[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":1384},["ShallowReactive",2],{"insights-index":3},[4,157,353,575,743,1003,1173,1291],{"id":5,"title":6,"author":7,"body":8,"date":142,"description":143,"draft":144,"extension":145,"meta":146,"navigation":147,"path":148,"readingTime":149,"seo":150,"stem":151,"tags":152,"__hash__":156},"insights\u002Finsights\u002Fprotecting-yourself-online.md","Protecting yourself online — a no-nonsense guide","Jason Webb",{"type":9,"value":10,"toc":131},"minimark",[11,15,18,23,26,29,33,36,47,51,54,57,61,64,87,90,94,97,100,104,107,110,114,117,120,123],[12,13,14],"p",{},"You don't need to be a tech expert to stay safe online. You just need a handful of good habits and a healthy dose of scepticism. Most of the people I help after something has gone wrong weren't doing anything reckless — they just didn't know what to watch for.",[12,16,17],{},"Here's what actually matters.",[19,20,22],"h2",{"id":21},"keep-your-software-up-to-date","Keep your software up to date",[12,24,25],{},"I know — updates are annoying. But most of the nasty infections I clean up were preventable. The fix existed months before the attack; it just hadn't been installed. Your operating system, your browser, and your apps all release security patches regularly. Turn on automatic updates and let them do their job.",[12,27,28],{},"This applies to your phone too. That \"update available\" notification isn't optional decoration.",[19,30,32],{"id":31},"use-strong-unique-passwords","Use strong, unique passwords",[12,34,35],{},"If your password for internet banking is the same one you use for that recipe website you signed up to in 2014, you have a problem. When that recipe site eventually gets breached (and they all do), your banking password ends up on a list that criminals buy for a few dollars.",[12,37,38,39,46],{},"A password manager solves this completely. It generates random, uncrackable passwords for every site and remembers them so you don't have to. You just need one good master password. ",[40,41,45],"a",{"href":42,"rel":43},"https:\u002F\u002Fbitwarden.com",[44],"nofollow","Bitwarden"," is free and works on everything.",[19,48,50],{"id":49},"turn-on-two-factor-authentication","Turn on two-factor authentication",[12,52,53],{},"Two-factor authentication (2FA) means that even if someone steals your password, they can't get in without a second piece of proof — usually a code from an app on your phone. Turn it on for your email first, because your email is the master key to almost everything else. Then your banking, social media, and anything else that matters.",[12,55,56],{},"Use an authenticator app (like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator) rather than text messages. SMS codes can be intercepted; app codes can't.",[19,58,60],{"id":59},"be-careful-what-you-click","Be careful what you click",[12,62,63],{},"Most attacks don't start with some genius hacker in a dark room. They start with someone clicking a link in a dodgy email. Before you click anything:",[65,66,67,75,81],"ul",{},[68,69,70,74],"li",{},[71,72,73],"strong",{},"Check the sender."," Does the email address actually match who it claims to be from?",[68,76,77,80],{},[71,78,79],{},"Hover over links."," On a computer, hover your mouse over a link before clicking — the real address shows up in the bottom corner of your browser.",[68,82,83,86],{},[71,84,85],{},"Be suspicious of urgency."," \"Your account will be closed in 24 hours\" is almost always a lie designed to make you panic and click.",[12,88,89],{},"When in doubt, don't click the link. Go directly to the website by typing the address yourself.",[19,91,93],{"id":92},"use-a-secure-wifi-connection","Use a secure WiFi connection",[12,95,96],{},"Public WiFi at cafes and airports is convenient, but it's also where your data is most exposed. Avoid doing anything sensitive — banking, shopping, logging into important accounts — on public networks. If you need to, use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) which encrypts your connection so nobody on the same network can snoop.",[12,98,99],{},"At home, make sure your WiFi has a proper password and that you've changed it from the default one printed on the router.",[19,101,103],{"id":102},"back-up-your-important-files","Back up your important files",[12,105,106],{},"Ransomware locks your files and demands payment. A hardware failure wipes everything. A stolen laptop takes it all with it. The fix for all three is the same: regular backups.",[12,108,109],{},"The easiest approach is the 3-2-1 rule: three copies of anything important, on two different types of storage, with one kept off-site (cloud storage counts). It sounds like a lot, but a cloud backup running in the background and an external hard drive you plug in once a month covers it.",[19,111,113],{"id":112},"trust-your-instincts","Trust your instincts",[12,115,116],{},"If something feels off — an email that doesn't quite read right, a website that looks slightly wrong, a phone call asking for information they should already have — trust that feeling. Scammers rely on you overriding your own judgement because you don't want to seem rude or paranoid.",[12,118,119],{},"It's always okay to hang up, close the tab, or not reply. Legitimate organisations won't mind you verifying through their official channels.",[121,122],"hr",{},[12,124,125,126,130],{},"None of this is complicated. It's just a matter of building a few small habits. And if something does go wrong, or you're not sure whether something is legit, ",[40,127,129],{"href":128},"\u002Fcontact","give me a call",". I'd much rather help you check a suspicious email than clean up after you've clicked on it.",{"title":132,"searchDepth":133,"depth":133,"links":134},"",2,[135,136,137,138,139,140,141],{"id":21,"depth":133,"text":22},{"id":31,"depth":133,"text":32},{"id":49,"depth":133,"text":50},{"id":59,"depth":133,"text":60},{"id":92,"depth":133,"text":93},{"id":102,"depth":133,"text":103},{"id":112,"depth":133,"text":113},"2026-05-27","The internet isn't scary, but it does reward people who pay attention. Here are the practical steps that actually matter for staying safe online.",false,"md",{},true,"\u002Finsights\u002Fprotecting-yourself-online","5 min