{"id":16475,"date":"2026-06-21T11:03:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T01:03:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/?p=16475"},"modified":"2026-06-23T11:14:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T01:14:14","slug":"online-safety-security-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/online-safety-security-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Online Safety &#038; Security Tips Australia | MATE"},"content":{"rendered":"<em>Scams are getting harder to spot. Data breaches are more common. And most of us are managing more online accounts than ever before. Here&#8217;s a practical guide to staying safer online in 2026 \u2014 for every member of your household.<\/em>\n<h2>TL;DR \u2014 Quick Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>A passphrase (four random words strung together) is easier to remember and harder to crack than a complex short password.<\/li>\n<li>Use a different password for every account \u2014 a password manager makes this practical, not painful.<\/li>\n<li>Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) on every account that offers it, especially email and banking.<\/li>\n<li>Scammers now use AI to make phishing emails and calls sound convincingly real \u2014 slow down before you click or respond.<\/li>\n<li>Public Wi-Fi is unsafe for anything sensitive \u2014 use mobile data or a VPN instead.<\/li>\n<li>Keep devices and apps updated \u2014 most successful hacks exploit software that hasn&#8217;t been patched.<\/li>\n<li>If you&#8217;re targeted by a scam, report it to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scamwatch.gov.au\/report-a-scam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Scamwatch<\/a>\u00a0and your bank immediately.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Why Online Safety Matters More Now Than It Did Five Years Ago<\/h2>\n<p>The average Australian household manages somewhere between 50 and 100 online accounts \u2014 streaming services, banking, government portals, shopping sites, email. Each one is a potential entry point.<\/p>\n<p>Scammers have also gotten significantly more sophisticated. AI-generated voice calls can now convincingly impersonate your bank. Phishing emails are grammatically correct and visually indistinguishable from the real thing. Fake parcel delivery texts arrive moments after you&#8217;ve actually ordered something online.<\/p>\n<p>The good news: the fundamentals of staying safe haven&#8217;t changed. Strong passwords, MFA, software updates, and a healthy dose of scepticism will protect you from the vast majority of threats. The rest of this guide walks through each of them practically.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Use a Passphrase Instead of a Password<\/h2>\n<p>The standard advice \u2014 use a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols \u2014 produces passwords that are hard for humans to remember and often not as secure as they look. A short complex password like\u00a0<strong>T!g3r$<\/strong>\u00a0is much easier for a computer to crack than a long passphrase like\u00a0<strong>purple-kettle-rain-seventeen.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Australian Cyber Security Centre recommends passphrases: four or more random words strung together. They&#8217;re long enough to be genuinely difficult to brute-force, and easy enough to actually remember.<\/p>\n<p>A few rules regardless of which approach you use:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Never use the same password across multiple accounts.<\/li>\n<li>Never base passwords on personal details \u2014 birthdays, pet names, street addresses.<\/li>\n<li>Never share a password with anyone, including people claiming to be from tech support or your ISP.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>2. Use a Password Manager<\/h2>\n<p>If &#8220;use a different password for every account&#8221; sounds impossible to maintain, a password manager is the answer. It&#8217;s software that generates and stores strong, unique passwords for every site you use \u2014 and auto-fills them when you log in.<\/p>\n<p>You only need to remember one master password to unlock the manager itself. Everything else is handled for you.<\/p>\n<p>Well-regarded options include Bitwarden (free), 1Password, and the built-in password managers in Apple devices and Google Chrome. Any of these is dramatically safer than reusing passwords or keeping them in a notes app.<\/p>\n<p>One important rule: make your master password \u2014 the one that unlocks the manager \u2014 genuinely strong. A long passphrase works well here.<\/p>\n<h2>3. Turn On Multi-Factor Authentication<\/h2>\n<p>Multi-factor authentication (MFA) \u2014 sometimes called two-factor authentication or 2FA \u2014 adds a second check after your password. Typically it&#8217;s a code sent to your phone, or generated by an authenticator app.<\/p>\n<p>Even if someone gets hold of your password, they can&#8217;t get into your account without also having your phone. That alone stops the vast majority of account takeover attempts.<\/p>\n<p>Turn it on for, at minimum:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Email accounts (your email is the master key \u2014 reset links for everything else go there)<\/li>\n<li>Online banking and financial services<\/li>\n<li>myGov and government portals<\/li>\n<li>Social media accounts<\/li>\n<li>Your password manager<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Authenticator apps (like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator) are more secure than SMS codes, because SIM-swapping attacks can intercept texts. But SMS MFA is still far better than no MFA at all.<\/p>\n<h2>4. Spot Scams Before They Get You<\/h2>\n<p>Scams cost Australians over $2.7 billion in 2023, and the numbers have only grown since. The most common types targeting Australians right now:<\/p>\n<h3>Phishing emails and texts<\/h3>\n<p>A message that appears to be from your bank, Australia Post, myGov, or the ATO \u2014 asking you to click a link and verify your details. The link goes to a fake site that looks identical to the real one. Red flags: urgency (&#8220;your account will be suspended&#8221;), unexpected requests, links that don&#8217;t quite match the real domain.