget, from the obvious promotion of Halloween products in January to more granular issues like poor targeting. It is ad fraud, however, that stands out. ‍ Fraudsters have become more adept at hiding their tracks and exploiting technical vulnerabilities, and the human element is often the weak link. Don't wait until you find out how severe the issue is before you take action. Implementing anti-ad fraud solutions can often be all you need to save your ad budget and take better control over your marketing operations. Author - Nerdcore Computers - Date: 08/31/2023

Virus & Spyware Removal Nerdcore Technicians are highly experienced in removing the most advanced types of Virus, Spyware, Adware, Trojan, Keyloggers, Rootkits, Bootkits and Malware infections. Nerdcore Computers have a perfect record in managing to repair even the most severe virus and spyware contaminations without having to reformat the computer. Symptoms of virus infection: System becomes very slow and non responsive Unknown programs or applications are executed during start up Email attachments with unknown extensions Anti-virus program has stopped working Windows cannot boot Pop-ups and ads appear and you cannot stop them Can't install new anti-virus, programs or applications stop responding Operating systems repeatedly restarts Computer Memory errors Experiencing any of the above? Virus & Spyware Removal Your computer might be already infected by malicious software. It’s essential to keep your computer secure from security threats and viruses. Our engineers will erase any threatening software found and prevent it from reappearing. At Nerdcore Computers virus removal goes far beyond by simply removing any threats. Simple removal is not always enough, especially if a system has become victim of a botnet of systems or if the system's firewalls have been configured to further allow access of suspicious packets. Further scans, maintenance, and optimisation of the system are also carried out to ensure the system is not only free of all threats, but also any damage and any changes to it are also reverted and prevented. Internet Threats Along with the advance and extensive use of the internet, malicious software has troubled computer users. File sharing operations, email and infected websites are responsible for spreading viruses and spyware over the internet. But with proper attention to security, you will not have any problems. Nerdcore Technicians solutions: Apply security on hardware or software based systems Penetration testing and reporting Security auditing and advisory services Network monitoring and protectionist measures Virus, Spyware, and Hacker prevention and detection Server security including ALC tools for Public domains & Servers Author Nerdcore Australia Modified: 08/30/2023

Onsite Computer Repairs Richmond 3121 What Computer Repair services does Nerdcore computers service centre offer in Richmond 3121? Onsite pc Repairs Richmond - 3121 ​ Do you require IT business solutions for critical emergency computer repairs failures in Richmond 3121 we can offer you or your business a better rate than $259 Flat Rate for repair on onsite laptop repairs Richmond an that is 7 days 24 hours any platform. Our certified techs have over 20 years of experience. When our company builds File servers to run a business or company we take into consideration 3 major factors which delivers the results our customers pay for. We are Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) We are the people who have done the courses and read the manuals. ​ Connectivity ​ High Speed Internet and VPN We know service providers well we have worked with all the top Internet providers in our area, and will recommend the best Internet Service Provider solution for you, sized according to the needs, of your business and not what some sales guy tells you that you have to have. ​ Network Services ​ Network design and construction from any one of our techs who has over 10 years experience in design install an service will be a breeze for them. The time to plan your computer network installation is before you start construction. Or, at least, before we lay the foundation. Most people are beyond that point with an existing network infrastructure, or one needing to be extended. We will look at your situation and recommend the best option for installing or designing your network backbone. ​ Hardware ​ Server Configuration and On-site PC Repair Richmond ​ We recommend one, and only one computer hardware manufacturer. Dell Computer Corporation provides the most reliable, easy to maintain computers and servers on the market today. Their warranty protection and customer service are second to none. Nerdcore has been fixing computer hardware almost since the time personal computers were introduced into the small business environment. We can fix most any computer or server hardware issue, and if our onsite computer nerds can't, we sure to have someone who will know. We will first begin by evaluating your current infrastructure and collect information for our network gurus to enhance and keep a steady and smooth network for you. Trouble Shooting ​ When it comes to troubleshooting we can also provide you with the right technical expert to troubleshoot the problem on the spot. With a complete team of experts rest assured we can either recommend you a new solution to achieve your technical requirement or resolve your current issue with our experience were sure to resolve the issue fast professionally with no down time at all and of course provide a full report describing what has caused the issue. Most issues are caused because of low maintenance or neglect to administer the current network protocols. Some areas were experienced at are - ​ Complete New Office Network Setup / Home Or Business / POS Systems Onsite  Laptop repairs Onsite Macbook Pro repairs Onsite  Apple mac repairs & service Onsite Imac Repairs    Onsite Fast Pc Fix Onsite Printer Networking Configuration Onsite Specific Hard Ware Installation/Setup/Tutorial Onsite Virus Protection Setup/Licensing Onsite  Data Recovery/Protection & Storage Setup Onsite Setup Wireless Connections Onsite  New Modem Installation/ Adsl + Adsl2+ Vdsl + Nbn + Dial up Onsite Tcp/ip Conflict and access issues  Onsite  Vpn + Port Forwarding Onsite Voice over Ip setup and Troubleshooting Onsite Spamming Email Control and Ip Blocking of annoying daily emails Onsite  Computer repairs for specific server platforms ​ ​ You can focus on running your business. We can make it run smoothly. ​ Our Flat-Rate repair fee will cover any hardware or software issue for Computer Repairs Richmond Don’t hesitate to give us a call or text if you have any questions! 1300637326 Enjoy 99.9% less unexpected issues We keep a careful eye on your systems, picking up threats before they happen so you DON'T get interrupted. We get to the bottom of every problem We know band-aid solutions never work, that's why we're dedicated to finding & eliminating problems at the core. Strategic IT Planning and Development We make sure your technology stays relevant to your business helping to implement YOUR ideas and vision! Work with the same people every time We're a team of close knit experts who get to know your business, your people and your systems inside out. Unlimited IT Support for one fixed fee Get complete access to all your IT needs including remote support, onsite support, proactive fixes and so much more! Fast Emergency Response Guaranteed We know when you need IT Support, you need it fast - so we guarantee 30 minutes or less response times. Pc Repairs | Onsite Computer Repairs | Computer Repairs Richmond 3121 | Ring 1300Nerdcore

Onsite Business IT Support Nerdcore Computers Service Centre knows that your computer is a huge part of your life. We know that being without your computer is a huge inconvenience! That’s why we strive to repair your computer correctly and returned to you as soon as possible! That means no matter what problem you think you might have we will find the part or the solution to make sure you can get on with your day duties an allow us to resolve your issue fast. We are part of Microsoft Business Hub and certified to work with Microsoft Exchange Server and Small Business Server Products! Most computer repairs are done within 1-2 business days or you can drop of in the morning and pickup in the afternoon.  If your computer requires a part that we do not have in stock there will be a shipping delay on your computer repair. We also have a three and one day repair, for those who need their computer back sooner, for a higher rate. Onsite Business IT Support We repair all makes and models of desktop and laptop computers.  This includes Apple (Mac), Acer, Asus, Compaq, Dell, eMachine, Gateway, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba. We have over 20 years of experience repairing and upgrading desktop and laptop computers for the home user, businesses industrial, education sector government, hospitals, aged care homes, Nbn contracts and services. Nerdcore Computers is Melbournes quickest turn-around computer repair centre.  Please check out our reviews on Google & Facebook. Over the last 20 years Nerdcore computers has been offering 15 years of onsite computer repairs in a safe secure cost effective package. We tailor a custom solution for every business - because every business is different. Call our team of experts who are ready to help you get the best out of your technology. Computers Service Centre | It support for medical |Business It Support | It support services | data recovery prices