read",{"title":6,"description":143},"insights\u002Fprotecting-yourself-online",[153,154,155],"security","personal","advice","13vOSdmc1s-y62lrz4HffXqTd_TeLdNC43y2gRAZ7Qc",{"id":158,"title":159,"author":7,"body":160,"date":344,"description":345,"draft":144,"extension":145,"meta":346,"navigation":147,"path":347,"readingTime":149,"seo":348,"stem":349,"tags":350,"__hash__":352},"insights\u002Finsights\u002Fwhat-is-phishing-and-how-to-spot-it.md","What is phishing — and how to spot it before it catches you",{"type":9,"value":161,"toc":330},[162,165,168,172,175,178,182,185,190,198,202,205,209,216,219,223,226,230,233,237,270,274,277,308,312,315,318,321,323],[12,163,164],{},"Phishing is the reason most people get hacked. Not because they're careless, but because the emails and messages are genuinely convincing. I've seen smart, careful people get caught out by a well-crafted phishing email — there's no shame in it.",[12,166,167],{},"But once you know what to look for, you'll start spotting them almost instantly.",[19,169,171],{"id":170},"what-phishing-actually-is","What phishing actually is",[12,173,174],{},"Phishing is when someone pretends to be a trusted organisation — your bank, NZ Post, IRD, Netflix, Microsoft — to trick you into handing over your password, credit card number, or personal information. It usually arrives as an email, but it can also come as a text message (sometimes called \"smishing\") or even a phone call (\"vishing\").",[12,176,177],{},"The goal is almost always the same: get you to click a link and enter your details on a fake website that looks identical to the real one.",[19,179,181],{"id":180},"what-a-phishing-email-looks-like","What a phishing email looks like",[12,183,184],{},"They've come a long way from the days of Nigerian princes. Modern phishing emails often look completely professional. But there are tells:",[186,187,189],"h3",{"id":188},"the-sender-address-is-slightly-off","The sender address is slightly off",[12,191,192,193,197],{},"The email might say it's from \"NZ Post\" but the actual address is something like ",[194,195,196],"code",{},"nzpost-delivery@mail-notifications.com",". Always check the full email address, not just the display name.",[186,199,201],{"id":200},"it-creates-urgency-or-fear","It creates urgency or fear",[12,203,204],{},"\"Your account has been compromised.\" \"Your parcel couldn't be delivered.\" \"You have 24 hours to respond or your account will be closed.\" Real organisations don't threaten you with deadlines in emails. They especially don't ask you to fix things by clicking a link.",[186,206,208],{"id":207},"the-link-doesnt-go-where-it-says","The link doesn't go where it says",[12,210,211,212,215],{},"This is the big one. On a computer, hover your mouse over any link in the email — don't click it — and check the address that appears. If the email says it's from ANZ but the link goes to ",[194,213,214],{},"anz-secure-login.dodgy-domain.com",", that's phishing.",[12,217,218],{},"On a phone, press and hold the link to preview it instead of tapping.",[186,220,222],{"id":221},"it-asks-for-information-they-should-already-have","It asks for information they should already have",[12,224,225],{},"Your bank will never email you asking for your account number, password, or PIN. IRD won't ask for your myIR login via email. If someone's asking for information they should already know, that's a red flag.",[186,227,229],{"id":228},"the-greeting-is-generic","The greeting is generic",[12,231,232],{},"\"Dear Customer\" or \"Dear User\" instead of your actual name often signals a mass phishing campaign. Though increasingly, phishers do personalise — so a correct name alone doesn't make an email safe.",[19,234,236],{"id":235},"what-to-do-when-you-spot-one","What to do when you spot one",[238,239,240,246,252,264],"ol",{},[68,241,242,245],{},[71,243,244],{},"Don't click anything."," Not the links, not the attachments, not the unsubscribe button.",[68,247,248,251],{},[71,249,250],{},"Don't reply."," Even replying confirms your email address is active.",[68,253,254,257,258,263],{},[71,255,256],{},"Report it."," Forward it to the organisation being impersonated (most banks have a dedicated phishing email). In New Zealand, you can also report it to ",[40,259,262],{"href":260,"rel":261},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cert.govt.nz\u002Findividuals\u002Fcommon-threats\u002Fphishing\u002F",[44],"CERT NZ",".",[68,265,266,269],{},[71,267,268],{},"Delete it."," Once reported, get rid of it.",[19,271,273],{"id":272},"what-to-do-if-youve-already-clicked","What to do if you've already clicked",[12,275,276],{},"Don't panic — but do act quickly.",[65,278,279,285,290,296,302],{},[68,280,281,284],{},[71,282,283],{},"Change your password"," immediately for whatever account the fake site was imitating. If you use the same password anywhere else (and you know you shouldn't), change those too.",[68,286,287,289],{},[71,288,50],{}," if you haven't already.",[68,291,292,295],{},[71,293,294],{},"Check your bank accounts"," for any transactions you don't recognise.",[68,297,298,301],{},[71,299,300],{},"Run a malware scan"," if you downloaded an attachment.",[68,303,304,307],{},[71,305,306],{},"Contact your bank"," if you entered any financial details. They deal with this every day and can freeze things fast.",[19,309,311],{"id":310},"the-ones-that-nearly-got-me","The ones that nearly got me",[12,313,314],{},"I'll be honest — I've had a couple land in my inbox that made me pause. A fake Xero invoice notification that looked pixel-perfect. A courier delivery text that arrived the same day I was actually expecting a parcel. The timing made it convincing.",[12,316,317],{},"The thing that saved me both times was the same: I didn't click the link in the message. I opened a browser, went directly to the real website, and logged in there. If there was genuinely a problem, it would show up in my actual account.",[12,319,320],{},"That single habit — never click, always go direct — blocks almost every phishing attempt.",[121,322],{},[12,324,325,326,329],{},"If you've received something suspicious and you're not sure whether it's real, ",[40,327,328],{"href":128},"send it my way",". I'm always happy to take a look — better safe than