AVG (AU/NZ) Provides Top Five Tips for Staying Safe Online While Shopping for Bargains 

MELBOURNE, 29 November 2011 — With Christmas just around the corner, more and more Australians are turning to online shopping to pick up bargains. 

Before shoppers kick off the holiday season, AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd reminds them to be smart and stay safe online so they can continue to enjoy their Internet experiences and great bargains. 

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG (AU/NZ), said: “The fastest and easiest way to score a great deal may be online – but shopping on your computer, tablet or smartphone also creates opportunities for cybercriminals to attack. 

“Online holiday shopping is a prime time for hackers to re-route funds, steal personal information, and trick consumers into online scams. Before shoppers kick off the holiday season, we want to remind consumers to be smart and stay safe, and ensure their computers and mobile devices are properly protected with anti-virus software.” 

While navigating the hundreds of websites to find the best deals for Christmas and then the New Year sales, AVG (AU/NZ) offers these five tips to protect against malware attacks and identity theft this holiday season: 

1. Be a Scrooge to Public Wi-Fi: Anyone can download software that steals your information from public networks. Online gift shoppers should wait until they’re home or on a secure network and avoid public Wi-Fi networks when sharing financial or sensitive data. 

2. Naughty or Nice? Check the URL Twice: Mobile devices come with super small screens that don’t show the full web address. Hackers may add to the end of URL addresses which will lead shoppers to corrupt sites. Consumers should check before they click. Whether on a computer or mobile phone, it’s important to make sure the URL begins with “https” before credit card information is entered. The “https” confirms the site is secure. 

3. Unbelievable Deals: Beware of online ads promising free products or extremely large discounts. Consumers should download free link scanning software, which prevents online users from going to sites designed to steal financial and other personal information, before starting their holiday shopping. 

4. Keep Kids Savvy: Most parents know they’re not the only ones on the family computer – kids are online too, surfing stores’ websites to create their holiday wish list. A recent study conducted on behalf of AVG found that the online activity of most 10-13 year old kids mirrors their parents’, long before they’re ready to handle the dangers. Free online safety tips about smart online use and safeguarding the family computer are available from AVG (AU/NZ) and Australian government sites such as Stay Smart Online. 

5. ‘Tis the Season for Pickpockets: When shoppers venture out to the mall, they should keep the data on their mobile phones out of harm’s way. Security software exists for both computers and mobile phones that can help protect consumers from viruses, phishing scams and identity theft. Even pickpockets can be thwarted as owners can now remotely wipe personal data from any lost or stolen device. 

“As you Ho, Ho, Ho through the peace and quiet of your online Christmas shopping, please be careful that the bargain you’ve just found doesn’t come with any unwanted extras. Think before you click,” McKinnon said. 

For the series of informative security tips, how-to’s and fact sheets see:

www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see: www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz 

Keep in touch with AVG (AU/NZ)

• For breaking news, follow AVG (AU/NZ) on Twitter at twitter.com/avgaunz
• Join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/avgaunz
• For security trends, analysis, follow the AVG (AU/NZ) blog at resources.avg.com.au

Sydney, Australia – 29 November 2011 – Brother International Australia introduces a range of trendy and aesthetically designed Multi-Function Centres® to its already impressive line up. A leader in home and business IT peripherals, Brother focuses on a ‘Customer-First’ approach by maximising the user experience through its intuitive print, scan, fax and copy functions.

The new line, consisting of seven variants, allows greater paper & environmental savings with automatic double-sided (duplex) printing, wireless connectivity and also the convenience of connecting, printing and sharing information on popular internet and social networking sites via Web Connect, Brother’s Cloud Printing function.

“Brother strives to not only make home and office printing proficient, but also cost effective,” said Ms Kelly Wilson, Brand and Marketing Manager, Brother International Australia. “The new Brother A4 Inkjet series are ideally designed for any home, small / home or company office. With the innovative Web Connect Cloud Printing function introduced in selected models of this series, Brother is constantly improving and introducing new technology into our products to enable consumers to experience convenience and efficiency anywhere.”