Onsite Computer Repair Services Onsite Technical Support in Australia If you use a computer, you know there's a lot you can do to improve its performance and that sometimes, unfortunately, things go wrong. That's why Nerdcore computers service centre has a whole suite of services that will help you or your small business to keep your computer humming and make your life easier. Services include computer repair, PC upgrade, data recovery/backup, printers or any peripherals troubleshooting, software installation and computer setup. We understand computer can go wrong on any day. So we provide on-site services 365 days a year, even on public holidays! Service & Price Comparison Description Anti-Virus Installation The Internet is a dangerous place for computers. Surfing the Web with no or outdated anti-virus software is just like sky-diving with no parachute. Our technician will install and configure your anti-virus program. Ask about how to obtain a version of Kaspersky Total Security. $129 with No free software 12 months license for total protection by nerdcore computers. Memory Installation Has your computer slowed down over time? Do you perform a lot of multi-tasking? Allowing one of our Agents to increase the amount of System Memory in your machine will not only make your computer faster, but it will also make the use of it more enjoyable. DVD/CD-Rom Installation Whether it is a CD/CD-R/ DVD/DVD-RW/Blu-ray or Floppy drive, our technician will install the optical drive and related software. Mac OS X Installation/Upgrade Do you know you can upgrade to the latest OS X for only 350.00 aud Why not upgrade to take advantage of the new features and 64-Bit? Windows 11 Installation/Upgrade Are you wanting to upgrade to Windows 8, but don't know how or concerned about the process? Our On-Site Service can help you upgrade to Microsoft's latest OS: Windows 10 and migrate your applications when needed. We can also provide training of how to use Windows 8. Find out about the UEFI Boot Computer Optimization Your computer, just like your car, is a finely tuned machine that needs regular maintenance to keep it running and in good working order. This service includes over 100 system tweaks that will shorten your computer's boot time, deleting unwanted files and unnecessary background processes. We will bring your system up to speed with the most recent updates to guard against security threats, and if needed, defrag your hard drive and/or run other Anti-spyware software. Hardware Install/Upgrade Install any one PC compatible internal or external hardware device onto your desktop. Graphics/video card, memory, hard drives (HD or SSD), and optical drives are examples of what this service includes. Onsite Computer Repair Our expert technicians bring the computer parts and repair the computer at your home or office. No more carrying to a computer shop and wait for days or weeks. Give us a call PC Setup & Customization When purchasing a new PC, you can have it personalized to your precise computing needs! We know over 100 tune-ups to make your PC a lean, mean, smooth-running machine right from the get go. Need help with setting up your printers or digital devices to work with your PC? One Time Data Backup or Automated Backup Save secure copies of your computer's files in case of a severe crash - data storage is quite cheap nowadays! We can also restore data from any media. Free or Low Cost Software Do you know there are tons of FREE or low cost software that increase your computer performance and keep your computer healthy? iPhone, Android, BlackBerry Services We provide on-site technical support for your mobile devices like iPhone, Android and Motorolla. Have problem syncing with your computer or need training on how to use your smartphone? Call us! 1300637326 We also offer a complete of other services around Melbourne Victoria for fast same convenient service here is some more information about our other services. Onsite Computer Repair Services Onsite Technical Support in Australia Hardware Install/Upgrade PC Setup & Customization One Time Data Backup or Automated Backup

How quickly will you have a technician physically dispatched to my location? We can usually have a tech out to you the same or next day. How much does your service cost? We offer different service options: Flat fee, hourly rate, block rates and monthly subscriptions. More Info Onsite Same Day Business IT Support How qualified are Nerdcore engineers? Our technicians handling support have a minimum of 5 years computer repair & support experience and carry a variety of industry certifications from CompTIA, Microsoft, and Cisco. How long it typically takes to solve a problem? Most support sessions take about two to three hours. The session may be much shorter or longer depending on the number of and severity of issues. In some cases when a computer is heavily infected with viruses and/or spyware, work may need to continue by doing an in-home or in-office onsite visit by one of our certified technical experts. Is your work guaranteed? We will always work with you to make sure you’re satisfied with our work. If you ever have a question or concerns over a service, our customer satisfaction team is ready to make sure you are happy with our service. Please understand the volatile nature of computers, and that some problems can be recurring but not necessarily due to poor service on our part. For example, some computers are reinfected with the same virus or spyware after a user repeats the same actions that got the system infected in the first place. Ring to make a business booking!Tel:1300nerdcore-1300637326 The Nerdcore Group - Fast Professional Onsite Business IT Solutions

Computer Repairs Brisbane What Computer Repair services does Nerdcore computers service centre offer in Brisbane City An Surrounding Suburbs, Computer Repairs Brisbane City ​ Do you require IT business solutions for critical emergency computer business failures in Brisbane Business District - we can offer you or your business a better rate than $259 Flat Rate for repair on Computer repairs an that is 7 days 24 hours any platform. Our certified techs have over 20 years of experience. When our company builds File servers to run a business or company we take into consideration 3 major factors which delivers the results our customers pay for. We are Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) We are the people who have done the courses and read the manuals. ​ Computer repairs queensland - Gold Coast - Brisbane - 24 hours 7 Days a week Internet Computer Technicians ​ High Speed Internet and VPN We know service providers well we have worked with all the top Internet providers in our area, and will recommend the best Internet Service Provider solution for you, sized according to the needs, of your business and not what some sales guy tells you that you have to have. ​ Network Services ​ Network design and construction from any one of our techs who has over 10 years experience in design install an service will be a breeze for them. The time to plan your computer network installation is before you start construction. Or, at least, before we lay the foundation. Most people are beyond that point with an existing network infrastructure, or one needing to be extended. We will look at your situation and recommend the best option for installing or designing your network backbone. ​ Computer Hardware Repairs ​ Server Configuration and On-site PC Repair ​ We recommend one, and only one computer hardware manufacturer. Dell Computer Corporation provides the most reliable, easy to maintain computers and servers on the market today. Their warranty protection and customer service are second to none. Nerdcore has been fixing computer hardware almost since the time personal computers were introduced into the small business environment. We can fix most any computer or server hardware issue, and if our onsite computer nerds can't, we sure to have someone who will know. We will first begin by evaluating your current infrastructure and collect information for our network gurus to enhance and keep a steady and smooth network for you. Computer Hardware Trouble Shooting ​ When it comes to troubleshooting we can also provide you with the right technical expert to troubleshoot the problem on the spot. With a complete team of experts rest assured we can either recommend you a new solution to achieve your technical requirement or resolve your current issue with our experience were sure to resolve the issue fast professionally with no down time at all and of course provide a full report describing what has caused the issue. Most issues are caused because of low maintenance or neglect to administer the current network protocols. Some areas were experienced at are - ​ Complete New Office Network Setup / Home Or Business / POS Systems Macbook Pro Repairs Brisbane Laptop Repairs Brisbane Imac repairs Brisbane Apple mac repairs & service Brisbane Desktop Computer Repairs Brisbane Onsite IT business support Brisbane Printer Networking Configuration Brisbane Specific Hard Ware Installation/Setup/Tutorial Brisbane Virus Protection Setup/Licensing Data Recovery/Protection & Storage Setup Setup Wireless Connections New Modem Installation/ Adsl + Adsl2+ Vdsl + Nbn + Dial up Tcp/ip Conflict and access issues Vpn + Port Forwarding Voice over Ip setup and Troubleshooting Spamming Email Control and Ip Blocking of annoying daily emails Computer repairs for specific server platforms ​ ​ ​ You can focus on running your business. We can make it run smoothly. Computer Repairs Brisbane ​ Our Flat-Rate repair fee will cover any hardware or software issue. Nerdcore Computers Service Centre in both Melbourne & Victoria.  We are located in 3b Willesden Road Hughesdale Victoria, 3166 Don’t hesitate to give us a call or text if you have any questions! 1300637326 Enjoy 99.9% less unexpected issues We keep a careful eye on your computer bystem systems, picking up threats before they happen so you DON'T get interrupted. Work with the same people every time We're a team of close knit experts who get to know your business, your people and your systems inside out. We get to the bottom of every problem. We know band-aid solutions never work, that's why we're dedicated to finding & eliminating problems at the core. Fast Emergency Response Guaranteed We know when you need IT Support, you need it fast - so we guarantee 30 minutes or less response times. Unlimited IT Support for one fixed fee Get complete access to all your IT needs including remote support, onsite support, proactive fixes and so much more! Strategic IT Planning and Development We make sure your technology stays relevant to your business helping to implement YOUR ideas and vision