sorry.",{"title":132,"searchDepth":133,"depth":133,"links":331},[332,333,341,342,343],{"id":170,"depth":133,"text":171},{"id":180,"depth":133,"text":181,"children":334},[335,337,338,339,340],{"id":188,"depth":336,"text":189},3,{"id":200,"depth":336,"text":201},{"id":207,"depth":336,"text":208},{"id":221,"depth":336,"text":222},{"id":228,"depth":336,"text":229},{"id":235,"depth":133,"text":236},{"id":272,"depth":133,"text":273},{"id":310,"depth":133,"text":311},"2026-05-20","Phishing is the most common way people get hacked, and it's getting harder to spot. Here's how it works and what to look for so you don't take the bait.",{},"\u002Finsights\u002Fwhat-is-phishing-and-how-to-spot-it",{"title":159,"description":345},"insights\u002Fwhat-is-phishing-and-how-to-spot-it",[153,154,351],"small business","2PBXpYA_Q38WgCrSSNPU9kps4pswRGND-MyaG1ZJ1Kc",{"id":354,"title":355,"author":7,"body":356,"date":565,"description":566,"draft":144,"extension":145,"meta":567,"navigation":147,"path":568,"readingTime":569,"seo":570,"stem":571,"tags":572,"__hash__":574},"insights\u002Finsights\u002Finternet-safety-for-families.md","Internet safety for families — a balanced approach",{"type":9,"value":357,"toc":556},[358,361,364,368,371,380,383,387,395,398,418,421,425,428,442,445,449,452,478,481,485,488,513,517,520,534,537,541,544,547,549],[12,359,360],{},"Parents ask me about internet safety more than almost any other topic. And I get it — the internet is huge, the risks feel vague, and the advice online ranges from \"don't worry about it\" to \"wrap everything in three layers of parental controls and monitoring software.\"",[12,362,363],{},"The truth is somewhere in the middle. Here's a practical, balanced approach that actually works.",[19,365,367],{"id":366},"start-with-the-network-not-the-device","Start with the network, not the device",[12,369,370],{},"The single most useful thing you can do is set up basic filtering at the router level. This means every device in the house — phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs — gets a baseline level of protection without you having to configure each one individually.",[12,372,373,374,379],{},"Services like ",[40,375,378],{"href":376,"rel":377},"https:\u002F\u002Fcleanbrowsing.org",[44],"CleanBrowsing"," or Cloudflare's family DNS (1.1.1.3) are free and take about five minutes to set up on your router. They block the worst of the web — malware, phishing sites, and adult content — without slowing anything down.",[12,381,382],{},"It's not perfect. A tech-savvy teenager will eventually find a way around it. But it catches the accidental stuff, which is 90% of the problem.",[19,384,386],{"id":385},"have-the-conversations-early","Have the conversations early",[12,388,389,390,394],{},"No filter replaces a conversation. Kids who understand ",[391,392,393],"em",{},"why"," certain things are risky make better decisions than kids who only know the rules.",[12,396,397],{},"The conversations don't have to be dramatic. Just honest.",[65,399,400,406,412],{},[68,401,402,405],{},[71,403,404],{},"Younger kids:"," \"Not everyone online is who they say they are. Never share your real name, school, or address with people you don't know in real life.\"",[68,407,408,411],{},[71,409,410],{},"Tweens:"," \"People might try to get you to send photos or personal information. If anyone makes you uncomfortable, come tell me — you won't be in trouble.\"",[68,413,414,417],{},[71,415,416],{},"Teens:"," \"Everything you post online is permanent, even if you delete it. Think about whether future-you would be okay with it.\"",[12,419,420],{},"The goal isn't to terrify them. It's to give them a framework for making decisions when you're not looking over their shoulder.",[19,422,424],{"id":423},"set-up-age-appropriate-accounts","Set up age-appropriate accounts",[12,426,427],{},"Both Apple and Google have solid parental control systems built in — Screen Time on Apple devices and Family Link on Android. They let you:",[65,429,430,433,436,439],{},[68,431,432],{},"Set time limits for specific apps",[68,434,435],{},"Require approval for app downloads",[68,437,438],{},"See what's been installed",[68,440,441],{},"Set content restrictions by age rating",[12,443,444],{},"For younger children, these are genuinely useful. For teenagers, use them with a lighter touch — too much control at 15 creates more problems than it solves. At some point, the conversation matters more than the controls.",[19,446,448],{"id":447},"talk-about-social-media-specifically","Talk about social media specifically",[12,450,451],{},"Social media is where most of the anxiety sits, and for good reason. A few things worth discussing:",[65,453,454,460,466,472],{},[68,455,456,459],{},[71,457,458],{},"Not everything you see is real."," Curated highlight reels can mess with anyone's self-image, let alone a 13-year-old's.",[68,461,462,465],{},[71,463,464],{},"Comments sections are not representative of real life."," The angriest people are the loudest.",[68,467,468,471],{},[71,469,470],{},"Private accounts are better."," There's no good reason for a child's account to be public.",[68,473,474,477],{},[71,475,476],{},"Screenshots exist."," Anything sent in a \"disappearing\" message can be captured permanently.",[12,479,480],{},"You don't need to ban social media outright — for most teens, it's genuinely how they maintain friendships. But helping them use it critically rather than passively makes a real difference.",[19,482,484],{"id":483},"gaming-is-social-now","Gaming is social now",[12,486,487],{},"If your kids play games online, they're almost certainly talking to strangers. Minecraft, Fortnite, Roblox — they all have chat features. That's not inherently dangerous, but it's worth knowing about.",[65,489,490,496,502],{},[68,491,492,495],{},[71,493,494],{},"Check the chat settings."," Most games let you disable or restrict chat.",[68,497,498,501],{},[71,499,500],{},"Keep devices in shared spaces"," for younger kids. A gaming setup in the bedroom with the door closed at age 8 is a recipe for problems.",[68,503,504,507,508,512],{},[71,505,506],{},"Know what they're playing."," You don't have to play it yourself (though they'll love it if you try), but a quick search for \"",[509,510,511],"span",{},"game name"," parent guide\" will tell you what you need to know.",[19,514,516],{"id":515},"watch-for-warning-signs","Watch for warning signs",[12,518,519],{},"Most of the