Ray Krebs’ official title is ‘Community Ambassador’. [Yes, it is, but nowhere near as much as what Microsoft calls a product specialist who is employed to spread their word: they are called ‘Evangelist’…☺ Ed.] Ray joined us via Zoom from Brisbane. He started off by giving us a brief introduction: NBNCo is a wholesaler, meaning they only do business with Phone and Internet Providers. It is owned by the Federal Government. Ultimately, the National Broadband Network will replace most of the existing landline based phone as well as internet services. Ray outlined the various ways to connect (fixed line, WiFi, Mobile Internet - e.g. a “dongle”). Did you know that in Australia the average household consumes about 258 GB of data per month? Viewing habits have changed – real time video streaming directly to your Smart TV now dominates as the No 1 data consumption. And it doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down anytime soon: between 2012 and 2019 consumption has increased by 820%! Anything else you can connect? Yes, you can have Smart Power Points, Smart Light Globes, Smart Fridges, Security Cameras, Watering Systems, temperature controlled toilet seats which also will
automatically play your favourite music for the occasion. You can have Pet Doors which will only let your own pet inside. The latter automatically monitors its temperature, so you know that your poor little moggie has a fever. You can even connect your toothbrush… ["Yes mum, I did so brush my teeth – see, it’s wet!" won’t work anymore – it’s directly connected to mum’s Smart Phone! George Orwell says "I told you so!"]
The most important segment (in your Editor’s view) was Ray’s outline of Security. The recent brouhaha about top level, “state sponsored” hackers brought the issue to the front pages. But it is not just government or major companies that get hacked. You are just as likely to pick up some Randomware. That is the name given to malware which, once it has managed to reach your computer, will lock all its contents (using Encryption), and they will only release it once you have paid a ransom, usually in Bitcoins and thus totally untraceable. The subject is too broad to do justice on this write up. But you can get yourself organised easily: Click on this link to access the Federal Government’s ‘Scamwatch’ website, where you can also subscribe to News and Alerts. And most important: if you do anything sensitive on the Internet, such as banking, ordering goods where
you enter personal information or credit card details, always check that the site is secure: in the address bar, it must have a padlock symbol (see picture right). You can click on it to check that it is valid. NEVER do sensitive work on a public WiFi, such as a McDonalds, club etc. Use your mobile phone’s ‘Hotspot’ feature instead.It is always a great pleasure to have a speaker who is not only very competent on his subject but can present it in a way that can easily be understood by everyone. A sincere ‘Thank You!’, Ray, for enrichung our knowledge! The Zoom meeting was recorded and will remain available until 4th August. If you would like a link and the password to access it, please advise me. You can also address questions directly to Ray via email to raykrebs@nbnco.com.au