online computer repairs across your local suburbs in Victoria Melbourne Australia’s leading provider of on-site PC repairs and IT support for home and business. Nerdcore computers service centre is dedicated to offer you prompt, no hassle, fast same day onsite computer repair services to customers nationwide, seven days a week and public holidays. Our online computer support services include hardware and software repairs, system security solutions, wireless and wired networking services, virus and spyware prevention and removal, data backup and recovery solutions and any other type of electronic technology, that includes laptop computer desktop server Mac or any software platform support our customers require at their homes or companies. Online computer repairs across your local suburbs in Victoria Melbourne Nerdcore computers service centre has a large network of over  20 highly intelligent field computer experts technicians with a broad range of experience in all aspects technically minded. This means that we can provide expert assistance for issues as varied as Virus Removal, Internet Security and Firewalls, Computer Help and Training. We can even help you with buying or upgrading a computer! So give us a call now, you’ll get straight through to a expert engineer who is a local. Ring 1300Nerdcore Friendly & Helpful - Computer help without the techno jargon, seriously! We're clean and only visible when needed, and leave when our job is done so you can get yours done. While we're there we'll take note of the details of your office technology setup so we'll be even better prepared for future visits or your requests concerning upgrades and new products that will help with your current setup. Our repair process is state of the art booking system were every job logged is monitored by a closing log ticket. Each technician monitors the job right through to the very end making sure that everything is completed and you get the best customer service experience. We follow up on every job we do, we educate our customers through the process of repairing any devices or ongoing project that requires updates to your personal or managers. Personality Professionally Qualified - We're computer networking consultants, firewall, disaster recovery, desktop support technicians, and professional computer programmers. We help growing businesses and home users successfully and securely maintain computer networks, desktops and firewalls. As your "Part-Time IT Department" Nerdcore delivers on-demand, on-site computer and network services that are convenient and reliable and very cost effective. Rest assured every onsite service is backed by our work satisfaction guarantee and 30 days warranty. We come to you in Melbourne an right across Victoria within hours to resolve your issues.

Book a professional Macbook repair service in Melbourne Macbook Pro screen repair Mobile Macbook repairs Apple OS help Trackpad repairs or anything else Book a professional Macbook repair service in Melbourne Here at the nerdcore computers we are used to having customers ask us if we can repair liquid spillage on their macbook devices. 95% of the times the machine can be repaired. Book a professional Macbook repair service in Melbourne If we have to replace any parts on the macbook pro like your battery pack or the dc jack the speakers the trackpad the keyboard the back light and then perform logic board repairs we will do this to make sure we resolve the issue. Its only a 5% chance that the liquid has completely damaged the logic board and it cant be repaired. Even then we will try to find the right solution for you maybe we have a logic board replacement or we can offer you a replacement unit. Dont wait 3-4 weeks from any other company to complete the repair, thats why we understand that you need your machine to do your studies or work. Let us take the time to provide you with the cost and diagnose your machine the right way. The nerdcore group offers the best possible outcome to have your apple device repaired the right way an cost effective solution. Ring our service team today on 1300637326 What you will get from Nerdcore Computers The Nerdcore Group - Apple Repairs Liquid spillage repairs with a 95% success rate on the repair and parts. Ring our office today on 1300637326

Professional IT Business support Services Our Business In 2001, Nerdcore computers began working with businesses throughout the Victoria  Region to provide IT consulting and support that is forward thinking, affordable and flexible. Our services flex with your business needs. We work tirelessly to find the best brightness talent, enabling you  to receive the best service delivery in your community, whether in Melbourne or Sydney. Nerdcore Computers Approach Professional IT Business support Services | IT home computer repairs | Macbook IT repairs | No Contract. No Cancellation Fees. Just Trusted Solutions. We believe businesses should get what they pay for and trust their It partner to provide them with unbiased, upfront support every time. Since we do not resell hardware or software, you can be assured that the solutions we recommend will always align with your business's needs. Nerdcore Computers Process Proactive, Trustworthy and Personal. We work to earn your trust in a way that doesn't require you to speak to "nerdy." Our focus is on proactive service, preventing issues and not waiting for emergencies. We provide strategy Encompassing Microsoft Exchange Online, Sharepoint Online and Lync Online, Office 365 has become the cloud collaboration suite for business. Contact our expert staff to find out if it makes sense for your business and what it will take to get started. nalysis of your business's technology and long term road-maps to keep you on budget and ahead of your competition. Microsoft Small Business Server offers reliable, scalable, and inexpensive cloud computing services. We specialize in the infrastructure as a Service line of products.SBS can be the leveraged a number of ways including offsite server, cloud backups, and more. Ask our team of experts how you can leverage SBS in your infrastructure. Our team of over 20 IT professionals can be leveraged by your IT staff to fill gaps in expertise at a moments notice. We do complex cloud and technology migrations daily. This experience can be used to reduce risk and downtime, lower hidden costs, and improve end user and executive satisfaction. Find our how IT teams across the our vast coverage area leverage our team to get the job done. Author Nerdcore Computers 08-24-2023

