Computer Q&A 2026 (26COM001)

What’s here

This page will contain a summary of the topics coming up and links to more information covered in the sessions to date. Previous years’ topics are available at the bottom of this page. 

Please email your topics in advance to helensmith.u3anuna@gmail.com.

Classes are cancelled on dates when the Committee of Management meets. These dates for 2026 are (normally the fourth Thursday of the month):

26 February26 March28 May18 June
23 July17 September29 October19 November

Zoom link

The Zoom link to the session is NOT here. Please find this in your emails – then make sure you know how to find it in future. The same link will be used all year. 

Upcoming Topics

See last week’s topics at the bottom of the page – Link to bottom

Topic Requested byExpected date
Zoom session recording for last session (13/08)
Using AI – “Homework” – did you manage to create an image? If you did, were you happy with the results? Could you improve your prompts?13/08/2026
Using AI AI pollution (content degradation) and AI slopChristine13/08/2026
Using AI AI hallucinations in a legal case were a complete fabricationChristine20/08/2026
Internet connection unstable – why and how to fix.Helen13/08/2026
Using AI – How safe is it to use Meta’s open weight AI models?Christine13/08/2026
Using AI Generative AI vs Predictive AI vs Agentic AI13/08/2026
PrivacyK-Mart Anko glassesother opinions on smarglasses also protect yourself, sbs comment including laws, the app for Kmart glassesChristine13/08/2026
Privacy – do data removal services work? AskLeo article13/08/2026
PrivacyAre our cars spying on us?13/08/2026
Privacy/Security – Share a link rather than a document – is using the “cloud” safe? (AskLeo articles)13/08/2026
Security – How long should a password be? AskLeo article13/08/2026
Security – PassCODES, PassKEYS, and Windows HelloYoko27/08/2026
SecurityChanging your Windows PIN27/08/2026
SecurityAI stealing fingerprints
Travel – eSIMS – what they are and how to choose one13/08/2026
Facebook loginChristine30/07/2026
AI is being used more by scammers. People can learn to spot AI faces – but the clues are no longer obvious16/07/2026
Where is stuff stored?21/05/2026
AI – ongoing
– exploring topics – AI images & speed, changing passwords, privacy concerns – AI settings, computer and phone settings
21/05/2026
“Advanced data protection” setting for iCloud 21/05/2026
Using AI to check the validity of a site30/04/2026
Find lost Android phoneYoko21/05/2026
OneDrive – warningsYoko07/05/2026
Passkeys – what they are, how to create one, how to login with a passkey on a different device see AskLeo’s video
Password Managers – Are passwords in password managers stored securely on your devices? TPM (Windows), TEE (Android) secure enclave (Apple). How secure are password managers using cloud storage? Apple Keychain – how Apple passkeys are shared across devices, etc.
Are passkeys deleted when you reset to factory settings?
19/03/2026
Google wants to change my Gmail location to California!
Robots – another fast moving technology – see XPENG IRON vs Tesla Optimus
Download your photos from your iPhone or Android phone (with or without cloud storage)

Topics by week

WeekDateTopics
105/02/2026Security Audit. See slides:
Colour version
Print version
212/02/2026Passkeys – what they are, how to create one, how to login with a passkey on a different device. See AskLeo’s video
319/02/2026Gmail is removing the ability to check email from external accounts
– Microsoft Teams scam email similar to this scam
– Microsoft Windows “zero day” vulnerabilities – “Patch Tuesday
Microsoft Secure Boot certificates to expire in June
Password manager concern
426/02/2026NO CLASS – Committee Meeting
505/03/2026Passkeys – what they are, how to create one, how to login with a passkey on a different device see AskLeo’s video
– Is Google Password Manager safe on an iPhone or a Windows computer?
– https://www.lifewire.com/is-google-password-manager-safe-7557883
Windows Hello – what it is (link to pdf notes) and how to sign in. See https://www.wikihow.com/Set-Up-Windows-Hello-for-Sign-in-Windows – be careful about Step 6 – the option to force Windows Hello sign-in – you may want to discuss the pros and cons first.
612/03/2026 Scams – “spoofed” email address or email “hacked”? 
– Using Apple password manager on a Windows computer and how secure is Apple Password Manager?
Apple Keychain – how Apple passkeys are shared across devices
719/03/2026 Scams – “Tai Chi” scams
What topics to cover in (a) Q&A (b) face-to-face classes – please email suggestions!
Password Managers – Are passwords in password managers stored securely on your devices? TPM (Windows), TEE (Android) secure enclave (Apple). How secure are password managers using cloud storage? Apple Keychain – how Apple passkeys are shared across devices, etc. 
VPNs – what are they useful for? Do they provide any protection against viruses, malware and hacking? Do they slow down the device they are installed on? See VPN colour slides
– How to add Zoom meeting to Outlook calendar 
926/03/2026NO CLASS
1002/04/2026– Anti-virus software – what do you need on … Windows 11? Android? iPhone? – see AV-test.org
– Backing up – photos, emails
Download your photos – colour slides
Download your photos – greyscale handouts
TERM BREAK
1/T223/04/2026– Is Chrome an insecure browser as claimed in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl8amukslUQ?

