The NBN, service providers and you ... what could go wrong?
By Mark A Gregory, RMIT University
Unless you’ve been boycotting all forms of media in the past five years, you’ll be aware that the National Broadband Network (NBN) is well and truly on its way.
Why is Telstra Next G serving your data to Netsweeper in America?
By Mark A Gregory, RMIT University
Telstra representatives have this week admitted to collecting data for a new internet filtering product and sending this data to the USA office of Netsweeper Inc.
SCAMwatch – a helping hand against online scammers
By Mark A Gregory, RMIT University
Crimes of confidence, known as scams, are on the rise. You probably know the basics. The way the most common type of scam works involves you being presented with an offer, product or service for which you pay and then don’t receive anything.
Scams have always been big business and perpetrators have adapted quickly to new technology. Telephone, mail and now the internet have provided an ever-growing platform for large-scale, and coordinated, scam attacks.
Verizon Wireless vs Telstra: the great mobile rip-off continues
Does the recent announcement by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) of a new code of practice to prevent bill shock for “long-suffering telco customers”, and improve product marketing practices, bring Australia up to par with its international cousins?
In a word: no.
Cheaper hardware, software and digital downloads? Here’s how
Australians are paying about twice as much as they should for a range of tech products including computers, software and digital downloads.
It’s time for the government to act to bring this shameful situation to an end, to stop foreign multinationals from ripping us off. But until then, people should take steps to lower the cost of buying tech products. How? Read on.
Anonymous' Operation Australia – can the federal police stop them?
By Mark A Gregory, RMIT University
About 10am this morning, Anonymous used Twitter to announce an attack on the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) website. Anonymous claimed the ASIO website would be unavailable for the rest of the day.
The ASIO website was down for about 30 minutes after the attack and is now operating slowly or not at all. It appears the attack may be ongoing, but ASIO’s technical staff are recovering the situation.