Macbook Air Water Damage Repairs - Macbook Air Computer Repairs - ring 1300637326 Macbook Air Water Damage Problems we will fix on your water damaged Macbook Air Not turning on. Freezing. No light/image on the screen. Not charging the battery. Keys not working properly. Trackpad not working properly. ​ Top Reasons to repair spill damage with The Nerdcore Group We offer component level motherboard repair. We repair what is broken without high cost motherboard replacement. We ultrasonically clean liquid damaged components, which is leaps & bounds ahead of the “alcohol & toothbrush” method. We guarantee our work for ninety days! ​ Macbook Pro - Imac - Macbook Air & Apple Device Repairs Fixed Price Flat Rate Fee for repair on all Mac Repairs Our certified techs have over 15 years of experience in computer repairs. We can fix any hardware or software issue you are having with your laptop.  We allow you to choose the flat rate of either $200 with a 3 day turn around and $250 for 1 day, for any mac repairs we do. Parts are not included. ​ Here is a list of common issues we can resolve for or flat rate: Common Hardware Issues: macbook air Broken or Dim Laptop Screen Macbook Air Computer repairs Macbook Air Logic Board Repairs Macbook Air Screen Issues Broken or non-working keyboard (this includes missing keys) Broken motherboad or AC adaptor port on the motherboard Battery won’t charge on the laptop anymore USB ports do not work on your laptop Laptop will not connect to the network or internet using network cable or wireless network Cosmetic issues including broken plastics and broken touchpad buttons Laptop will not turn on Laptop will not boot to Mac OS screen Hardware error messages and blue screens Laptop overheating and fan problems Hardware replacement for ANY parts (extra fees will incure for new parts) Common Software Issues: Slow or sluggish inside MacOS Malware removal including Viruses, Spyware, and Rootkits MacOS Error Messages including Blue Screens Programs are not working properly Laptop will not connect to the internet or network Drivers are not loading correctly Mac isn’t updating like it should MacOS reinstallation Imac repairs Macbook Air Repairs Ring our service centre line now 1300 637 326 Same Day Service Offered - Rest assure if we cant resolve your computer mac problem you want have to pay a cent.

Macbook air Repairs Melbourne MacBooks, iMacs, iMac Pro, Mac Minis, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, all Apple Mac Repairs We are very experienced in providing expert and cost-effective Apple Mac repairs, services and upgrades.  We repair and upgrade all models of iMacs, all versions of Mac operating systems and iMacs of all age. For the most affordable and best mac repairs throughout Melbourne contact Nerdcore Computers on 1300 637 326 Mobile and Workshop iMac Repairs Melbourne Our mobile service area includes the all suburbs of Melbourne and southern suburbs of Victoria as far as Ballarat & Geelong Apple iMac Repair Costs Most Apple repair jobs are completed within one to two hours, our hourly rate is $125.  Replacement components, if required for the repair of your Apple Mac would be a further expense. For all IT services and iMac repairs, we do in our workshop our labour is capped at 3 hours. We charge the same rate for mobile Apple repairs.  We do not charge travel time or a call out fee for iMac repairs.  There is however there is no cap on mobile Apple iMac repairs, upgrades or iMac data recovery. Apple repair costs with us (in terms of labour) are priced at the same rate as all other computer repair work that we do.  You will find that the fees charged by other Apple repairers are a lot higher than ours.  We see no reason to charge at a higher rate for Mac repairs.  Thus our Apple Mac repair prices are below the industry average.  (We have been told that our Apple repair skills are well above average!) Expert Local Mac Repairs for Melbourne residents and businesses We are very experienced Apple repairers.  In fact, due to our Apple repair skills, nearly half of our computer repair business is comprised of Apple MacBooks and iMac repairs and upgrades.  We believe we obtain such a high number of Apple Mac repair jobs is as:- We do an exceptionally good job; Our fees are extremely affordable; There are not many good Apple repair technicians in Melbourne (for the after warranty market) as few Melbourne computer repair businesses also specialise in Apple repairs as we do. Trustworthy Apple Mac Repairs and IT Service Please review the customer reviews on this site and Google My Business and Truelocal.  This will provide you with confidence that your valuable Apple Mac and your invaluable data will be in trustworthy and expert hands. Apple Mac Repairs, iMac Upgrades and Mac Services Apple Repairs iMac won’t boot or screen frozen iMac won’t power on MacBook screen replacement Liquid spill on your MacBook Overheating issues and cooling fan replacement Replacement of faulty hardware, including RAM Software troubleshooting, including MacOS Mac malware and virus removal MacBook and iMac screen replacement MacBook, iMac, Mac Mini hard drive replacement and more… Apple iMac Upgrades Mac RAM (Memory) upgrades Upgrade of hardware components, including hard drives and SSDs Installation of new software Installation of a new operating system Apple iMac Data Recovery Retrieving non-accessible user data, including photographs and files.  The success of data recovery depends upon the amount of damage to your hard drive. Full recovery of Mac system Portable Hard Drive Data Recovery Address and Contact Details If you would like us to repair your  Macbook, iMac etc at our workshop, you can find us at 3b Willesden Road Hughesdale Victoria.  Our workshop is located 3b Willesden Road Hughesdale Victoria The office entrance is off Willesden Road.  Please give us a courtesy call first on 1300637326 Imac Repair Process As part or workshop service we will always let you know how your repair job is progressing.  We never purchase parts without your say-so.  If a job is going to take longer than two hours we will contact you first before proceeding. Diagnostic Service This service is useful if you are considering replacing rather than repairing your Apple Mac.  We will diagnose the fault and provide you with a repair quote. This will allow you to decide whether it is better to replace or repair your Mac. We need you to deliver your Mac to our workshop for this service. The diagnostic fee applies only if after the outcome of the diagnosis you decide on purchasing a new Apple computer. If you decide that you would like us to repair your Apple Mac, then we don’t charge you the diagnostic fee.  Nor do we charge the diagnostic fee if you engage our services to recover data from your Apple Mac. Should you request, we can provide you with realistic and practical advice on your next Apple Mac purchase or system upgrade (including hard disk drive / SSD, RAM or MacOS). Apple Mac Under Warranty? If your Apple Mac is still under warranty you need to take it to Melbourne Apple Store for checking. Ring 1300637326 Author Nercdore Australia

