Author: Stephen Fenech

The Australian Federal Police will launch a special operation to protect the worst affected customers whose personal information was stolen in the massive Optus data breach. Operation Guardian has been set up on behalf of the many Optus customers whose leaked details included drivers licence numbers, passport numbers and Medicare card numbers and put them at the greatest risk for identity theft. Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough says the operation will begin with rallying around the 10,000 customers whose data was released online by hackers earlier this week. Primarily, the operation will be monitoring the dark web to see if this…

The Optus data breach has taught us the danger of identity theft and the ease in which it can happen – something leading internet security company Norton has already considered and made the centrepiece of its Norton 360 Advanced. Released in June, Norton 360 Advanced is not only a comprehensive internet security solution with a secure VPN, password manager, parental controls and 200GB cloud storage – it is also an insurance policy against identity theft. Customers are covered with up to $58,000 insurance for losses and expenses associated with identity theft insurance. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology and…

Dyson has launched a new demo store and service centre for customers to experience its products and the technology and science behind them. The store, which opened its doors at the Moore Park Supa Centre in Sydney, provides demonstrations for customers across its product portfolio – cleaning, air purification, heating, cooling and hair care. The Dyson Demo Store will also provide support and service for existing customers. “Dyson is committed to engineering problem-solving technology and ensuring our machines achieve high performance throughout their lifetime,” says Roland Krueger, Dyson CEO. “In addition, we continue to find new ways to support our…

Amazon has unveiled the next generation of Echo smart speakers along with an all-new large screen Kindle for reading and writing. KINDLE SCRIBE The new Kindle Scribe allows users to read and write on the device. It features the world’s first 10.2-inch 300ppi Paperwhite display and includes a pen that will never need recharging. The Kindle Scribes’s front-lit and glare-free display has been designed to feel like you’re reading and writing on paper. The Kindle Scribe is just 5.8mm thick and the included pen attaches magnetically to the side of the device. It comes with a basic or premium pen…

It’s been a little over a week since the Optus data breach – one of the worst in Australian history. It has rightly dominated headlines and put nearly 10 million customers, whose data is now in the hands of cyber criminals, on edge. But what does Optus do now? How it acts and what it says following this crisis will shape the company and our perception of Australia’s second largest telco for years to come. They can certainly take a leaf out of Samsung’s book and how the company dealt with the Galaxy Note 7 recall with honesty and transparency.…

Bowers & Wilkins has launched its new Px8 flagship wireless headphones which set a new reference standard for sound and build quality in the active noise cancelling wireless headphone market. The Px8 headphones have an all-new bespoke, ultra-high resolution carbon cones which are angled within each ear cup to offer lower distortion and reference quality audio resolution. The headphones are made from premium materials and includes diecast aluminium, diamond cut bright metal detailing as well as Nappa leather on the earcups and headband. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 has the same active noise cancelling wireless platform of the Px7 S2…

Samsung has announced the pricing and availability of the 55-inch Odyssey Ark Gaming monitor that wraps around the player’s field of view thanks to its stunning 1000R curvature. Pre-orders for the Odyssey Ark have already kicked off before it is available to purchase from Samsung’s Online Store and Harvey Norman from October 24. It will be priced at $4,499. “We are excited to bring this unique screen to our shores to give local gamers access to a new standard of immersive gaming and a winning edge every time they play.” says Phil Gaut, Senior Director – Display & Brand Memory,…

The impressive new range of Motorola 30 edge smartphones with premium design, excellent cameras and top shelf features are about to be released in stores. There are three models in the range – the Motorola 30 edge neo ($599), Motorola 30 edge fusion ($899) and Motorola 30 edge ultra ($1,399). Each of these new smartphones have edge-to-edge displays and a slick design that’s balanced with premium features customers are looking for. “The launch of our newest Motorola edge devices is a huge step forward in the way Motorola delivers the most cutting-edge technology to market,” says Kurt Bonnici, Head of…

Hear about the latest on the Optus hack and what you need to do to protect yourself in Episode 521 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show, we have the latest on the Optus data breach and what this means for you if you’re a customer, Amazon launches a new Alexa Kids experience and I’m now part of an exciting new lifestyle TV show. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a listen to the new second generation AirPods Pro, Google has released a new Chromecast and we go through the main…

TPG Telecom – which owns the Vodafone network – has announced it will switch off its 3G network in December 2023 as customers move to the faster 4G and 5G mobile services. This will affect customers using the Vodafone and TPG network along with mobile virtual network operators that also use the Vodafone network – iiNet, Internode, Lebara, Kogan and felix. TPG Telecom’s decision to switch off its 3G network follows the successful re-deployment of the 2100Mhz spectrum it uses for 3G in metropolitan areas over to its 4G network. The 900Mhz spectrum used to supply 3G in regional areas…

