Nick and Tom: Tech and Learning

10/07/2026

Happy Wednesday! Today we're talking about Red Flags in Emails!

We've touched a bit on it before, but knowing how to spot a scam is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself. So - what should you look out for?

With AI making fake emails and texts look better than ever, it can be tough to tell what's real. The Government of Canada's Get Cyber Safe campaign has outlined the 7 biggest red flags of phishing. Here is what to watch out for:

Urgent or threatening language. Real emergencies don't happen over email!

Requests for sensitive information. Never give out passwords or banking details over text.

Unexpected emails. Did you get a delivery update for a package you didn't order?

Trash it.

Anything too good to be true. You can't win a contest you didn't enter.

Information mismatches. This is a big one. On your phone, tap the sender's name at the top to see their actual email address. If an email from your "bank" actually comes from a random Gmail account, it's a fake.

Suspicious attachments. If you weren't expecting a file, don't open it.
Suspicious links. On a computer, hover your mouse over a link without clicking to see where it actually goes.

If something feels off, trust your gut. Delete the email or text, or call the person or company directly on a trusted phone number to check. See? Simple.

Spotting these tricks is the easiest way to stop the worst of the attacks, and keep yourself safe.

If you have any other questions, please reach out to us at [email protected]

, , Get Cyber Safe Tom: 778 220 0647 Nick: 250 706 9676

10/05/2026

Happy Monday! October is here, and that means it's Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Today we're kicking things off by talking about modern scams and how to spot them.

We spend a lot of time teaching and talking about how amazing new technology is, but the unfortunate truth is that scammers are using these same tools. AI-generated threats are making phishing emails and automated text messages look incredibly realistic. They don't always have the obvious spelling mistakes they used to, and they might even look exactly like they are coming from your boss or your bank.

The good news? Your best defense is still you.

No matter how sophisticated a scam looks, the human instinct to simply hit pause, take a breath, and verify the source before clicking is the strongest shield you have. If a message feels too urgent or slightly out of the ordinary, trust your gut. Take a second to call the person directly or check the official website yourself before you click any links or download any files.

Stay tuned this week—we’ll be sharing our top red flags to watch out for so you can keep yourself safe.

If you have any questions about keeping your accounts secure, please reach out to us at [email protected]!

, , Get Cyber Safe Tom: 778 220 0647 Nick: 250 706 9676

09/17/2026

Windows 11 24H2 Reaching End of Support in October: What You Need to Know

Microsoft has issued a reminder that devices running Windows 11 Version 24H2 (Home and Pro editions) will reach the official end of servicing on October 13, 2026.

After this date, PCs remaining on this version will no longer receive monthly security patches, bug fixes, or quality updates, leaving them vulnerable to emerging security threats.

Affected Editions: Only Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 24H2 are retiring on October 13, 2026. Enterprise and Education editions will remain under active servicing through October 2027 in accordance with Microsoft’s standard lifecycle policy.

Recommended Action: Users should upgrade to Windows 11 Version 25H2 (the Windows 11 2025 Update) to maintain continuous support and protection, unless there is a specific business or a specific technology reason that the systems are required to stay on 25H2. Please either reach out to us or your IT provider for more information.

Automatic Upgrades: For consumer and unmanaged devices (systems not overseen by a corporate IT department), Microsoft will automatically initiate feature updates to version 25H2. Users will still retain control over when to restart their machines to complete the installation.

Additional Milestones: The same October 13, 2026 deadline marks the end of support for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016, while Windows Server 2022 transitions from mainstream support into extended support.

How to Check Your Windows Version

Before taking action, follow these steps to see which version and edition of Windows your machine is currently running.

1. Hold down the Windows Key and press "R" on your keyboard.

2. Type winver into the box and press Enter.

3. A small window will pop up showing your current Version and Edition.

Questions? Comments? Reach out to us here or give us a call, and we'd be happy to go through it with you.

You can find the original release from Microsoft here:

Windows message center

03/12/2026

Brave is joining the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), The Tor Project and 40+ other organizations in opposing Google's proposed Android developer registry.

Here's why we're taking this stand...

Starting September 2026, Android app devs must register with Google and upload government-issued ID, even if they don't use the Google Play Store.

This decision undermines Android's user-first ecosystem, presents massive privacy risks, and deepens Google’s surveillance economy: https://brave.com/blog/keep-android-open/

Android is an open platform that lets users install apps outside Google Play. For example, they can download Brave via F-Droid to avoid Google's restrictions and tracking. However, by forcing developers to register, Google makes itself the gatekeeper.

Mandatory developer registration is a serious privacy risk. A single corporation would create a database of extensive information on every person who writes Android software. This could cause creators of privacy-preserving apps to leave Android.

Google has a history of proposing mechanisms that expand its control over users and developers. Manifest V2 deprecation, the AMP Project and Privacy Sandbox are just a few recent examples. We opposed each of these proposals and we oppose this developer registry as well.

The open letter we signed asks Google to:

1. Rescind the mandatory registration
2. Engage transparently on security improvements that respect Android's openness
3. Commit to platform neutrality

Privacy should be easy for users and developers alike! https://keepandroidopen.org/open-letter/

03/02/2026

Breach Report: March 2026

February was a tough month for online retailers, with 15 breaches reported that affect Canadians. The following list is all the companies that reported large scale breaches last month:

* Canadian Tire (https://haveibeenpwned.com/Breach/CanadianTire)
* Lovora (https://haveibeenpwned.com/Breach/Lovora)
* Quitbro (https://haveibeenpwned.com/Breach/Quitbro)
* KomicoAI (https://haveibeenpwned.com/Breach/KomikoAI)
* Odido (https://haveibeenpwned.com/Breach/Odido)
* CarGurus (https://haveibeenpwned.com/Breach/CarGurus)
* CarMax (https://haveibeenpwned.com/Breach/CarMax)
* Figure (https://haveibeenpwned.com/Breach/Figure)
* Canada Goose (https://haveibeenpwned.com/Breach/CanadaGoose)
* Toy Battles (https://haveibeenpwned.com/Breach/ToyBattles)
* Substack (https://haveibeenpwned.com/Breach/Substack)
* Betterment (https://haveibeenpwned.com/Breach/Betterment)

If you have an account on any of these websites, please change your password immediatly. Each link has individual recommendations for how to remedy individual breaches. If you have any questions please give us a call or send us a message.

01/27/2026

01/23/2026

If your Notepad, Terminal or Calculator applications just stopped working, please update windows.

The most recent security update to windows, January 17th 2026(KB5077744) broke how windows handles apps that are considered "free" by the Microsoft store, and how Outlook handles emails. This also breaks remote access to many versions of Microsoft Server.

The patch for this is out, but may not automatically apply due to it being considered an "optional" update. Please make sure that you apply this update and the next optional update to correct this issue, and update Office/O365.

If you need help with this or have multiple systems that need updating, please reach out to us at the following numbers:

Tom: 778 220 0647
Nick: 250 706 9676

11/28/2025

Thank you to Lou Bowers Marketing and Standard Office Space for hosting the Shine Online workshop! it was great to hear all your ideas and meet all the wonderful people. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Red Door Doula Services, love & lore, Waves of Energy. Beflow Studio

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11/13/2025

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11/11/2025

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