Macbook Air Repairs - Macbook Air Service Centre Fixed Price Flat Rate Fee for repair on all Macbook Air Repairs Our certified techs have over 15 years of experience in computer repairs. We can fix any hardware or software issue you are having with your laptop. We allow you to choose the flat rate fee of $450.00 Parts are not included. ​ Here is a list of common issues we can resolve for or flat rate: Common Hardware Issues: Macbook Air Broken or Dim Laptop Screen Macbook Air Computer repairs Macbook Air Logic Board Repairs Macbook Air Screen Issues Macbook Air Broken or non-working keyboard (this includes missing keys) Macbook Air Broken motherboad or AC adaptor port on the motherboard Macbook Air Battery won’t charge on the laptop anymore Macbook Air USB ports do not work on your laptop Macbook Air Laptop will not connect to the network or internet using network cable or wireless network Macbook Air Cosmetic issues including broken plastics and broken touchpad buttons Macbook Air Laptop will not turn on Macbook Air Laptop will not boot to Mac OS screen Macbook Air Hardware error messages and blue screens Macbook Air Laptop overheating and fan problems Macbook Air Hardware replacement for ANY parts (extra fees will incure for new parts) Common Software Issues: Macbook Air Slow or sluggish inside MacOS Macbook Air Malware removal including Viruses, Spyware, and Rootkits Macbook Air MacOS Error Messages including Blue Screens Macbook Air Programs are not working properly Macbook Air Laptop will not connect to the internet or network Macbook Air Drivers are not loading correctly Macbook Air Mac isn’t updating like it should Macbook Air MacOS reinstallation ​ Our Flat-Rate repair fee will cover any hardware or software issue. Nerdcore Computers Repairs Service Centre in both Melbourne & Victoria. We are located in 3b Willesden Road Hughedsale Victoria, 3166 Don’t hesitate to give us a call or text if you have ANY questions! 1300637326

Data Recovery from a Severely Damaged Macbook Pro Nerdcore Rescues Data From Severely Damaged Macbook Pro This MacBook Pro was sent to us following an aircraft disaster. As you can see by the pictures above, there was extensive physical damage to the laptop, including: ➡️ Severe fire damage to the internal components, motherboard and external casing ➡️ Water damage from attempts to put out the fire ➡️ Jet fuel contamination Here's how we recovered the data: ✅ Our engineers had to firstly build a custom exhaust fumes extractor to create a safe work environment. ✅ Next, the motherboard was carefully removed and cleaned in several stages using proprietary techniques. ✅ Donor boards were sourced; only one supplier in the world had the parts required. ✅ The board was reconstructed and several damaged electronic components were replaced. ✅ Once the embedded SSD drive was fixed, it was then imaged and recovered using proprietary tools and the highly sensitive data was returned to the client. It goes to show that even in the most extreme situations, there's still hope that lost data can be recovered. Data Recovery from a Severely Damaged Macbook Pro Click below for more information about how we can recover data from all types of Apple devices, including iPhones and iPads: Apple Data Recovery - Data Recovery Pricing for Apple Devices Don't forget, our team is on standby to help you with any immediate data loss inquiries or questions about Data Recovery. If you have an immediate need, you can submit a service request by clicking below. Be safe, and as always, reach out to us at any time for assistance. Have an emergency? We're here to help! Start a Recovery Ring 1300nerdcore to speak with recognized consultant.