Save time, clutter and money.
To promote printing without the clutter of wires, all models in this new series are wireless capable, sharing the MFC with multiple users in the home or office. With the double-sided (duplex) printing functionality, up to 50 percent saving on paper costs are achievable and the efficient Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) allows multiple pages to be scanned, copied and faxed. In addition, a ‘fast mode’ printing speed of up to 35ppm (pages per minute) in black and 27ppm in colour will also save valuable time.

Photo and Disc Printing made easy.
Photos can now be printed directly from a Pictbridge^-enabled camera, media cards or USB devices with the Direct Photo Print^ function and with the new CD, DVD and Blu-ray disc label printing feature, users can also create labels quickly to organise their disc collections; or print direct onto suitable discs.

Connect to the cloud or mobile devices.
Introduced for the first time in selected models of this series, the new “Web Connect” function enables users to connect to various online storage services like Picasa and Flickr for direct printing via the MFC. Users can also scan and share photos or documents directly on Facebook, Dropbox and Evernote. 

In addition, users will also be able to print documents or photos with a mobile device via the Brother iPrint&Scan application. This innovative application offers the convenience of connecting wirelessly to the MFC and prints or shares images without using a computer.

The new series has the option of using standard-yield or high-yield cartridges to reduce printing costs, meeting different consumer printing needs. High-yield ink cartridges can deliver up to 600 pages of black and 600 pages of colour prints. 

Boasting added stylish accents, Brother has incorporated attractive motifs on its flagship DCP-J925DW and MFC-J825DW models for those who want a splash of style in their home or office. With its intuitive interface, users will also have easy access to many functions via the wide colour LCD touchscreen^ of up to 3.3”.

The entire range consists of the DCP-J525W, DCP-J725DW, DCP-J925DW, MFC-J430W, MFC-J432W, MFC-J625DW and MFC-J825DW and are available now from authorised Brother retailers and distributors nationally.

Supporting consumables

Pricing, availability, warranty and support
Product Series: Brother A4 Colour (mini11) Inkjet Series.
Product features and RRP:

* A4 Plain paper in fast mode
** Approximate page yield is declared in accordance with ISO/ICE 24711
^ Available on selected models only

Warranty: All of the above products are covered by Brother 12 month return to base warranty.
Website: www.brother.com.au
Where to buy: Products featured are available from authorised Brother retailers and distributors nationally.
Availability: In-store now.

About Brother International (Aust) Pty Ltd
With over 100 years in operation, Brother International is a leading global manufacturer of laser printers, label printers, Multi-Function Centres®, fax machines, P-touch electronic labellers, typewriters and sewing machines. A specialist in its product lines, Brother combines customer satisfaction and comprehensive measures for environmental conservation, to manufacture innovative, reliable and practical products to enhance the consumer’s lifestyle.
Brother Australia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brother Industries, which was founded in 1908 in Japan. Brother Australia was established in 1977, with a head office located in Sydney and State offices located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

About Brother Earth
Brother Earth is Brother’s commitment to play a part in building a society with better sustainable development. By clicking on the Brother Earth site you can determine how funds are allocated and play a part in contributing to a variety of global environmental protection activities.
Give your click at http://www.brotherearth.com.

Vincent D’Onofrio, star of TV’s Law & Order: Criminal Intent, ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE Ethan Hawke, star of the blockbuster TRAINING DAY and ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE Seymour Cassel star in STATEN ISLAND gripping mob drama about the harsh reality of life in the shadow of Manhattan, and is available on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital February 15.

Parmie Tarzo (Vincent D’Onofrio) is a local mob boss and pictures himself crushing the competition. Sully (Ethan Hawke) is a septic tank cleaner and will go to any lengths to provide his unborn son with a brighter future. Jasper (Seymore Cassel) is a humble deli man and has one prime quality in the eyes of the mobsters who force him to work for them: he’s a deaf-mute. All three men live on Staten Island, but when their lives and dreams intersect, no good can come of it.