time, everything is fine. But it's worth knowing what to keep an eye out for:",[65,521,522,525,528,531],{},[68,523,524],{},"Suddenly secretive about what they're doing online",[68,526,527],{},"Getting upset or anxious after using their device",[68,529,530],{},"Receiving gifts or messages from people you don't know",[68,532,533],{},"Switching screens or closing apps when you walk past",[12,535,536],{},"None of these mean something terrible is happening. But they're worth a gentle conversation.",[19,538,540],{"id":539},"the-honest-summary","The honest summary",[12,542,543],{},"You can't make the internet completely safe, just like you can't make the road completely safe. But you can teach your kids to look both ways, set reasonable boundaries, and create an environment where they feel comfortable coming to you when something goes wrong.",[12,545,546],{},"That last part matters most. If they think they'll get in trouble or lose their device, they won't tell you when they need to.",[121,548],{},[12,550,551,552,555],{},"If you'd like a hand setting up filtering on your home network, or just want to talk through what makes sense for your family, ",[40,553,554],{"href":128},"get in touch",". Happy to come round for a coffee and sort it out.",{"title":132,"searchDepth":133,"depth":133,"links":557},[558,559,560,561,562,563,564],{"id":366,"depth":133,"text":367},{"id":385,"depth":133,"text":386},{"id":423,"depth":133,"text":424},{"id":447,"depth":133,"text":448},{"id":483,"depth":133,"text":484},{"id":515,"depth":133,"text":516},{"id":539,"depth":133,"text":540},"2026-05-13","Keeping your family safe online doesn't mean locking everything down. A practical approach for households with kids and teens.",{},"\u002Finsights\u002Finternet-safety-for-families","6 min read",{"title":355,"description":566},"insights\u002Finternet-safety-for-families",[153,154,573],"families","bHoZyLXX3AwMjaPTu4dtruas7wN-uUOuBQxAWhWcrGc",{"id":576,"title":577,"author":7,"body":578,"date":734,"description":735,"draft":144,"extension":145,"meta":736,"navigation":147,"path":737,"readingTime":149,"seo":738,"stem":739,"tags":740,"__hash__":742},"insights\u002Finsights\u002Fwhat-to-do-when-your-computer-is-running-slow.md","What to do when your computer is running slow",{"type":9,"value":579,"toc":725},[580,583,586,590,593,596,600,603,606,632,636,639,642,645,659,663,666,675,678,682,685,689,692,706,709,713,716,718],[12,581,582],{},"\"My computer is so slow\" is probably the number one reason people call me. And nine times out of ten, the fix is simpler and cheaper than they expect. You don't always need a new machine — sometimes you just need to clear the cobwebs.",[12,584,585],{},"Here's exactly what I check, in order, when someone tells me their computer has slowed to a crawl.",[19,587,589],{"id":588},"restart-it-seriously","Restart it (seriously)",[12,591,592],{},"I know. It sounds patronising. But you'd be surprised how many \"slow\" computers haven't been properly restarted in weeks. Sleep mode and closing the lid don't count — that's like taking a nap versus getting a full night's sleep.",[12,594,595],{},"A proper restart clears out temporary files, resets memory, and closes background processes that have been quietly piling up. Right-click the Start button (Windows) or click the Apple menu (Mac), choose Restart, and let it fully come back up. If your computer has been \"on\" for a fortnight, this alone might fix it.",[19,597,599],{"id":598},"check-whats-running-in-the-background","Check what's running in the background",[12,601,602],{},"Your computer might be slow because something is secretly using all its resources. On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager and click \"More details.\" On Mac, open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities.",[12,604,605],{},"Sort by CPU or Memory usage and look for anything eating a huge percentage. Common culprits:",[65,607,608,614,620,626],{},[68,609,610,613],{},[71,611,612],{},"Browser tabs."," Each open tab uses memory. If you've got 47 tabs open \"for later,\" your computer is trying to keep all of them alive at once. Bookmark them and close them.",[68,615,616,619],{},[71,617,618],{},"Cloud sync services."," OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox can hammer your system when they're syncing large folders.",[68,621,622,625],{},[71,623,624],{},"Software updaters."," Adobe, Java, and various apps love to run background update checkers that consume resources.",[68,627,628,631],{},[71,629,630],{},"Antivirus scans."," If your antivirus is running a full scan, your computer will be sluggish until it finishes.",[19,633,635],{"id":634},"check-your-storage","Check your storage",[12,637,638],{},"When your hard drive gets too full, everything slows down. Your computer needs free space to think — as a rough guide, keep at least 15-20% of your drive free.",[12,640,641],{},"On Windows: Open Settings > System > Storage. On Mac: Click the Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage.",[12,643,644],{},"If you're nearly full, the quick wins are:",[65,646,647,650,653,656],{},[68,648,649],{},"Empty the recycle bin \u002F trash",[68,651,652],{},"Clear your Downloads folder (it's probably full of installers you ran once two years ago)",[68,654,655],{},"Use the built-in cleanup tools — Storage Sense on Windows or \"Manage\" on Mac",[68,657,658],{},"Move photos and videos to an external drive or cloud storage",[19,660,662],{"id":661},"check-for-malware","Check for malware",[12,664,665],{},"Sometimes a slow computer is a sick computer. Malware, adware, and unwanted browser extensions can chew through your resources while doing things you really don't want happening.",[12,667,668,669,674],{},"Run a scan with ",[40,670,673],{"href":671,"rel":672},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.malwarebytes.com\u002F",[44],"Malwarebytes"," — the free version is fine for a one-off check. It catches things that standard antivirus often misses, particularly adware and browser hijackers.",[12,676,677],{},"While you're at it, check your browser extensions. Open your browser's extensions page and remove anything you don't recognise or no longer use.",[19,679,681],{"id":680},"install-updates","Install updates",[12,683,684],{},"I know — I keep banging on about updates. But an outdated