There are lots of reasons why you might find that your Mac won't turn on, or your MacBook won't start up, but you probably just want to get it working again. We'll run through the various checks and changes to make to get your Mac to boot up to you can start using it again. Read on for some simple tips that should get your Mac working, from the obvious stuff like checking the power connection, to performing a power cycle, starting in Recovery mode, and checking the file system. And if your Mac really is dead, we'll also tell you where to turn next. The fixes in this article apply to most recent versions of macOS. The menus and interfaces may look slightly different depending on which OS you are running, but their functions are in essence the same. Similarly, if you have an M1 Mac there are some changes to the way you perform certain functions - like starting up the computer in Safe mode or Recovery, we'll detail these below. 1. Check your Mac turns on First, let's find out if the problem is that your Mac won't start up, or that it won't turn on - those might sound like the same thing, but there's actually a big difference. Press the Power button on your Mac. If you don't hear a startup chime, you don't hear any fan or drive noise, and there are no images, video, or visuals of any sort on your display, then your Mac isn't turning on at all. You're not even getting to the point where it refuses to start up. MacBook won't turn on? A Mac that doesn't turn on calls for a different approach to one that doesn't start up. If your computer doesn't turn on then you need to do the following: i) Check your power connection Don't be the cliché: check that the power is on and the Mac is plugged in correctly. Or if it's a laptop, be sure that the battery isn't dead - and if it needs charging give it a while to attempt to charge before concluding that it isn't going to work. If your MacBook won't charge read this. ii) Try a different power cable or adapter It may be that the fault resides with the power cable. If you've got a friend with a Mac power cable that fits your machine, try it to see if that solves the problem. If it does, it could be a simple fix that involves finding a secondhand power cable on eBay (although we advise against buying third-party power cables that aren't made by Apple, as they are much more likely to be faulty and possibly dangerous). If you recently had a power cut, that could be responsible: your power adaptor could have been damaged in a power surge and you may need a new one. Finally, it's possible that the cable is loose, and pulling it out and plugging it in again will solve the problem. But we doubt it will be that easy. Apple sells various cables for charging Apple Macs and laptops. You should find the one you need here: Apple power adaptors. Also read: Which MacBook charger do I need? iii) Disconnect all accessories Unplug all the accessories (such as printers and USB hubs) attached to your Mac. It could be that one of your peripherals is causing problems with the startup sequence. If you recently installed new RAM or a new hard drive, make sure they are correctly installed and compatible. (If possible, reinstall the old memory or hard drive and see if that helps.) If none of those steps work then it's time to move onto the next stage. 2. Perform a Power Cycle If you aren't hearing any signs of life, you could perform a power cycle, which involves forcing your Mac to restart after killing the power to it. On a MacBook you need to hold down the power key for ten seconds. You'll usually hear a squeak as the Mac's power is forcibly cut. Hopefully after waiting ten seconds and restarting, all will be well. If your Mac is a desktop you will need to unplug it and leave it unplugged for at least ten seconds before plugging it back in and attempting to restart. For M1 Macs if you press and hold the Power button you would eventually see Loading startup options - assuming the Mac was working properly. If pressing and holding the power button does allow you to access the startup options then you can run through those options below to get your Mac up and running. We discuss this below. We also discuss how to revive your M1 Mac using a second Mac and the Configurator app below. If performing a power cycle on your Mac doesn't help, or if pressing the Power button on the M1 Mac doesn't open the start up options, there are a few other simple things to try out before moving on to the more complicated steps. 3. Check your display If you're using a desktop Mac such as a Mac Pro or Mac mini this could apply to you. If you don't have a separate display plugged in you can skip this step. You could have a problem with the display you have plugged in, rather than the Mac itself. Have a listen to your Mac to see if it's making any sounds during boot-up. It is possible that your Mac does turn on, but doesn't boot up because it can't access the display - if that's the case you are most likely having trouble with the display hardware (rather than a broader startup issue). If you think it's a problem with your monitor, then take a look at this Apple Support document for advice on troubleshooting a display. If your display isn't working the advice is to: Check the power supply to the Mac (and the power to the display if using a separate unit). Confirm that all cables are connected securely. Remove all display extenders and switches, and any other devices between the Mac and monitor. Unplug the video cable (if using a separate monitor) and plug it back in. If using more than one monitor in a 'daisy chain', unplug all monitors and test using just one. If possible, try to use a different display, or a different adapter (use DVI instead of VGA, for example). Apple also advises adjusting the screen resolution in System Preferences. 4. Boot up your Mac in Safe Boot Safe Boot limits what checks and functionality your Mac focuses on during startup, and performs certain diagnostics. It's rare, but sometimes you can get your unhappy Mac to start up successfully with a Safe Boot, and then restart it normally, and everything returns to hunky-doriness. If you want more help with this step read: How to start a Mac in Safe Mode. To enter Safe Mode on an Intel-powered Mac: Start your Mac up while holding down the Shift key. Safe Boot can take a while to start (if it does work at all). To enter Safe Mode on an M1-powered Mac: Press and continue to hold the power button until you see the startup options appear on the screen. Choose the startup disk. Now press and hold Shift and then click Continue in Safe Mode. Then release the Shift key. You will see the words Safe Mode in menu at the top right of your screen. To get more feedback about what's happening, you could start up an Intel-powered Mac while holding down Shift, Command and V: that enters both Safe Boot and something called Verbose Mode, which spits out some messages about what Safe Boot is actually trying to do as it goes. Now you are in safe mode we will discuss how to use Safe Mode to fix your Mac start up issues. While you are Safe Mode the interface will look very slightly different, with blocks of colour rather than transparency. The biggest giveaway is the Dock at the bottom of the screen, such as in the image below, for example. Once in Safe Mode you may be able to run certain checks (we'll run through these below) and make changes that could fix your Mac. For example you could reinstall macOS or update other software. If you find you can start up in Safe Mode it is probable that the issue is related to one of your startup items, in which case you should go to: System Preferences > Users & Groups and remove all the items (click on -). You could use trial and error to work out which startup item is causing the problem. 5. Reset the PRAM / NVRAM In the PowerPC days, we talked about resetting the PRAM. On Intel Macs, the term is resetting the NVRAM. The NVRAM in M1 Macs is reset automatically, but there is a way to reset NVRAM on the M1 Mac - we discuss that here: How to reset NVRAM on an M1 or Intel Mac. The name refers to special memory sections on your Mac that store data that persists even when the Mac is shut off, such as volume settings and screen resolution. Resetting that data isn't harmful, but quite frankly it's also rarely genuinely useful. But it can't hurt. You might need to grow an extra finger or two for this one, or have a friend help you out. Here's how to reset the PRAM/NVRAM on your Intel-powered Mac: Hold down all of these keys: Command, Option (Alt), P and R, and turn on the Mac (it's the same keys to reset the PRAM). Keep holding the keys down until you hear the Mac restart again. Listen for a second reboot, and then release the keys. On M1 Mac resetting the NVRAM means using Terminal, the method is discussed in the article linked above. In some cases, after performing this step, your Mac will restart normally. In other cases, you might instead see a progress bar on startup. If the progress bar fills up and then the Mac starts up, you're probably good to go. In some cases we've seen, however, the Mac shuts down at around the halfway point in the progress bar. 6. Reset the SMC In some situations, you may need to reset your Mac's SMC (System Management Controller). This is largely a last-ditch attempt to fix the current version of macOS before attempting to recover the data and moving on to reinstalling the OS. SMC is absent from the M1 Mac so you can't reset it. However you can change the settings that the SMC used to look after. We discuss how to do this here: How to reset a Mac's SMC. Here's what to do if you want to reset the SMC (Intel Macs): On a Mac laptop: Shut down the MacBook. Unplug and then reconnect the power cable. Press Shift + Ctrl + Option/Alt keys and the power button at the same time. Now release all those keys and the power button at the same time. You may see the light on the power cable flicker. Restart your MacBook. On a Mac desktop: Shut down the Mac. Unplug it. Press the power button for 5 seconds. Plug the Mac back in. Turn on your Mac. 7. Run Disk Utility in Recovery Mode If your Mac is booting but the operating system isn't loading up, you may have a corrupted drive. Luckily it is possible to fix this in Recovery Mode. We have a detailed tutorial on using Recovery Mode here, but we'll run thorough the basics below. Yet again, accessing Recovery Mode is a little different on an M1 Mac (read about All the new ways of doing things on M1 Macs). The first step is to run Disk Utility. On a Mac running Mountain Lion or later, which will be the vast majority of Macs, you can run Disk Utility by booting into Recovery Mode. On an Intel Mac you need to make sure the Mac is turned off. If it's not responsive because it's stuck on a grey, blue or white screen, just hold down the Mac's power button for several seconds until it gives up and shuts off. (Here's what to do to fix a Blue Screen of Death on a Mac.) Hold down the Command and R keys, and power the Mac back up again. Keep pressing Cmd + R while your Mac is booting up until you see the Apple logo. On an M1 Mac press and hold the Power button until the Mac starts up and eventually shows the start up options. Select Options > Continue to enter Recovery. Now you are in Recovery mode here's what to do: If there are errors with your disk, Disk Utility should find them and will either repair them automatically, or will ask if you would like to repair them. Click Repair Disk if this is the case. In Recovery Mode you can also do the following: Restore from a Time Machine backup. Get help online. Install or reinstall macOS (we discuss this below). 8. Revive a M1 Mac If you have an M1 Mac and you still haven't been able to revive it, the next option to try is to use a second Mac running Apple's Configurator 2 to update the firmware. You will need a second Mac, a USB to USB cable, a web connection and Apple's Configurator 2 software. Connect the two Macs with a USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to USB-A cable. Open Configurator 2 software on the working Mac. Now on the non-working Mac press and hold the power button while also pressing the following key combination: Right shift, Left Option/Alt, Left Control. You will need someone to help you unless you have gigantic hands because you also need to be pressing the Power Button at the same time. After about 10 seconds let go of the keys, but keep pressing the Power button. Hopefully the M1 Mac will appear in the Configurator app on your second Mac by this point (the M1 Mac still won't show any screen activity though). The process is a little different for the M1 Mac mini. In this case you need to unplug it and wait for about 10 seconds. Press and hold the power button. Plug it in again, while still holding the power button. Release the power button. How to use the Configurator software to revive an M1 Mac. The M1 Mac should be showing in the Configurator software on the other Mac. Select the M1 Mac you want to revive. Click on Actions > Advanced. Select Revive Device. This will revive the firmware on the M1 Mac. 9. Check the file system This step is actually kind of fun - at least when it's not your Mac that's under the weather. It's fun because it feels so geeky. Before you get too excited though, this isn't an option for M1 Macs. Shut the Mac off, and start it up again while holding Cmd + S to launch in Single User Mode. You can release the keys when the intimidating black screen with messages in white text appears. Wait until the command-line prompt appears, when all the text is done scrolling past. Then type fsck -fy and hit Return. And wait. Possibly for several long minutes. Eventually, after five different checks that take varying amounts of time, you should get to one of two messages: "The volume [your Mac's name] appears to be OK" or "FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED." If you encounter the first message, type reboot and press Return. If you see the latter message, you need to run fsck -fy all over again. You can retype the command and hit Return, or press the Up arrow once and then press Return. If this doesn't work, and your Mac still doesn't start up, then move on to the next step. 10. Use Target disk mode to copy files This step should be taken prior to reinstalling macOS and it depends on your backup situation. You do make regular backups, or at least sync important documents, music and photos to the cloud, right? If you're not sweating at the moment, and are confident in your Time Machine or other backup solution, then skip to Step 11 below. But if you wish you'd backed up your Mac then now is the time to see what you can salvage from the machine. For this, you'll need a second Mac. If you haven't got one then ask a friend. Follow these steps to use Target Disk Mode: Connect both Macs together using an Apple Thunderbolt cable (£39 from Apple). If you have an older Mac this same process works with FireWire cables. Switch off your Mac. Start up your Mac while holding down the T button on the keyboard. Keep holding the T button down as you hear the startup chime and keep it pressed until the Thunderbolt icon appears on your screen. This places your Mac in Target disk mode. In Target Disk mode your Mac acts like an external drive. You should now hopefully see the hard drive for your faulty Mac on your second Mac's Finder. You should be able to grab the files you need from your unresponsive Mac, or even clone the entire hard drive to another external drive. 11. Reinstall macOS This is pretty drastic, but if you have tried everything else, then reinstalling the operating system could remove the issue that is stopping the Mac from starting properly. Remember macOS Recovery from the step above? You can use it to reinstall macOS too. Boot into Recovery mode as above (hold the Command and R keys while you start up, or press and hold the power button if you are on an M1 Mac). Once in Recovery click to install the latest OS and follow the onscreen prompts. Our article on resetting a Mac to factory settings has more information on wiping a Mac and reinstalling macOS. 12. Make a Nerdcore Computer Repairs appointment If you've made it this far and your Mac still doesn't work, you'll need to take it to an Nerdcore Service Centre to see if they can help you fix it (or arrange for a repair under warranty). Hopefully you have got enough data from your Mac so as to be able to back up, or continue working on a new Mac.