Exclusive to the Blu-ray release of STATEN ISLAND, BROOKLYN RULES is featured as a bonus movie with an amazing all-star cast including Alec Baldwin, Scott Cann, Mena Suvari and Freddie Prinze Jr.

Don’t lose your head – or your phone – this festive season 

Sydney, 29 November 2011 – The results of a five-city survey revealing unusual items left behind in taxis serve as a timely reminder to take care of your precious possessions as festive season celebrations get underway. 

Acronis, a leading provider of disaster recovery and data protection solutions, interviewed taxi companies and drivers in Sydney, Melbourne, London, Paris and Amsterdam to find out the weirdest items that had been left in their cabs. 

Alongside some extraordinary items, people also regularly leave items from the illegal to the mundane, including condoms, drugs, sex toys, coats and umbrellas. 

The most common item left in Sydney and Melbourne cabs was mobile phones. Other items typically left behind included cameras, wallets, glasses and keys. Despite their larger size, mobile devices such as laptop and tablet computers such as iPads are increasingly left in taxis by forgetful owners in a hurry. 

Top 5 strangest items: Sydney  

1. Bedhead and bedfoot
2. Wheelchair
3. False teeth
4. Hearing aid
5. Walking stick

Top 5 strangest items: Melbourne  

1. Whip
2. Orthodontic plate
3. One shoe
4. Underwear
5. False teeth

Top 5 strangest items: London  

1. Dead stuffed monkey
2. Drunken man’s sleeping wife
3. Gallon of diesel
4. Policeman’s helmet
5. Bag of cement

Top 5 strangest items: Amsterdam  

1. €4000 in notes
2. Black karate belt
3. Cocaine
4. Pram
5. Bin bag of rubbish

Top 5 strangest items: Paris  

1. Snake
2. A woman who got in the taxi with clothes on and left without them
3. Pressure cooker    
4. Walkie talkie
5. Women’s lingerie

“While the most bizarre items might raise a giggle, some of the most commonly forgotten items – including mobile phones and cameras – raise serious issues for their owners, especially if the information and images on them haven’t been backed up,” Karl Sice, General Manager – Pacific, at Acronis, said.  

“It’s frightening that items left behind included legal paperwork, briefcases, USB drives, laptops and smart phones. Losing your umbrella is nothing compared to losing the photos and information on your mobile devices, or falling victim to ID theft. 

“Your bank will replace your credit card if you lose your wallet and a spare key will get you inside the house, but there is no way to replace data and photos that have not been backed up. 

“The best way to ensure your business and personal information won’t be lost forever is to regularly back them up to external drives or to the cloud. That way, even if you can’t recover your device, you can still recover the information that was on it. 

“Take care this party season to ensure you and your precious possessions stay safe,” Sice said.

Team Rainbow faces a new and very real threat called the “True Patriots,” a highly-trained, well-organized group of militias. The True Patriots are capitalizing on the growing sense of frustration and anger in a modern day America that they feel is irrevocably corrupted by greedy politicians and corporate special interests. Lead by a calculating figurehead named Tredway, this grassroots, homespun, terrorist organization will stop at nothing to overthrow the government and financial institutions to reclaim their country. Capturing the reality of modern-day terrorism, players will take on the role of a new Team Rainbow member as they face critical scenarios that will require them to make tough ethical decisions in order to stop this new breed of terrorists.

Developed by Ubisoft Montreal with the support of Ubisoft Toronto and Red Storm, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6 Patriots not only revolves around a dynamic single-player storyline but also introduce a huge variety of new innovative co-op and multi-player experiences.

TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW 6 PATRIOTS KEY FEATURES INCLUDE:

• UNPRECEDENTED NARRATIVE – Patriots’ storyline explores an ultra-realistic what-if scenario inspired by real events and characters. The game will allow players to experience events from multiple perspectives creating an unprecedented level of immersion.

• A NEW THREAT FOR A NEW TEAM – Terrorism has evolved and Team Rainbow must face an organized militia of home-grown insurgents. As the leader of a new squad, players will wrestle with difficult ethical decisions and determine if the doing-whatever-it-takes mentality is needed to stop the enemy.