operating system genuinely runs slower. Updates include performance improvements, not just security patches. Let Windows Update or macOS Software Update run to completion, restart, and see if things improve.",[19,686,688],{"id":687},"the-hardware-question","The hardware question",[12,690,691],{},"If you've done all of the above and it's still slow, it might genuinely be a hardware limitation. Two upgrades make the biggest difference:",[65,693,694,700],{},[68,695,696,699],{},[71,697,698],{},"Adding an SSD."," If your computer still has a traditional spinning hard drive, replacing it with a solid-state drive is the single biggest speed improvement you can make. It's like going from a bicycle to a car. Everything opens faster — booting, loading apps, opening files.",[68,701,702,705],{},[71,703,704],{},"Adding RAM."," If your computer has 4GB of RAM and you're running a modern browser with a few tabs, you're probably maxing it out. Bumping to 8GB or 16GB gives your system room to breathe.",[12,707,708],{},"Both upgrades are usually cheaper than a new computer and can add years of life to an older machine.",[19,710,712],{"id":711},"when-it-really-is-time-for-a-new-one","When it really is time for a new one",[12,714,715],{},"If your computer is 8+ years old, can't run the latest operating system, and the hardware can't be upgraded — it might genuinely be time. That's okay. A decent laptop for everyday use doesn't have to cost a fortune, and I'm always happy to help you pick one that fits what you actually need (not what the salesperson wants to sell you).",[121,717],{},[12,719,720,721,724],{},"If your computer is driving you mad and you've tried the basics, ",[40,722,723],{"href":128},"give me a shout",". I can usually diagnose the problem in a single visit and give you honest advice about whether it's worth fixing or time to move on.",{"title":132,"searchDepth":133,"depth":133,"links":726},[727,728,729,730,731,732,733],{"id":588,"depth":133,"text":589},{"id":598,"depth":133,"text":599},{"id":634,"depth":133,"text":635},{"id":661,"depth":133,"text":662},{"id":680,"depth":133,"text":681},{"id":687,"depth":133,"text":688},{"id":711,"depth":133,"text":712},"2026-05-06","A slow computer doesn't always mean you need a new one. Here are the things I check first — and the fixes that actually work.",{},"\u002Finsights\u002Fwhat-to-do-when-your-computer-is-running-slow",{"title":577,"description":735},"insights\u002Fwhat-to-do-when-your-computer-is-running-slow",[741,154,155],"troubleshooting","KxHyTRn_XROrdy23hLoHG2N0gFXF9nBfEeEGO9-iKcI",{"id":744,"title":745,"author":7,"body":746,"date":995,"description":996,"draft":144,"extension":145,"meta":997,"navigation":147,"path":998,"readingTime":149,"seo":999,"stem":1000,"tags":1001,"__hash__":1002},"insights\u002Finsights\u002Fgetting-scammed-online-what-to-do-next.md","I think I've been scammed — what do I do now?",{"type":9,"value":747,"toc":986},[748,751,754,758,761,786,790,810,814,817,849,852,856,859,895,899,902,927,931,968,972,975,978,980],[12,749,750],{},"First: take a breath. Getting scammed doesn't make you stupid. These people do this professionally, all day, every day. They're good at it. What matters now is what you do next.",[12,752,753],{},"Here's a step-by-step guide depending on what happened.",[19,755,757],{"id":756},"if-you-entered-your-password-on-a-fake-website","If you entered your password on a fake website",[12,759,760],{},"This is the most common one — a phishing email leads you to a convincing-looking login page, and you type in your details before realising something's off.",[238,762,763,769,775,780],{},[68,764,765,768],{},[71,766,767],{},"Change that password immediately."," Go directly to the real website (type the address yourself, don't click any links) and change your password.",[68,770,771,774],{},[71,772,773],{},"Change it everywhere else you use it."," If you've reused that password on other sites — and be honest with yourself — change those too. This is the most important step.",[68,776,777,779],{},[71,778,50],{}," for that account if you haven't already.",[68,781,782,785],{},[71,783,784],{},"Check for any suspicious activity."," Look at recent login history, sent emails, or account changes. If it's an email account, check your sent folder and rules — attackers sometimes set up forwarding rules to keep intercepting your messages.",[19,787,789],{"id":788},"if-you-gave-out-your-credit-card-or-bank-details","If you gave out your credit card or bank details",[238,791,792,798,804],{},[68,793,794,797],{},[71,795,796],{},"Call your bank immediately."," Every New Zealand bank has a 24\u002F7 fraud line. Tell them exactly what happened. They can freeze your card, reverse pending transactions, and issue a new card — usually within minutes.",[68,799,800,803],{},[71,801,802],{},"Check your recent transactions."," Look for anything you don't recognise, no matter how small. Scammers often start with a tiny test transaction before going bigger.",[68,805,806,809],{},[71,807,808],{},"Keep records."," Screenshot the fake website, save the email or text, note the time and date. Your bank and the police will want these.",[19,811,813],{"id":812},"if-you-sent-money-via-bank-transfer","If you sent money via bank transfer",[12,815,816],{},"This is harder to undo, but not impossible if you act fast.",[238,818,819,825,837],{},[68,820,821,824],{},[71,822,823],{},"Call your bank straight away."," If the transfer is still processing, they may be able to stop it.",[68,826,827,830,831,836],{},[71,828,829],{},"Report it to the police."," File a report at ",[40,832,835],{"href":833,"rel":834},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.police.govt.nz\u002F",[44],"police.govt.nz"," or call 105 (non-emergency). You'll need a police report number for your bank's fraud investigation.",[68,838,839,842,843,848],{},[71,840,841],{},"Report it to CERT NZ."," Go to ",[40,844,847],{"href":845,"rel":846},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cert.govt.nz\u002F",[44],"cert.govt.nz"," and file a report. They track scam patterns and can sometimes help coordinate recovery.",[12,850,851],{},"Be realistic: money sent to an overseas account via bank transfer is very difficult to recover. But domestic transfers caught quickly have a much better