DJI Mavic 3T Enterprise Edition Review Sales Repairs Exploring the Latest Features of the DJI Mavic 3T The DJI Mavic 3T is here and it’s packed with features that make it a must-have for drone enthusiasts. This latest model from the world’s leading drone manufacturer is equipped with enhanced tech that makes it the perfect choice for capturing stunning aerial footage. The DJI Mavic 3T features a 3-axis gimbal, which provides smooth and stable shots in any environment. It also has an improved camera, which boasts a 4K/60fps resolution, allowing for more detailed footage. The drone also has a bigger sensor, which captures more light and provides better image quality. The Mavic 3T also has improved range and speed, with a maximum speed of 44mph. This makes it perfect for capturing fast-moving subjects. Additionally, the drone can fly up to 18 miles away from its controller, making it capable of covering great distances. Another great feature of the Mavic 3T is its advanced obstacle avoidance system. This system uses sensors to detect objects and automatically adjust its flight path to avoid them. This ensures a safe flight, making it ideal for beginners. The Mavic 3T also has a range of intelligent flight modes that make it easier to capture complex shots. This includes ActiveTrack, which lets the drone autonomously follow a subject. There is also Point of Interest mode, which allows the drone to circle around a subject as it flies. Finally, the Mavic 3T features an improved battery life, offering up to 31 minutes of flight time. This makes it perfect for capturing long-form footage or just exploring the skies. The DJI Mavic 3T is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to take their aerial footage to the next level. Its enhanced tech and improved features make it the perfect drone for any enthusiast. DJI Mavic 3T Enterprise Edition Review Sales Repairs How the DJI Mavic 3T Compares to Other Models The DJI Mavic 3T is the latest addition to the popular Mavic lineup of drones. This new model is set to take the market by storm with its impressive list of features and capabilities. The Mavic 3T has a range of up to 8km and a flight time of up to 30 minutes. It also has a 4K camera with a 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor and a 20MP resolution. It has omnidirectional obstacle sensing, a 3-axis gimbal, and a 3-axis integrated flight control system. It also features Active Track 3.0 and OcuSync 2.0 technology for better image transmission and control. Compared to other models in the Mavic lineup, the Mavic 3T is the most advanced. Its range and flight time are significantly better than the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom, and its camera is more powerful. It also has advanced features such as Active Track 3.0 and OcuSync 2.0. The Mavic 3T is also more expensive than other models in the lineup, but it’s worth the extra cost. Its advanced features make it a great choice for professionals who need the best performance and image quality. For hobbyists, the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom may be a better choice due to their lower price points. The DJI Mavic 3T is an impressive drone that offers a great combination of features and performance. It’s a great option for those looking for the best of the best in drone technology. A Look at the DJI Mavic 3T’s Camera Capabilities The DJI Mavic 3T, the latest drone released by DJI, is set to revolutionize the drone market. With its advanced camera capabilities, the Mavic 3T is one of the most impressive drones on the market. The Mavic 3T is equipped with a 1-inch sensor and a 24mm f/2.8 lens, with a wide field of view of 84 degrees. This enables users to capture stunning aerial images and videos with a wide dynamic range. The camera is also capable of shooting in 4K video at up to 60 frames per second and up to 8K video at 30 frames per second. Additionally, the Mavic 3T is capable of shooting in HDR, allowing users to capture more vibrant and detailed images. The Mavic 3T also offers several advanced features such as ActiveTrack 3.0, which allows users to track and lock onto a designated subject while filming. Additionally, the drone is also equipped with several automated flight modes, such as Point of Interest and Waypoint, which allow users to capture complex and intricate shots with ease. Overall, the DJI Mavic 3T is an impressive drone that offers superior camera capabilities. With its advanced features and stunning image quality, the Mavic 3T is sure to be a hit with drone enthusiasts and professionals alike. Maximizing Battery Life with the DJI Mavic 3T As the latest addition to the DJI Mavic series, the Mavic 3T is the most powerful drone yet, offering a maximum flight time of up to 34 minutes. But with so much power comes the challenge of maximizing battery life. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your Mavic 3T’s battery life. 1. Use the Tripod Mode: This mode helps to reduce the power draw of the motors, allowing you to fly longer. 2. Land Before Battery Is Empty: Don’t wait until the battery is completely depleted before landing. Doing so will cause strain on the motors and decrease battery life. 3. Avoid High Winds: High winds can cause the drone to expend more energy than usual, leading to shorter battery life. 4. Keep the Battery Warm: Cold temperatures can decrease battery life, so try to keep the battery warm when possible. 5. Avoid High Altitudes: The higher the altitude, the more power the drone needs to keep itself aloft. 6. Fly in GPS Mode: GPS mode allows the drone to use less power, allowing for longer flight times. 7. Use Intelligent Flight Modes: Intelligent flight modes like Waypoint and Point of Interest can help your drone conserve energy by taking predetermined paths and avoiding obstacles. 8. Monitor Battery Usage: Keep an eye on your battery life throughout your flight and land when it is 30% or less. Following these tips will help you get the most out of your Mavic 3T’s battery life and make sure you get the most out of your next flight. Tips and Tricks for Flying the DJI Mavic 3T 1. Check the propellers: Before every flight, it’s important to make sure the propellers are securely attached and free of debris. 2. Pre-flight checklist: Be sure to go through the pre-flight checklist included with the Mavic 3T before every flight. It will help make sure you’ve taken all the necessary steps to ensure a safe and successful flight. 3. Familiarize yourself with the controls: Take some time to familiarize yourself with the controls of the Mavic 3T. This will help you be more comfortable and confident when operating the drone during your flight. 4. Practice in an open area: Before attempting any maneuvers or stunts, practice flying in an open area with few obstacles. This will help you get comfortable with the drone and help you become familiar with its capabilities. 5. Avoid windy conditions: Windy conditions can make flying the Mavic 3T difficult and unsafe. If possible, avoid flying in windy conditions. 6. Know the regulations: Make sure you are familiar with the local regulations and laws regarding drone flight. This will help ensure you are operating the drone safely and legally. 7. Use auto takeoff/landing: The Mavic 3T has an auto takeoff/landing feature that can help make takeoff and landing easier and safer. 8. Be aware of your surroundings: Always be aware of your surroundings when flying the Mavic 3T. Pay attention to any obstacles or people that may be in the area and make sure to keep the drone away from them. 9. Make sure the battery is fully charged: Make sure the battery is fully charged before each flight to ensure you have enough power to complete your mission. 10. Have fun: Flying the Mavic 3T is a lot of fun, so enjoy the experience and make sure to take plenty of photos and videos along the way!