• ENHANCED SQUAD MANAGEMENT – At the press of one button, the Rainbow squad will perform the most efficient and deadly tactic given the context of the situation. When extreme measures are required, or when players call for it, you can take full control of your squad to plan the perfect assault.

• EVOLVED COMBAT – The game’s combat techniques have been pushed to the next level with cover and weapon systems redesigned to accommodate every combat situation. New Rappel and Breach mechanics are now enriched with multiple new techniques including Wall & Ceiling Breach, Fast Rope Rappel, inverted ‘Aussie Style Rappel’, Infiltrate & Subdue, just to name a few.

• INTENSE MULTIPLAYER EXPERIENCE – Players will be rewarded for working as a team and mastering the game’s new features that enhance communication and tactical execution between teammates. Once such feature found in the pre-game online lobby is the Sandtable, a holographic display that helps acquaint players with the level maps before they jump into the action. This will help players strategically coordinate attacks and add a new dimension to squad tactics.

• SURPRISE AND OVERPOWER ENEMIES – Utilize the game’s new Scan mode to strategically breach and infiltrate areas. This new tool will provide a thermal read on the situation, allowing you to determine the squad’s best course to overwhelm and defeat enemies.

For more information about Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6 Patriots, please visit www.rainbow6.com and “like” the game on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Rainbow6

SYDNEY, 29 November 2011: Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its veteran Frogger character, through the release of all-new titles for Nintendo 3DS and the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch systems.

Frogger 3D will be available this week for Nintendo 3DS, and expands the original 1981 arcade game’s basis of steering the amphibian hero past road and river-based areas to the safety of his lily pad. The new game boasts all-new graphics, novel level design, and new friends to help guide Frogger to safety with six new worlds to explore spanning 60 uniquely challenging stages. In Frogger 3D, Frogger ventures from the streets and sidewalks of his hometown to new and exotic locations including New York, the Far East, and even other dimensions.

The game’s single-player option charges players with dashing, jumping and ducking past life-threatening hazards. By teaming up with some of Frogger’s friends, players can also destroy obstacles, absorb damage or illuminate dark spaces as they progress through the game. Players can also show off their skills within the game’s ‘Forever’ mode Street Pass battles where the aim is to avoid becoming road-kill, while a competitive slant is added within four-player matches.

The landmark anniversary will also be marked with the release of Frogger Free, a new rendition of the classic series which captures the gameplay of the arcade original, while combining the fun of iOS devices with Facebook connectivity.

Frogger Free boasts three new game modes including ‘Turbo’, ‘NightTime’ and ‘Inferno’, wherein users are reintroduced to the cars, logs, turtles, alligators that established the original Frogger coin-op as such a classic. Players can participate in classic arcade-style gameplay with multiple control options including swipe, touch and tilt, and collect up to 10 achievements to become the ultimate Frogger player. With both new and classic graphic options, Frogger fans can also connect with fans through Facebook Connect, competing via local and global leaderboards.

“The Frogger series is arguably one of the most true classics, and it is only right we honour it with new titles for two exciting new formats,” commented Martin Schneider, General Manager for Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH. “The new games celebrate the original game while updating its core elements with exciting new additions, showing that there is plenty of mileage in the old frog yet.”

– The Ultimate Clash of NARUTO Generations Coming 29thMarch 2012 for PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360® –

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – 29 November 2011 – Leading video game publisher NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S. today announcedthat the next installment in the unstoppable NARUTO video game series, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations, will launch for PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360® across Australia & New Zealand on March 29th, 2012.

Developed by CyberConnect2, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations is the latest title in the smash hit NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm series of games. The title will power the series into the future by revolutionizing online play and ramping up the number of playable and support characters way beyond any NARUTO game before it. Players will compete in a huge variety of online battle modes with all their favourite NARUTO characters including Raikage and Sasuke Uchiha (Susano’o). NARUTO fans have been waiting to see more of Zabuza and Haku since the launch of the original Manga, and now they will have their chance with these and many more new ninjas appearing in the game!