chance.",[19,853,855],{"id":854},"if-you-gave-someone-remote-access-to-your-computer","If you gave someone remote access to your computer",[12,857,858],{},"Some scams involve a phone call from \"Microsoft\" or \"Spark\" telling you your computer is infected, then asking you to install remote access software so they can \"fix\" it.",[238,860,861,867,873,879,889],{},[68,862,863,866],{},[71,864,865],{},"Disconnect from the internet."," Turn off WiFi or unplug the ethernet cable. This cuts their access immediately.",[68,868,869,872],{},[71,870,871],{},"Uninstall the remote access software."," Common ones they use include AnyDesk, TeamViewer, and SupRemo. Remove them from your computer.",[68,874,875,878],{},[71,876,877],{},"Change your passwords"," — all of them — from a different device (your phone is fine). Start with email and banking.",[68,880,881,884,885,888],{},[71,882,883],{},"Run a malware scan."," Use ",[40,886,673],{"href":671,"rel":887},[44]," to check if they installed anything else while they had access.",[68,890,891,894],{},[71,892,893],{},"Call your bank"," if you logged into internet banking while they were connected, or if they asked you to.",[19,896,898],{"id":897},"if-youre-not-sure-what-happened","If you're not sure what happened",[12,900,901],{},"If something feels off but you're not sure exactly what information was exposed:",[65,903,904,910,916,922],{},[68,905,906,909],{},[71,907,908],{},"Change your email password"," as a precaution (from a different device if possible)",[68,911,912,915],{},[71,913,914],{},"Check your email's sent folder and rules"," for anything you didn't set up",[68,917,918,921],{},[71,919,920],{},"Monitor your bank accounts"," closely for the next few weeks",[68,923,924,926],{},[71,925,300],{}," on any device involved",[19,928,930],{"id":929},"reporting-scams-in-new-zealand","Reporting scams in New Zealand",[65,932,933,942,953,962],{},[68,934,935,937,938,941],{},[71,936,262],{}," — ",[40,939,847],{"href":845,"rel":940},[44]," — the government's cyber security agency",[68,943,944,937,947,952],{},[71,945,946],{},"Netsafe",[40,948,951],{"href":949,"rel":950},"https:\u002F\u002Fnetsafe.org.nz\u002F",[44],"netsafe.org.nz"," — free advice and support for online incidents",[68,954,955,958,959],{},[71,956,957],{},"NZ Police"," — call 105 or report online at ",[40,960,835],{"href":833,"rel":961},[44],[68,963,964,967],{},[71,965,966],{},"Your bank's fraud team"," — the number is on the back of your card",[19,969,971],{"id":970},"dont-be-too-hard-on-yourself","Don't be too hard on yourself",[12,973,974],{},"I've helped plenty of people clean up after scams — teachers, business owners, retired professionals, tech-savvy teenagers. There's no profile of a \"typical victim.\" Scammers exploit trust and urgency, not ignorance.",[12,976,977],{},"The best thing you can do after it happens is act quickly, secure your accounts, and learn what to watch for next time.",[121,979],{},[12,981,982,983,985],{},"If you've been caught out and need a hand sorting things out — checking your computer, securing your accounts, or just talking through what happened — ",[40,984,554],{"href":128},". No judgement, just practical help.",{"title":132,"searchDepth":133,"depth":133,"links":987},[988,989,990,991,992,993,994],{"id":756,"depth":133,"text":757},{"id":788,"depth":133,"text":789},{"id":812,"depth":133,"text":813},{"id":854,"depth":133,"text":855},{"id":897,"depth":133,"text":898},{"id":929,"depth":133,"text":930},{"id":970,"depth":133,"text":971},"2026-04-24","Clicked a dodgy link or given out personal details? Here's exactly what to do next. Don't panic — act quickly.",{},"\u002Finsights\u002Fgetting-scammed-online-what-to-do-next",{"title":745,"description":996},"insights\u002Fgetting-scammed-online-what-to-do-next",[153,154,155],"Ta-8EY0v7XG0zxDKfi8Strdw6HvP5NmpLVF5Q4SaD_g",{"id":1004,"title":1005,"author":7,"body":1006,"date":1164,"description":1165,"draft":144,"extension":145,"meta":1166,"navigation":147,"path":1167,"readingTime":1168,"seo":1169,"stem":1170,"tags":1171,"__hash__":1172},"insights\u002Finsights\u002Fdo-i-need-antivirus-software.md","Do I actually need antivirus software in 2026?",{"type":9,"value":1007,"toc":1156},[1008,1011,1015,1018,1021,1024,1028,1031,1034,1038,1041,1067,1070,1074,1077,1097,1101,1104,1130,1133,1137,1144,1147,1149],[12,1009,1010],{},"\"Do I need antivirus?\" is right up there with \"is my computer too old?\" in the questions I get asked most. And the honest answer is: it depends on what you're already using.",[19,1012,1014],{"id":1013},"windows-has-you-covered-mostly","Windows has you covered (mostly)",[12,1016,1017],{},"If you're running Windows 10 or 11, you already have Microsoft Defender built in. It's free, it's always on, and — here's the bit that surprises people — it's actually good now. Ten years ago, Windows Defender was a joke. Today, it consistently scores in the top tier of independent antivirus tests.",[12,1019,1020],{},"It runs quietly, doesn't nag you to upgrade, and doesn't slow your computer down with full-screen pop-ups trying to sell you a VPN.",[12,1022,1023],{},"For most people, Defender plus sensible browsing habits is genuinely enough.",[19,1025,1027],{"id":1026},"mac-users-arent-immune","Mac users aren't immune",[12,1029,1030],{},"There's a persistent myth that Macs don't get viruses. That was sort of true when Macs had 3% market share and nobody bothered writing malware for them. It's not true anymore.",[12,1032,1033],{},"macOS has solid built-in protections — Gatekeeper, XProtect, and the notarisation system all work behind the scenes. For most Mac users, these are sufficient. But if you're downloading software from outside the App Store regularly, an occasional scan with Malwarebytes doesn't hurt.",[19,1035,1037],{"id":1036},"when-you-might-want-something-extra","When you might want something extra",[12,1039,1040],{},"There are situations where additional protection makes sense:",[65,1042,1043,1049,1055,1061],{},[68,1044,1045,1048],{},[71,1046,1047],{},"You download a lot of files"," from various sources, torrents, or lesser-known websites",[68,1050,1051,1054],{},[71,1052,1053],{},"You share a computer"," with family members who might not be as careful",[68,1056,1057,1060],{},[71,1058,1059],{},"You run a small business"," and can't afford any downtime from an