Zeus malware: its history and how it works eus is a type of malware that can infect your devices, use them as part of a botnet, and spy on your data. This malicious software often targets Windows users, but new variants are emerging which can also infect mobile operating systems. What is Zeus malware? Zeus, also known as Zbot, is a kind of malware, referred to as a trojan, which can secretly install itself on your device. Like most of the worst computer viruses, it can steal your data, empty your bank account, and launch more attacks. Once the infection has occurred and it’s active on your computer, it will usually do one of two things. It can add your device to a Zeus botnet; a network of infected devices that all answer to one command center. You might never realize that your device is being used in Zeus botnets, but hackers can leverage this army of compromised computers and smartphones to launch DDoS attacks on other targets. Alternatively, the Zeus trojan can spy on you directly, stealing sensitive information from your device and feeding it back to a cybercriminal. Again, its presence on your device may be almost unnoticeable, so you might not realize you’re being targeted until it’s too late. Zeus malware: its history and how it works Zeus first appeared around 2007. Like many forms of malware the Zbot was initially used to steal banking information. However, in 2011, the source code was released to the public, allowing multiple new variants to be created. The original code has apparently been retired, but new generations of Zeus trojans are still active today. Technical details ZeuS 2.0.8.9 (as it was originally known) comes in many forms. In fact, there are hundreds of documented versions of the ZeuS trojan, although most of them serve a similar function; a Zbot is meant to steal data and money, or build a botnet. If it’s targeting your data, a Zeus trojan will usually attempt to gather the following: Keystroke data POP and FTP account credentials Cookies and tracker information Login credentials HTTP form data In the case of botnet builders, the process will be less focused on stealing the specific data of a user. Instead, the device will be installed with hidden software, allowing it to be controlled remotely by the hacker. At a later date, it can then be used, along with the rest of the botnet, to flood servers and online systems with artificially-inflated traffic. This can force websites offline and make networks inaccessible, in what’s known as a distributed denial of service (DDos) attack. Types of Zeus malware While the original Zeus malware is no longer active, there are numerous copycats that use the same or similar code. Here are just a few Zeus malware examples. SpyEye. This is a particularly nasty malware that is thought to use code from the original Zeus virus. It usually targets your browser, recording your keystrokes until it manages to get the login credentials for your accounts. It can even initiate transactions while you’re logged into an online banking portal, sending funds directly to the hacker. Gameover ZeuS. Originally created by Russian hackers, Gameover ZeuS focuses on conscripting devices into a botnet. What sets it apart from similar variants is its use of an encrypted peer-to-peer communication system, making it much harder for the authorities to track down whoever is operating it. Ice IX. Another descendent of Zeus is Ice IX, a botnet system partially built on the code of the original malware. It’s a multifunctional tool, and can be used both to manipulate online financial transitions, and to launch botnet-driven attacks. The history of Zeus So what do we know about the history of Zeus? And where did it originate? Where did Zeus come from? It was first identified in 2007, when it was used by hackers to target the United States Department of Transformation. Who created the Zeus virus? Like all malware it’s impossible to say for sure where it originated, but some law enforcement agencies have claimed that it was created in Eastern Europe. What we know for certain is that in 2011, the creator of the original Zbot made the malware code public — or had it leaked unintentionally — allowing it to spread faster than ever. The creator may also have sold his original code to the criminals who invented SpyEye, although in 2013 the creator of SpyEye was arrested, and subsequently pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. The biggest attacks Zeus and its variants have been successfully used to target huge organizations like Amazon, Bank of America, and even NASA. At its height, the original Zeus virus was infecting several million devices a year. While it’s been used very effectively against larger corporations and government bodies, it has also been deployed against individuals, roping the devices of unsuspecting internet users into botnets. How does Zeus malware work? So how does the Zeus virus work? First, it needs to get onto your device, which it can do using one of two main tactics. The malware can be installed through phishing emails. In this case, the hacker sends an email containing a link that will trigger the malware infection. They will try to convince the receiver to click the link, possibly by pretending to be a recognised sender like a bank or even a coworker. Alternatively, the malware can be delivered through the code in a website; a method known as a drive-by download. The hacker might set up a fake website to do this, but they can also try to infiltrate real websites, turning them into malware distributors. Once the infection has occurred, the malware can be operated remotely from the hacker’s command and control center. How to tell if your computer is infected with Zeus malware One thing that makes the Zeus virus effective is how hard it is to tell if your device is infected. However, there are several indicators that you might be dealing with malware. Your device slows down suddenly. A noticeable drop in operating speed may occur when malware is at work behind the scenes. You notice unusual banking activity. If you regularly use an online banking portal on your computer, and you notice unusual transactions on your account, that could be a sign that you’re dealing with a Zeus virus. An unknown program appears on your system. If you see a program running on your system, and you don’t remember downloading it, it could be malware. This is even more true if it’s continually using a lot of processing power. Your device is overheating. Because the malware may be carrying out extensive activity while you’re using your device, you may notice the hardware overheating. If this starts to happen suddenly, it could be a red flag. How to prevent Zeus attacks The best way to prevent Zeus attacks is to avoid malware infection. Here are three ways to do that. Be extra vigilant around unexpected emails. If you receive a message urging you to click a link, think twice before doing so. Do you know the sender well? Does anything else about the email look unusual? Look out for spelling errors or strange sender email addresses. Phishing attacks are one of the easiest ways for hackers to spread Zeus malware. Don’t click on internet ads. While most online ads are just annoying, some can be dangerous. Malicious advertising, or malvertising, is another way to spread malware. Hackers create adverts that look genuine, and then infect anyone who clicks on them. Some can even trigger a virus download the moment you load a page on which they appear. That’s why using an ad blocker is also a good idea; if your browser doesn’t show you adds, you’re less likely to see a Zeus virus pop up. Use Threat Protection. To improve your defenses against malware, start using a secure VPN’s Threat Protection feature. This will help you avoid websites that are known to be linked to malware, and will make it less likely that you’ll stumble onto a hacker’s page. It will also help you to identify malware-ridden files. Author Nerdcore Computers : 08/21/2023