<\/p>\n<h3>Phone and voice scams<\/h3>\n<p>Callers claiming to be from the NBN, your internet provider, the ATO, or the police. Some now use AI-generated voices. If you&#8217;re not expecting the call, hang up and call the organisation back on a number from their official website \u2014 not the number the caller gives you.<\/p>\n<h3>Investment scams<\/h3>\n<p>Offers of high-return investments, crypto opportunities, or managed funds \u2014 often initiated through social media ads or unsolicited contact. If the return sounds too good to be true, it is. Check any investment platform at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/moneysmart.gov.au\/check-and-report-scams\/check-if-a-financial-firm-is-licensed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ASIC&#8217;s MoneySmart<\/a>\u00a0before engaging.<\/p>\n<h3>Romance scams<\/h3>\n<p>Fake profiles on dating sites or social media that build trust over weeks or months before eventually asking for money \u2014 typically framed as an emergency, medical expense, or investment opportunity.<\/p>\n<h3>What to do if something feels off<\/h3>\n<p>Don&#8217;t click, don&#8217;t call back on a number they gave you, and don&#8217;t transfer any money. Contact the organisation directly using contact details from their official website. Report scams to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scamwatch.gov.au\/report-a-scam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Scamwatch<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 it helps warn other Australians.<\/p>\n<h2>5. Keep Your Software Updated<\/h2>\n<p>This one gets skipped constantly and it&#8217;s responsible for a huge proportion of successful attacks. Software updates \u2014 for your operating system, browser, apps, and router firmware \u2014 almost always include security patches fixing known vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n<p>When you delay an update, you&#8217;re knowingly leaving a door open that the developer has already built a lock for.<\/p>\n<p>Turn on automatic updates where you can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>iPhone\/iPad:<\/strong>\u00a0Settings \u2192 General \u2192 Software Update \u2192 Automatic Updates<\/li>\n<li><strong>Android:<\/strong>\u00a0Settings \u2192 Software Update \u2192 Auto Download and Install<\/li>\n<li><strong>Windows:<\/strong>\u00a0Settings \u2192 Windows Update \u2192 Advanced Options \u2192 Automatic<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mac:<\/strong>\u00a0System Settings \u2192 General \u2192 Software Update \u2192 Automatic Updates<\/li>\n<li><strong>Router:<\/strong>\u00a0Check your router&#8217;s admin panel \u2014 many now update automatically, but it&#8217;s worth confirming.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>6. Be Careful on Public Wi-Fi<\/h2>\n<p>Public Wi-Fi \u2014 in cafes, airports, hotels, shopping centres \u2014 is generally unsecured. Anyone on the same network can potentially intercept unencrypted data. That&#8217;s low risk for casual browsing, but high risk for online banking, logging into accounts, or entering payment details.<\/p>\n<p>Two safer options:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Use your mobile data instead.<\/strong>\u00a0Your phone&#8217;s 4G or 5G connection is encrypted by default.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use a VPN.<\/strong>\u00a0A virtual private network encrypts your internet traffic before it leaves your device, making it unreadable to anyone on the same network. Reputable paid VPNs include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Mullvad. Free VPNs vary significantly in quality and trustworthiness \u2014 check reviews carefully.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>7. Install Security Software and Keep It Updated<\/h2>\n<p>A good security suite protects against malware, ransomware, and phishing sites \u2014 catching threats your own judgement might miss. Windows 11 includes Microsoft Defender built in, which is genuinely solid for most users. macOS has built-in protections too, though supplementing with a third-party tool adds an extra layer.<\/p>\n<p>On mobile, stick to downloading apps from the official App Store or Google Play. Sideloaded apps from unknown sources are a significant malware risk.<\/p>\n<h2>8. Lock Down Your Social Media Privacy Settings<\/h2>\n<p>Default privacy settings on most platforms are permissive \u2014 often more public than you&#8217;d want. Take 20 minutes to review what&#8217;s visible to strangers on each platform you use.<\/p>\n<p>Key things to check:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Who can see your posts (friends vs. public)<\/li>\n<li>Whether your profile photo, location, workplace, or phone number are publicly visible<\/li>\n<li>Which third-party apps have access to your account \u2014 revoke any you don&#8217;t recognise or no longer use<\/li>\n<li>Whether location tagging is enabled on photos<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Oversharing on social media also makes you an easier target for social engineering \u2014 scammers use publicly available personal details to make their approaches more convincing.<\/p>\n<h2>9. Secure Your Home Network<\/h2>\n<p>Your home Wi-Fi router is the gateway for every connected device in the house \u2014 phones, laptops, smart TVs, security cameras. A poorly secured router is an open door.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Change the default admin password.<\/strong>\u00a0Every router ships with a default login (usually something like admin\/admin). Change it immediately.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use WPA3 or WPA2 encryption.<\/strong>\u00a0Check your router&#8217;s wireless settings \u2014 WEP is outdated and insecure.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Set a strong Wi-Fi password.<\/strong>\u00a0Don&#8217;t use your address or phone number.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Create a guest network for visitors.<\/strong>\u00a0Keeps their devices separate from yours.