– Will Microsoft discontinue selling Office as a once-off purchase? 
See https://www.pcworld.com/article/2269136/microsoft-office-2024-release-subscription-one-off-purchase-windows-10-support-price.html
Note: This is not the same as Microsoft discontinuing store-based office apps. Store-based office apps are UPDATED from the Microsoft store (rather than the Microsoft Content Distribution Networks) and this process is being discontinued. See this article for more: https://windowsforum.com/threads/microsoft-discontinues-store-based-office-apps-what-you-need-to-know.374371/

AI – what is a Large Language Model (AKA AI)?
– colour slides
– handouts
2/T230/04/2026– Am I breached? Unexpected logins and 2FA code
– Kaspersky subscription issue (Rob T)
– How to save money on petrol – use apps

– Extra privacy functions on iOS26+
– Call screening
– Message filtering
– iOS 26.5 coming out soon

AI – How do answers differ between AIs?
Prompt “List the most important security settings on iPhone for seniors”
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Claude
Revised prompt on ChatGPT
How to write good AI prompts
3/T207/05/2026– Zoom AI recorded the session and provided a summary including a list of action items
Scams – IDCare on Superannuation scams, BitDefender AI scam detector, Norton AI scam detector
Browser issues – Firefox v150 doesn’t view image galleries correctly, passwords stored in Edge in plain text
AI – ongoing – exploring topics – is Google password manager safe
– How should we deal with the cybersecurity threat posted by Anthropic’s Mythos? Perplexity’s answer
4/T214/05/2026– The Zoom AI summary was useful, so we ran it again this week. See the summary produced.
5/T221/05/2026– Zoom AI recorded the session and provided a summary including a list of action items
– Member Wizard intro
AI – is Apple password manager safe, AI images
VPNs – what are they useful for? Do they provide any protection against viruses, malware and hacking? Do they slow down the device they are installed on? See VPN colour slides
– pop-ups on phone, particularly from games such as Solitaire – BEWARE! Block popups in Safari
– Audio file storage locations
7/T204/06/2026– Zoom session recording for last session (21/5) – see summary
Scams  data breach warnings I received today – not my data?
– Truyu app – credit checks now happening
Emerging Tech in Online Banking Security
Mythos about Mythos (AskLeo), also Mythos preview available in Australia
– How to change your router password – AskLeo version
colour slides for viewing online
print version (2 slides per page)
8/T211/06/2026– Zoom session recording for last session (04/06) – looks like I didn’t record it – sorry!
Scams  PayPal scam
– Google – New privacy settings for Search services – note that Google will save more of your data from searches.
Confusing Gemini email
AI image in our latest newsletter
Cost of generating that image – Stripped to the Bone: What AI Is Really Costing You
1/T316/07/2026– Zoom session recording – see summary
Member Wizard – feedback. Check screen layout on phones
Responsive design – how websites resize the screen to fit. your device
Security – tracking pixels are not a scam but be aware (covert user tracking on health sites)
Windows Update – “Patch Wednesday” has a very large numer of patches
Windows 10 – basic security support is being extended for another year(thanks to AskLeo for the pointer)
3/T330/07/2026– Zoom session recording for last session (16/07) had errors. I have tracked some changes, but not checked the whole document. – I forgot to turn it on this week! Here are my notes
How to turn on track changes in Word – right click in the bottom task bar and tick “track changes”
AusAlert – did you get the alarm? Where to give feedback
Where to find what Android version you have
Using AI – “Homework” – did you manage to create an image? If you did, were you happy with the results? Could you improve your prompts? Alfred and Herman have submitted versions.
Credit reporting – Tryu app now offers blocking changes to credit reports. Also can tell you the actual passwords in a data breach! Credit reports are available every three months for free – see notes.
Facebook login
4/T306/08/2026– Zoom session for 30/7 is missing – I forgot to turn it on!
– YouTube issues – Using YouTube free
– Replacing an iPhone battery – how to prepare, do you need id
Using AI – “Homework” – Alfred improved his image. We did a group AI image with several iterations to improve it.
Identifying AI – AskLeo used Claude to write an email – would you pick it as AI? An interesting comment on “The uncanny valley”. We discussed the email and asked ChatGPT if it was AI generated then got it to create an Australian version which was much better.
Security – Credential stuffing – what it is and how to protect. yourself, what to do after a data breach, credit rating agencies
5/T313/08/2026– Zoom session recording for last session (06/08)
Using AI – AI pollution (content degradation) and AI slop
Using AI – Generative AI vs Predictive AI vs Agentic AI
Internet connection unstable – why and how to fix.

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Previous years