| Surveillance – here’s looking at you, kid Surveillance was simple in 1942 when Humphry Bogart spoke those enduring words to Ingrid Bergman. There was none apart from wiretaps, hidden microphones in every government building and ‘reds under the bed’.This article follows reader feedback from our seminal article Cybercriminals Hire Locals to Spy on You. Readers were horrified to think that criminals and cybercriminals hired a network of watchers to collect information to qualify targets for crime. The inspiration for this article came from How Privacy Concerns Are Shaping the Future of City Surveillance and extensive research. As I write this, I am saddened that both sanctioned and covert surveillance now is so intrusive that privacy has ceased to exist, even in the sanctity of our own homes. When you mix surveillance (in its many forms) with AI, you get a virtual Armageddon – Arm-a-geddon out of here! Hopefully, this article will help you understand the levels of surveillance and this will assist you to better improve your privacy. READ MORE… Crappy NBN Modem – here are a few better ones (2025 update network guide) I apologise for the wrong link being included last week. Here is the story again! The term Crappy NBN Modem covers a lot of sins. The chief is that they are invariably low-cost (<$150), usually Wi-Fi 6 AX, have low antenna signal strength, poor error resilience, and are not designed to support more than a few devices. Update February 2025 NBN is rolling out Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) at a terrific pace because Fibre to the Node (FTTN), which uses Telstra’s old copper wire from the node to the house, is increasingly unreliable. So, while we refer to FTTN using VDSL2+ copper, this guide is equally applicable to FTTP and HFC (Cable). If you have an FTTN connection, you need a VDASL2+ modem/router to act as the gateway. Remember that these cheap, low-performance routers are seldom suitable for most homes or apartments. The good news is that you can put a decent router or mesh system behind the gateway and get whole-of-home coverage. READ MORE.. |
| Guests and Topics on the Show |
| We spoke with Karen Powell about ECOVACS‘ latest robot vacuums. We discussed the new flagship DEEBOT X8 PRO OMNI, which introduced next-generation roller mopping for superior hard floor cleaning. Karen also shared insights on the DEEBOT T50 MAX PRO OMNI, designed for homes with carpets and pets, featuring the powerful BLAST 100W Fan. And we covered the DEEBOT T50 PRO OMNI, standing out with its ultra-slim 8.1cm profile for unmatched cleaning reach. Ecovacs Deebot X8 PRO OMNI – TruEdge roller mop takes the lead (cleaning first look) Ecovacs Deebot X8 PRO OMNI uses an extendable OZMO self-washing roller mop to clean to the edge and avoids obstacles while cleaning closer to them than before. This is a first look as our panellists test this next-gen robot vac/mop in various homes and environments. The new OZMO Roller Mop (which looks like a paint roller), based on Tineco technology with 16 water nozzles, is among the best mopping solutions we have seen. How different? Well, imagine spilling a cup of tomato sauce on the floor. A robot with a static platten would drag that tomato sauce everywhere – FAIL. A robot with rotating mops would spin the sauce out of the way – PASS. The self-cleaning roller simply mops it up with no streaks or residue on the roller – EXCEED. The only other robot with a roller is the Eufy S1 Pro – the robot vacuum/mop that rewrites the book. See our comparison videos later. Continue reading.. |
| Australians have been getting tricked online every day—through hidden fees, fake reviews, and sneaky subscription traps. A recent report from the University of South Australia revealed just how widespread these deceptive tactics—also known as ‘dark patterns’—really are. Dr. James Walsh, a lecturer and researcher at UniSA’s Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments, joined us to break down the findings. He explained how these manipulative tactics influence consumer behaviour, who is most vulnerable, and why AI is making the problem even worse. He also highlighted the urgent need for stronger regulations to protect Australians online. |
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