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Update your router firmware.<\/strong>\u00a0Many routers have an auto-update option in the admin panel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>10. Know What to Do If Something Goes Wrong<\/h2>\n<p>Even with good habits, things can go wrong. Here&#8217;s what to do:<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you&#8217;ve been scammed:<\/strong>\u00a0Contact your bank immediately \u2014 they may be able to reverse a transfer. Report to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scamwatch.gov.au\/report-a-scam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Scamwatch<\/a>\u00a0and, if your identity details were involved, to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.idcare.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IDCARE<\/a>\u00a0(Australia&#8217;s national identity support service).<\/p>\n<p><strong>If an account is compromised:<\/strong>\u00a0Change the password immediately, revoke any active sessions, check for email forwarding rules that might have been set up by an attacker, and enable MFA if it wasn&#8217;t already on.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If your device is infected with malware:<\/strong>\u00a0Disconnect from the internet, run a full security scan, and if you can&#8217;t resolve it, contact a reputable local IT support service. Don&#8217;t enter any passwords or payment details until it&#8217;s clean.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you&#8217;ve received a suspicious message pretending to be from MATE:<\/strong>\u00a0Don&#8217;t click anything. Forward it to us at\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:support@letsbemates.com.au\">support@letsbemates.com.au<\/a>\u00a0and we&#8217;ll confirm whether it&#8217;s genuine.<\/p>\n<h2>Free Resources Worth Bookmarking<\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #00b26b;\">\n<th style=\"color: #ffffff; padding: 12px 16px; text-align: left;\">Resource<\/th>\n<th style=\"color: #ffffff; padding: 12px 16px; text-align: left;\">What it&#8217;s for<\/th>\n<th style=\"color: #ffffff; padding: 12px 16px; text-align: left;\">Link<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5;\">Scamwatch<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5;\">Report scams and check current scam alerts<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scamwatch.gov.au\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scamwatch.gov.au<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5;\">Australian Cyber Security Centre<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5;\">Practical guides for individuals and families<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cyber.gov.au\/protect-yourself\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cyber.gov.au\/protect-yourself<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5;\">IDCARE<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5;\">Free support if your identity has been compromised<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.idcare.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">idcare.org<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5;\">Have I Been Pwned<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5;\">Check if your email has appeared in a data breach<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/haveibeenpwned.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">haveibeenpwned.com<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px 16px;\">eSafety Commissioner<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px 16px;\">Report online abuse, cyberbullying, or harmful content<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px 16px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esafety.gov.au\/report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">esafety.gov.au\/report<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>One more thing &#8211; a reliable connection matters<\/h2>\n<p>Security software, updates, and MFA codes all depend on a connection that actually works. If your home internet is unreliable, important updates get skipped and security software falls behind.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/nbn\/\">MATE&#8217;s NBN plans<\/a>\u00a0come with unlimited data, no lock-in contracts, and Australian-based support \u2014 so if something goes wrong, you&#8217;re talking to someone local. And for mobile,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mobile\/\">MATE&#8217;s mobile plans<\/a>\u00a0use the Telstra Wholesale Mobile Network, covering more than 98.8% of the Australian population.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div style=\"position: fixed; bottom: 10px; right: 20px; z-index: 2147483647;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div style=\"position: fixed; bottom: 10px; right: 20px; z-index: 2147483647;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div style=\"position: fixed; bottom: 10px; right: 20px; z-index: 2147483647;\" data-testid=\"notifications-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- Visible FAQ Section --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-center text-purple mb-4\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"accordion-list\">\n<div class=\"accordion active\">\n<h3 class=\"accordion-header\" style=\"font-size: 1.1rem;\">What is the safest type of password to use?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>A passphrase \u2014 four or more random words strung together \u2014 is easier to remember and harder to crack than a short complex password. The Australian Cyber Security Centre recommends this approach. Whatever you choose, use a different password for every account, and never base it on personal details like your birthday or pet&#8217;s name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\">\n<h3 class=\"accordion-header\" style=\"font-size: 1.1rem;\">Do I really need a password manager?