infection",[68,1062,1063,1066],{},[71,1064,1065],{},"You want email and web filtering"," beyond what the browser provides",[12,1068,1069],{},"In those cases, a paid option like Bitdefender or ESET gives you extra layers — web filtering, email scanning, and more aggressive real-time protection. They cost around $50-80 per year for a household licence.",[19,1071,1073],{"id":1072},"what-you-definitely-dont-need","What you definitely don't need",[12,1075,1076],{},"The antivirus industry thrives on fear. Some things that sound important but aren't worth paying for:",[65,1078,1079,1085,1091],{},[68,1080,1081,1084],{},[71,1082,1083],{},"\"Total security\" bundles"," with 15 features you'll never configure. You don't need a built-in password manager, VPN, file shredder, and \"dark web monitoring\" from your antivirus company.",[68,1086,1087,1090],{},[71,1088,1089],{},"Multiple antivirus programs."," Running two antivirus tools at once doesn't double your protection — they fight each other and slow your system to a crawl.",[68,1092,1093,1096],{},[71,1094,1095],{},"The pop-up that says you have 47 threats."," If a website shows you a scary warning saying your computer is infected and you need to download their software immediately — that's the scam. Close the tab.",[19,1098,1100],{"id":1099},"the-things-that-matter-more-than-antivirus","The things that matter more than antivirus",[12,1102,1103],{},"Here's the uncomfortable truth: antivirus is the seatbelt, not the steering wheel. The things that actually prevent most infections are:",[238,1105,1106,1112,1118,1124],{},[68,1107,1108,1111],{},[71,1109,1110],{},"Keeping your system updated."," Most malware exploits known vulnerabilities that have already been patched.",[68,1113,1114,1117],{},[71,1115,1116],{},"Not clicking dodgy links."," Phishing is how most attacks start. No antivirus catches all of them.",[68,1119,1120,1123],{},[71,1121,1122],{},"Using a password manager"," with unique passwords everywhere.",[68,1125,1126,1129],{},[71,1127,1128],{},"Having backups."," If ransomware does get through, backups mean you don't have to pay.",[12,1131,1132],{},"Get those four right and your antivirus — whatever it is — barely has to do any work.",[19,1134,1136],{"id":1135},"my-recommendation","My recommendation",[12,1138,1139,1140,1143],{},"For most people: stick with Microsoft Defender on Windows or the built-in protections on Mac. Keep everything updated. Install ",[40,1141,673],{"href":671,"rel":1142},[44]," (free version) and run a scan once a month as a safety net. Spend the $70 you saved on a decent password manager and a cloud backup instead.",[12,1145,1146],{},"If you want belt-and-braces, Bitdefender is what I'd recommend as a paid option. It's effective, lightweight, and doesn't constantly try to upsell you.",[121,1148],{},[12,1150,1151,1152,1155],{},"Not sure what's running on your machine or whether it's doing its job? ",[40,1153,1154],{"href":128},"Get in touch"," and I'll take a look. Usually takes about ten minutes to sort out.",{"title":132,"searchDepth":133,"depth":133,"links":1157},[1158,1159,1160,1161,1162,1163],{"id":1013,"depth":133,"text":1014},{"id":1026,"depth":133,"text":1027},{"id":1036,"depth":133,"text":1037},{"id":1072,"depth":133,"text":1073},{"id":1099,"depth":133,"text":1100},{"id":1135,"depth":133,"text":1136},"2026-04-17","The antivirus question is one I get asked all the time. The answer is more nuanced than the antivirus companies want you to think.",{},"\u002Finsights\u002Fdo-i-need-antivirus-software","4 min read",{"title":1005,"description":1165},"insights\u002Fdo-i-need-antivirus-software",[153,154,155],"AEX2IE0xdE7vneaM3hJlYNzjzT7rhXoIaVKw-EwsJ9g",{"id":1174,"title":1175,"author":7,"body":1176,"date":1282,"description":1283,"draft":144,"extension":145,"meta":1284,"navigation":147,"path":1285,"readingTime":149,"seo":1286,"stem":1287,"tags":1288,"__hash__":1290},"insights\u002Finsights\u002Fwhy-your-small-business-needs-a-real-website.md","Why your business needs a real website, not just Facebook",{"type":9,"value":1177,"toc":1275},[1178,1185,1188,1192,1195,1198,1202,1209,1213,1216,1220,1223,1251,1254,1258,1268],[12,1179,1180,1181,1184],{},"Every few weeks, someone tells me their business is \"already online\" because they have a Facebook page. And look — it's a great start. It's free, it's easy, and your customers already use it. But if it's the ",[71,1182,1183],{},"only"," home your business has online, you're making a quiet, expensive trade that most people never notice.",[12,1186,1187],{},"Here's what's really happening when you rely on a Facebook page alone.",[19,1189,1191],{"id":1190},"you-dont-actually-own-your-audience","You don't actually own your audience",[12,1193,1194],{},"When someone follows your Facebook page, Facebook owns the relationship. They decide who sees your posts (organically, that's only 2–5% of followers these days), when they see them, and how often. If Facebook changes an algorithm, suspends your account, or simply goes out of fashion with your customers, your audience disappears with it.",[12,1196,1197],{},"A website with an email list works differently. You own every address, every visit, every conversation. Nobody can take that away from you.",[19,1199,1201],{"id":1200},"trust-looks-different-on-a-real-website","Trust looks different on a real website",[12,1203,1204,1205,1208],{},"When someone types your business name into Google and lands on a proper website — not a profile page — it signals permanence. It says ",[391,1206,1207],{},"this business exists beyond social media",". That matters more than you might think, especially for anyone who's been burned by a dodgy online purchase or a one-person shop that vanished overnight.",[19,1210,1212],{"id":1211},"you-cant-be-found-the-way-customers-actually-search","You can't be found the way customers actually search",[12,1214,1215],{},"Most people looking for a florist in Christchurch don't type that into Facebook. They type it into Google. Facebook pages do get indexed, but they don't rank the way a proper website does — and they definitely don't show up in the local map pack where you really want to be.",[19,1217,1219],{"id":1218},"what-a-real-website-actually-means","What \"a real website\" actually means",[12,1221,1222],{},"It doesn't have to be huge. For