The fallout of the catastrophic Optus data breach continues with the alleged hacker now publicly releasing the details of 10,000 customers each day until Optus pays a $US1m ransom. A cyber security expert says the breach exploited a weak API (application programming interface) which is a way for apps and devices to access data securely. For example, when you look at your bank account with a smartphone app – that uses an API to grab the information off the company server and present it to you on the app after you’ve logged in securely. In the case of Optus, the…

DJI has released the Osmo Mobile 6 smartphone stabilizer which allows users to shoot smooth video and excellent selfies at dynamic angles. Priced at $239 the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 has a built-in extension rod and a magnetic phone clamp. The device works with nearly every recent smartphone through the DJI Mimo app which connects via Bluetooth to the stabilizer. DJI Osmo Mobile 6 folds down to quite a compact size so it’s easy to carry with you. And when you want to shoot it unfolds in seconds so you’re ready in seconds to capture your video or images. Onboard…

Apple Watch Series 8 puts so many capabilities on your wrist and continues to be an essential accessory for so many customers for their health and wellness and to keep them connected and safe. This year, Apple has made Apple Watch Series 8 even more capable with new health sensors and apps to keep you connected to what matters to you. Series 8 how does the same design as the previous model which includes a 41mm or 45mm edge-to-edge Always On display. One of the main new features is temperature sensing which uses two sensors – one on the back…

Get out of my Van Halen t-shirt before you jinx the band and they break up!! This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching The Wedding Singer starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. The Wedding Singer is set in the mid-80s and tells the story of Robbie Hart who gets stood up at the altar before being attracted to a co-worker who is set to marry someone else. Stephen saw this in the cinema naturally and has rewatched it a few times and enjoyed the 80s soundtrack while Trevor is new to the film. We go…

Google has released a new Chromecast with Google TV – a more affordable version of the popular product they can turn your regular TV into a smart TV and place all the streaming apps at your fingertips. This latest Chromecast with Google TV is high definition only and is priced at $59. Tt has all the same features you’d come to expect from the Chromecast with Google TV including a dedicated dashboard to access apps and streaming services. The product also comes with its own remote control that provides easy navigation of the system to access your content whether it’s…

Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin fought back tears today as she issued a heartfelt apology following a sophisticated attack that exposed the personal information of millions of customers. “I’m very sorry and apologetic – it should not have happened,” said Ms Bayer Rosmarin who broke down when asked by Tech Guide about how she felt knowing the attack occurred on her watch. “I’m angry that there are people out there that want to do this to our customers. “I’m disappointed that we couldn’t have prevented this. “I’m disappointed that it undermines all the great work we’ve been doing to be…

The new AirPods Pro have had one of the biggest improvements from one generation to the next that we’ve ever heard with improved audio, better spatial audio and transparency mode and excellent noise cancelation. It’s been almost three years since the original AirPods Pro were introduced and it’s obvious Apple has been working away since that time to deliver a second-generation model that is dramatically better across the board all the way down to the charging case. Design-wise there isn’t much different apart from a couple of slightly relocated sensors and vents. Apple has included four soft ear tips so…

Optus has suffered major data breach after being targeted in a cyber attack which resulted in the loss of millions of customers personal information. If you’re an Optus customer should you be worried? The answer is YES. The company says the attack occurred sometime on September 21 and exposed The details of more than 11 million customers. The information harvested in the attack include names, dates of birth, phone numbers, and email addresses. It is believed other information associated with customer accounts including drivers licence numbers and passport numbers have also been hacked. Optus says it is working with the…

Two Blokes Talking Tech – Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long – have jumped online to record an add-on to our regular podcast, Episode 553, about the massive Optus data breach. Stephen and Trevor share their thoughts on the Optus data breach and what customers can do to protect themselves. Also on the show: our verdicts on the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8, the new features of Windows 11, Trevor buys a backyard bonfire, Stephen has bought a turntable and is into vinyl again in a big way, how were freeloading with our streaming services.…

Amazon Australia has created a new family experience with Alexa on Echo smart speakers and Echo Show devices to help children learn, play and be entertained at home. The experience is designed for children under 12 years of age and turns Alexa into a digital friend that can do things like sing along with Amazon Music as well as playing games and telling jokes. And all the while parents have complete control to manage the entire experience. “While Alexa’s been keeping Aussie homes organised, entertained and connected, the youngest members of the household have increasingly become curious and interested in…