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>If you&#8217;re using the same password on multiple accounts, yes. A password manager generates and stores strong, unique passwords for every site \u2014 you only need to remember one master password. Bitwarden is free and well-regarded. Apple and Google devices also have built-in password managers that work well for most people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\">\n<h3 class=\"accordion-header\" style=\"font-size: 1.1rem;\">What is multi-factor authentication and do I need it?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds a second check after your password \u2014 usually a code sent to your phone or generated by an app. Even if someone steals your password, they can&#8217;t get in without your phone. Turn it on for email, banking, myGov, and social media at minimum. It takes two minutes to set up and blocks the majority of account takeover attempts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\">\n<h3 class=\"accordion-header\" style=\"font-size: 1.1rem;\">How do I know if an email or text is a scam?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>Common signs: unexpected urgency (&#8220;your account will be suspended&#8221;), requests to click a link and enter details, sender addresses that don&#8217;t quite match the real organisation, or requests for payment via gift cards or bank transfer. If in doubt, don&#8217;t click anything. Go directly to the organisation&#8217;s official website by typing the address yourself, or call them on a number you look up independently.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\">\n<h3 class=\"accordion-header\" style=\"font-size: 1.1rem;\">Is public Wi-Fi safe to use?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>Not for anything sensitive. Public Wi-Fi networks are generally unsecured, meaning others on the same network can potentially intercept your data. Use your mobile data connection instead for banking or account logins, or use a reputable VPN if you regularly need to use public Wi-Fi for sensitive tasks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\">\n<h3 class=\"accordion-header\" style=\"font-size: 1.1rem;\">What is a VPN and do I need one?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts your internet traffic before it leaves your device, so anyone intercepting it just sees scrambled data. It&#8217;s most useful on public Wi-Fi. For home use, a good router setup and strong passwords matter more. If you do want a VPN, stick to paid, reputable options \u2014 free VPNs vary widely in quality and some have questionable privacy practices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\">\n<h3 class=\"accordion-header\" style=\"font-size: 1.1rem;\">How do I report a scam in Australia?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>Report to Scamwatch at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scamwatch.gov.au\/report-a-scam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scamwatch.gov.au<\/a> \u2014 this helps warn other Australians. If money has been transferred, contact your bank immediately as they may be able to reverse it. If your personal identity details were shared, contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.idcare.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IDCARE<\/a> for free support. For anything pretending to be from MATE, forward the details to <a href=\"mailto:support@letsbemates.com.au\">support@letsbemates.com.au<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\">\n<h3 class=\"accordion-header\" style=\"font-size: 1.1rem;\">How often should I update my passwords?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>You don&#8217;t need to change passwords on a fixed schedule if they&#8217;re already strong and unique. The most important times to change a password are: after a data breach involving that service (check <a href=\"https:\/\/haveibeenpwned.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">haveibeenpwned.com<\/a>), if you suspect an account has been compromised, or if you shared it with someone who no longer needs access.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\">\n<h3 class=\"accordion-header\" style=\"font-size: 1.1rem;\">What should I do if I think I&#8217;ve been hacked?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>Act quickly. Change the password on the affected account immediately, then check whether the same password was used anywhere else and change those too. Enable MFA if it wasn&#8217;t already on. Check for any changes the attacker may have made \u2014 email forwarding rules, linked accounts, or unfamiliar devices. If financial details were involved, contact your bank and report to Scamwatch.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\">\n<h3 class=\"accordion-header\" style=\"font-size: 1.1rem;\">How do I make my home Wi-Fi more secure?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>Change the default admin password on your router \u2014 it&#8217;s usually something like admin\/admin out of the box. Use WPA2 or WPA3 encryption for your Wi-Fi network. Set a strong, unique Wi-Fi password. Create a separate guest network for visitors. And keep your router&#8217;s firmware updated \u2014 most modern routers have an auto-update option in the admin panel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div style=\"position: fixed; bottom: 10px; right: 20px; z-index: 2147483647;\" data-testid=\"notifications-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div style=\"position: fixed; bottom: 10px; right: 20px; z-index: 2147483647;\" data-testid=\"notifications-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scams are getting harder to spot. Data breaches are more common. And most of us are managing more online accounts than ever before. Here&#8217;s a practical guide to staying safer online in 2026 \u2014 for every member of your household. TL;DR \u2014 Quick Takeaways A passphrase (four random words strung together) is easier to remember&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":16481,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[22],"tags":[97,185,254,255,256,257],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Online Safety &amp; Security Tips Australia | MATE | MATE<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover practical internet security tips for Australia. 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