most small businesses, four pages does the job:",[65,1224,1225,1232,1238,1245],{},[68,1226,1227,1228,1231],{},"A ",[71,1229,1230],{},"home page"," that explains who you are and what you do",[68,1233,1227,1234,1237],{},[71,1235,1236],{},"services"," page that tells people exactly what they can buy",[68,1239,1240,1241,1244],{},"An ",[71,1242,1243],{},"about"," page that shows the human behind the business",[68,1246,1227,1247,1250],{},[71,1248,1249],{},"contact"," page that makes it impossibly easy to get in touch",[12,1252,1253],{},"That's it. No giant scrolling hero with a video. No slideshow. No widgets. Just clear answers to the questions your customers are already asking.",[19,1255,1257],{"id":1256},"the-honest-truth","The honest truth",[12,1259,1260,1261,1264,1265,263],{},"I'm not saying abandon Facebook. Keep it — it's useful for community and updates. But pair it with a home of your own that you actually control. That's the difference between ",[391,1262,1263],{},"having a presence online"," and ",[391,1266,1267],{},"owning your presence online",[12,1269,1270,1271,1274],{},"If you're not sure where to start, ",[40,1272,1273],{"href":128},"have a chat with me",". First one's on the house.",{"title":132,"searchDepth":133,"depth":133,"links":1276},[1277,1278,1279,1280,1281],{"id":1190,"depth":133,"text":1191},{"id":1200,"depth":133,"text":1201},{"id":1211,"depth":133,"text":1212},{"id":1218,"depth":133,"text":1219},{"id":1256,"depth":133,"text":1257},"2026-04-10","A Facebook page is a good start, but it's not a home you control. Here's why your business needs its own website.",{},"\u002Finsights\u002Fwhy-your-small-business-needs-a-real-website",{"title":1175,"description":1283},"insights\u002Fwhy-your-small-business-needs-a-real-website",[1289,351,155],"websites","pQODS8f-Nyax6JVVi2Vpr782v0CSRedYq5SwTaxU7nU",{"id":1292,"title":1293,"author":7,"body":1294,"date":1376,"description":1377,"draft":144,"extension":145,"meta":1378,"navigation":147,"path":1379,"readingTime":1168,"seo":1380,"stem":1381,"tags":1382,"__hash__":1383},"insights\u002Finsights\u002Ffive-tech-habits-that-quietly-protect-your-business.md","Five tech habits that quietly protect your business",{"type":9,"value":1295,"toc":1369},[1296,1299,1302,1306,1309,1312,1316,1319,1322,1326,1335,1338,1342,1345,1348,1352,1355,1358,1360,1363],[12,1297,1298],{},"I've been called out to enough \"everything is broken\" emergencies to notice a pattern. The same five habits, when missing, turn a small problem into a business-ending one. When present, they quietly prevent disasters you never find out about.",[12,1300,1301],{},"None of them are glamorous. That's the point.",[19,1303,1305],{"id":1304},"_1-backups-that-actually-get-tested","1. Backups that actually get tested",[12,1307,1308],{},"Everyone has backups. Almost nobody tests them. I've watched business owners discover, in the middle of a ransomware incident, that their backup drive has been unplugged for two years or that the cloud sync stopped working last December.",[12,1310,1311],{},"The habit: once a quarter, open a random backup file and check it actually opens. Takes five minutes. Saves your business.",[19,1313,1315],{"id":1314},"_2-two-factor-authentication-on-anything-that-touches-money","2. Two-factor authentication on anything that touches money",[12,1317,1318],{},"Email, bank, Xero, your payment processor, your domain registrar. If someone gets into any one of these, they can usually chain their way to everything else. Two-factor auth — the app kind, not SMS — blocks 99% of those attacks at the front door.",[12,1320,1321],{},"If you do one thing after reading this, turn it on for your primary email account. Everything else flows from there.",[19,1323,1325],{"id":1324},"_3-a-password-manager-any-password-manager","3. A password manager — any password manager",[12,1327,1328,1264,1331,1334],{},[194,1329,1330],{},"Password1!",[194,1332,1333],{},"Password2!"," is not a system. A sticky note under the keyboard is not a system. 1Password, Bitwarden, even the built-in one in your browser is better than what most people do.",[12,1336,1337],{},"The trick is you only have to remember one password. The manager handles the rest, and it'll happily generate passwords that would take a supercomputer several centuries to crack.",[19,1339,1341],{"id":1340},"_4-keep-the-operating-system-current","4. Keep the operating system current",[12,1343,1344],{},"I know, I know — updates are annoying. They restart your machine at the worst moment. But most of the nasty stuff I've seen on client computers was fixed in a security patch six months before the infection happened. The patch was just never installed.",[12,1346,1347],{},"Set updates to install automatically overnight. Walk away. Done.",[19,1349,1351],{"id":1350},"_5-a-written-if-something-breaks-plan","5. A written \"if something breaks\" plan",[12,1353,1354],{},"One page. Who do you call? Where are the logins? What's the backup restore process? Who gets notified? Print it, stick it on the wall.",[12,1356,1357],{},"On a good day, this is overkill. On a bad day — when the laptop is dead, the power is out, and your phone is nearly flat — it's the difference between a two-hour problem and a two-week one.",[121,1359],{},[12,1361,1362],{},"None of this is exciting. That's actually the whole point. Boring, repeatable habits are what separate the businesses that quietly keep running from the ones that end up on the evening news for the wrong reasons.",[12,1364,1365,1366,1368],{},"If you'd like a hand putting any of this in place, ",[40,1367,554],{"href":128},". Happy to come sit down for a coffee and work through it with you.",{"title":132,"searchDepth":133,"depth":133,"links":1370},[1371,1372,1373,1374,1375],{"id":1304,"depth":133,"text":1305},{"id":1314,"depth":133,"text":1315},{"id":1324,"depth":133,"text":1325},{"id":1340,"depth":133,"text":1341},{"id":1350,"depth":133,"text":1351},"2026-04-03","Most business disasters I've helped clean up could have been prevented by five small, boring habits. None of them cost much.",{},"\u002Finsights\u002Ffive-tech-habits-that-quietly-protect-your-business",{"title":1293,"description":1377},"insights\u002Ffive-tech-habits-that-quietly-protect-your-business",[153,155,351],"p6jnNrrC1W5TylYjpCy2v8MI9zzoXT8sl4240S4jROI",1779856047256]