In a new first for the NARUTO Storm series, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations will feature an innovative system that integrates real-world collectible cards with the in-game universe. Coming soon to Europe, the next generation of NARUTO collector cards will each carry a code allowing players to unlock corresponding artwork for their in-game profile and engage in a special mini-battle to unlock a bonus skill and gain an advantage in the main fight.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations standard and collector editions will be available on 29th March 2012 across Australia & New Zealand. The content of the exclusive collector edition will be revealed shortly.

The Brit’s beautiful bottom pips big sister Kate to the post in overall search rankings

Sydney, Australia, November 28, 2011 – Yahoo!7 today released its annual search trend data for 2011 revealing some of the curious search habits of Australians.

Highlights:

• Queensland weather events knocked the annual performer, The Australian Open, off its top trending porch in January
• State lines are drawn when footy season starts with southern states searching all things AFL, those in NSW and QLD searching all things NRL
• Pippa Middleton trended higher than both Kate Middleton and the Royal Wedding in April. Pippa was so popular in 2011 that she also ranked as the highest search term in the consecutive month of June
• Planking spiked in May during the height of the Internet phenomenon
• Kim Duthie (a.k.a ‘The St Kilda Schoolgirl’) related queries spiked in June, most looking for photos of her
• Search interest in Amy Winehouse remained high weeks after her death

Year in Review – Most Popular Searches of 2011:

1. Queensland Disasters

• 2011 was kicked off with the floods that devastated Brisbane and much of Queensland, only to be followed by Cyclone Yasi striking the north of the beleaguered state.

1. The Royal Wedding

• The wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William was of heavy interest, but both the couple and the event were outshone by Kate’s sister, Pippa Middleton, who showed herself to be of rather more interest to the viewing public.

1. Christchurch Earthquakes

• Continuing the natural disasters of 2011, our neighbour New Zealand suffered horrendous damage to the city of Christchurch, a city already weakened by a quake late in the previous year, and in total 181 people lost their lives.

1. Scarlett Johansson

• Always a popular search, Scarlett Johansson bursts into the top searches this year with her divorce from actor Ryan Reynolds and cements her position with the hacking scandal that saw leaked nude photos of the actor hit the internet.

1. Japanese Tsunami

• Australia was horrified when in March, Japan was struck first by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, its worst in recorded history, and shortly thereafter a powerfully destructive tsunami. The aftermath saw millions without water and electricity and worse still damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which remains a concern to this very day.

1. Christina Hendricks

• This full figured star of Mad Men was nominated for an Emmy in 2011, and while she did not win the award her famous curves and blazing red hair continues to prove extremely popular with both men and women.

1. Football

• Loyalties were declared in 2011 with the codes of football popular along state lines; in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia we saw the AFL solidly trending, whilst the north saw the NRL the favourite in New South Wales and Queensland. Overall, of course, the Rugby World Cup was trending nationwide as we followed the Wallabies in their quest for Cup glory.

1. Amy Winehouse

• The saga of this British singer-songwriter came to a tragic end in 2011 when, barely more than a month after being booed off stage during her European tour for being too inebriated to perform, she passed away from alcohol poisoning.

1. Planking

• One of the odder internet fads to arise – and ultimately fall – in 2011 was the craze known as ‘Planking’. An activity that amounted to little more than lying across objects or structures and then having a photo taken, it swept across the world to condemnation from some parents and school groups, a concern that was only heightened following the reported death of a Queensland man who was alleged to be planking at the time. Spin offs have arisen, with increasingly ludicrous names such as ‘teapotting’, ‘owling’ and ‘Batmanning’, but none have managed to capture interest as planking did at its height.

1. London Riots

• An event that seemed to explode across the United Kingdom, what began as a peaceful protest in response to a fatal shooting soon devolved into violence, rioting and looting that appeared to be motivated by restlessness and greed than out of protest. Whilst the event seems to have passed into memory, whether there are any long term repercussions for the United Kingdom and London in particular remains to be seen.

