Waikato Business News December 2016/January 2017

10 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS December 2016/January 2017
IT BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
Microsoft and Netsafe
issue fresh warning
about scammers
Microsoft New Zealand and Netsafe have
renewed their call for New Zealand internet
users to be aware of a fresh wave of
scammers who are targeting this country
with warnings about fake viruses on their
computers.
The call for vigilance
comes as Microsoft
and Netsafe have both
received a notable increase in
reports of scammers trying to
defraud people by phone or
by using ‘pop up’ messages
on screens. The scammers are
claiming to be representatives
of Microsoft, telling users that
they have identified a problem
with their device.
The scammers claim to
represent the Microsoft
brand because the
company is well known
The scammers then offer
to fix the ‘compromised’
device and ask for remote
access which can reveal pass-
words, credit card details,
bank account numbers and
other information. They may
also explicitly ask for payment
so that protection software –
which is actually malicious
software – can be installed.
According to Netsafe some
people have allowed access to
their computers in these ways
and have consequently lost
money upwards of $400.
Netsafe chief executive
Martin Cocker says
this pattern of phone
scamming is not new
and variations of it have
been circulating for several
years.
“The scammers
claim to represent the
Microsoft brand because
the company is well
known” says Martin,
“the calls may sound
genuine”.
“People are led to believe
they are doing the right thing
by handing over private passwords
or details, but are soon
fraudulently charged money,
have their identity stolen, find
their computer has been infected
with viruses or other malware
that seriously compromises
their security.”
Microsoft NZ’s marketing
and operations director Frazer
Scott says the key message
Microsoft wants to make clear
once again to New Zealand
internet users is that the company
will never call them asking
for remote access to their
computer.
“Microsoft does not call
customers at home saying that
we have detected a problem
with their computer, and we
will never ask for passwords
or other private details in any
forum,” says Mr Scott.
Mr Cocker says their advice
to people who receive suspect
calls is to hang up immediately.
“If you have given someone
remote access to your
device you should immediately
end the session and contact
Netsafe. If you have given any
bank details to a caller, then
contact your bank as soon as
possible to advise them of the
possible fraud.”
Microsoft and Netsafe say
that the recent fresh wave of
reports about these scams is a
timely reminder for people to
be vigilant.
TECH TALK
> BY DAVID HALLETT
David Hallett is a director of Hamilton software specialist Company-X,
design house E9 and chief nerd at Waikato Need a Nerd.
FEATURES OF SCAMMER CALLS
Overseas caller states they are from Microsoft or a Microsoft certified technician.
Suggests the victim’s computer is infected and harming others online or that their ISP
has identified their system has a problem.
Will get the computer owner to give the caller remote access using a genuine
networking service or website like logmein123 or TeamViewer.
They will use the ‘Event Viewer’ tool on the computer to highlight error messages
which are supposedly signs of an infection.
The cold caller will offer to clean up the infection and/or install security software and
provide an ongoing support service that costs anywhere up to $500.
HOW TO DEAL WITH
THE OVERSEAS COLD CALLERS
Hang up the phone – engaging with or taunting these companies can lead to you
receiving many more calls at all times of the day or night. Some technicians have
resorted to threats or abuse to get computer owners to give remote access.
If you do give access but become suspicious, disconnect from the session
immediately. Netsafe has received some reports of these cold calling companies
installing ransomware on the computer to ensure they get paid to unlock the PC.
If you have previously given remote access, it may pay to check what has been
installed on your computer and be certain there is no way for the company to
continue accessing your system and files. Consult a trusted local PC technician if
unsure.
If you have paid money to these companies using a credit card, call your bank and
discuss your options. If you sent funds via Western Union or another wire transfer
service, then the money has gone and cannot be recovered.
If you have given remote access to your device, handed over private passwords or
other information report it Netsafe toll-free on 0508 NETSAFE (0508 638 723) or visit
http://netsafe.org.nz/report
Techweek “biggest ever” tech event in New Zealand
Techweek’17, May 6 to 14
next year, will be the biggest
week New Zealand
has ever seen or experienced in
technology.
Techweek will help the push
by NZTech for New Zealand
become a digital nation and to
demonstrate our tech pedigree to
the world.
More than 100 events will
take place all over the country,
in businesses and schools
with hackathons, innovative tech
debates, hands-on experiential
events, livestreams and awards
ceremonies.
Events are catering to a wide
variety of audiences including
schools, non-tech people, techheads,
start-up founders, international
and local investors, business
leaders and political figures.
Events will include tech business
heavyweights and leading
New Zealand business people
who are already successful on
the global stage. At the other
end of the scale we will see
local communities and schools
experimenting with technology
to inspire the next generation.
NZTech chief executive
Graeme Muller says Techweek
will not just be in cities and
main centres but also the rural
community. The major Farming
2020 event will be one of the
showcase events because farming
and primary industries are
so important to New Zealand’s
export sector.
“Agtech is one of New
Zealand’s fastest growing, most
exciting innovation sectors.
It’s an area where we can truly
say we’re leading the world.
Farming 2020 will showcase
the best and most inventive NZ
Agtech.
“Another event will be the
Talking Tech Everywhere podcast
where popular tech podcast,
Access Granted, will take
to the road for Techweek’17.
It will travel the length of the
country over the course of the
week, interviewing tech founders,
inventors and tech industry
personalities.
“We will have many other
major events embracing the
academic and manufacturing
communities, the design sector,
health and education sectors
bringing communities together
to share ideas and experience
on how they are making the
most of tech and grow cool tech
companies.
“Blockchain was the hot
topic of 2016. Blockchain is
named after the way it works.
Each bit of data, which could be
a money transfer or real estate
contract, is encrypted using
blockchain software.
“In Techweek next May we
will be talking about how blockchain
technology can be used to
disrupt and re-imagine education
and health systems. One of
the world’s leading authorities
on Blockchain, New Zealander
Mark Pascall, will host a blockchain
event.
“Blockchain is software that
forms a presumably unhackable
system for transactions. That's
because it is hosted on thousands
of computers around the
world, not just one server. Every
individual system would need to
be broken simultaneously so this
new system provides a novel
new way to conduct safe transactions
without the need of a
middle man,” Mr Muller says.
NZTech, the national representative
group for Kiwi
tech companies, has reached
an important milestone with
substantial expansion in New
Zealand’s fastest growing and
third largest export earner.
NZTech represents more
than 400 organisations in a tech
sector with 100,000 jobs and
growth throughout New Zealand
making up eight percent of the
country’s gross domestic product
(GDP) and contributing over
$6.3 billion in exports.
“Our Techweek goal is to
stimulate an environment where
technology provides important
productivity and economic benefits
for New Zealand.
"Where people explore ways
to harness technology to make
NZTech chief executive
Graeme Muller.
New Zealand a better place for
future generations and to showcase
our success stories to the
world so we are encouraging
communities and companies to
put on events in Techweek via
our expressions of interest page
at Techweek.co.nz,” Mr Muller
says.
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