Monthly Trends for 2011:

January
The terrible tragedies in Queensland dominated search in the first month of the year with people seeking news and updates on the floods and Cyclone Yasi. These natural disasters knocked The Australian Open from its usual top spot on the search rankings.

February
Whilst Cyclone Yasi continued to be the most searched topic in February, attention quickly turned to the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that ravaged the New Zealand city of Christchurch and surrounds.

March
Keeping with the theme of natural disasters that seemed to occupy the first quarter of 2011, the Japanese earthquake and resulting tsunami quickly escalated to the most searched about term in March, surpassing Charlie Sheen.

April
While the Royal Wedding and Kate Middleton chalked up significant search traffic in April, it was Pippa Middleton who stole the limelight as the most searched about topic of the month.

May
Pippa Middleton continued to dominate search in May following the Royal Wedding with people searching all manner of things about her, including her dress, her relationship status and pictures of her. Second only to Pippa was the Internet craze of Planking which skyrocketed to second place in May’s search rankings, accompanied by a buzz of social media chatter and related mainstream news reports.

June
This month saw Kim Duthie (a.k.a ‘The St Kilda Schoolgirl’) steal first place in the search race as the controversy around her allegations against AFL players manager Ricky Nixon came to a fiery crescendo.

July
Australians got clucky in July 2011 with the arrival of Miranda Kerr’s new baby. The Australian born model was the most searched about topic of the month followed closely by the always popular Tour de France event.

August
Our attention turned to the United Kingdom this month as we mourned the passing of troubled songstress Amy Winehouse, her death being the most searched topic of August. The London riots also drew significant search traffic making it the second most searched about topic of the month.

September
Aussies returned home and to their first love of sport in September with the Rugby World Cup taking line honours as the most searched about topic. The US Open placed a respectable second in the search rankings.

October
The race that stops the nation in November topped search results in the month of October with Aussies searching for information on the field, jockeys, trainers, tips and odds. The release of the iPhone 4S rated second in search results for the month.

November
The break-up of Kim Kardashian’s marriage with Kris Humphries ensured that the celebrity famous for being famous took out the search top spot in November. Coincidentally, her no-show at the Emirates Stakes Day and quick exit from the country ranked higher than only one other topic of the month – the Melbourne Cup itself.

MONDAY 28th NOV: To mark this week’s release of F1 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS Codemasters has today revealed the new gameplay trailer for the handheld version of its award winning FORMULA ONE™ franchise. Released today, the 3DS version heralds the first time that gamers can experience a FORMULA ONE game in full 3D.

Whether players are looking for a quick FORMULA ONE fix or want to build their own career from rookie to FIA FORMULA ONE DRIVERS’ WORLD CHAMPION, F1 2011 for Nintendo 3DS immerses players in the world’s fastest sport like never before. Developed by Sumo Digital, under Codemasters’ exclusive worldwide agreement with Formula One World Championship Limited, F1 2011 features all the official teams, drivers and circuits from the thrilling 2011 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™.

Gamers can compete for motorsport’s ultimate prize across a full season, enter an individual GRAND PRIX™, jump into Time Trial mode or take on the new Challenge mode which is perfect for portable racing.

Players can also compete on the go across a range of multiplayer modes. Up to four-players can race in a GRAND PRIX or go head-to-head in Time Trials while you can also team up with a friend in the co-operative career mode. The race experience can be tailored across solo and multiplayer modes by adjusting race distance, tuning the car, choosing from a range of driving aids and selecting tyre, fuel and weather options.

F1 2011 will be available this Thursday, the 1st of December on Nintendo 3DS. F1 2011 is also available now for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PlayStation®3 (PS3TM) computer entertainment system and PC Games for Windows®. F1 2011 will also be a launch title on the forthcoming PlayStation® Vita. To get all the news on F1 2011 head over to www.facebook.com/formula1game or follow the game on twitter at www.twitter.com/formula1game.