The week in digital: ASD’s new Essentials, a Windows cut-off and hijacked Shopify checkouts
ASD’s Essentials replaces the Essential Eight, Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro updates end, Shopify checkouts hijacked, telco penalties rise and Gemini 4 Argon.
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Deadlines, price changes and new rules for Australian businesses, soonest first.
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PHP’s critical fixes are out. Has your website been patched?
PHP released fixes for two critical flaws on 21 October. WordPress says no plugin update will help. Here’s what to ask your host, and what to do about old PHP.
YouTube will now freeze channels it suspects are hacked
YouTube now pauses uploads, live streams and thumbnails on channels showing unusual activity, usually for up to 24 hours, while it checks for a hijack.
auDA now proposes letting you keep your existing .com.au
auDA now proposes that current .com.au and .net.au licences keep running under today’s rules. New registrations would still lose the ‘what you sell’ option.
Critical PHP fixes land tonight. Is your website ready?
PHP is releasing fixes for two critical flaws at 10pm Perth time tonight, and the ACSC has issued a critical alert. What website owners should ask their host now.
Gemini in your car can now dig through your Gmail and calendar
Google is rolling out Personal Intelligence to Gemini on Android Auto. Ask for your flight gate or your next appointment, and it checks your Google apps.
Why the padlock on your website keeps expiring sooner
Website certificates are shrinking from 398 days to 47 by 2029. Last weekend’s eMudhra key leak shows why browsers want them to expire fast.
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Business phones on the NBN: what VoIP costs depend on, and what to check before you rely on it
NBN phone lines are VoIP, and most stop in a blackout. What to check on power, Triple Zero, number porting, alarms and EFTPOS, and how to compare plan costs.
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Is your payroll software ready for Payday Super? What to check
Payday Super depends on your payroll software reporting qualifying earnings and paying super through SuperStream. The settings and questions to check now.
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Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks for a sole trader? Published Australian prices compared
Xero Ignite, MYOB Solo and Lite, and QuickBooks Simple Start compared on published Australian prices, invoice limits, BAS lodgement and payroll costs.
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Your turn
Quiz archiveThe weekly quiz
How closely did you follow the week?
Question 1 of 5
What does ASD’s new Essentials framework use instead of the Essential Eight’s maturity levels?
Show answer
Answer: A. Priority phases
The Essentials replaces maturity levels with priority phases, the order in which ASD recommends tackling each domain. ASD calls them a sequencing mechanism, not a rating.
Question 2 of 5
Which Windows 11 versions does Microsoft recommend moving to now that 24H2 Home and Pro updates have ended?
Show answer
Answer: C. Version 26H2 or 25H2
Microsoft says Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro reached end of updates on 13 October 2026 (US time) and recommends moving to version 26H2 or 25H2.
Read the story: Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro have had their last security update. Check your PCs
Question 3 of 5
When the telco consumer safeguards bill was introduced, what did the government say the maximum general penalty would rise to?
Show answer
Answer: B. About $10 million
The Minister said the maximum general penalty for breaching industry codes and standards would rise from $250,000 to approximately $10 million, with more possible in some cases.
Question 4 of 5
Which Google plans get Gemini 4 Argon in the Gemini app?
Show answer
Answer: D. AI Pro and AI Ultra
Google says Argon is rolling out to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers. Free accounts and AI Plus don’t get it.
Read the story: Gemini 4 Argon is out, but in the Gemini app it needs Google’s A$32.99 plan or above
Question 5 of 5
What simple test can a Shopify merchant run to check for a hijacked checkout?
Show answer
Answer: C. Open a private browser window, add an item and click checkout
Developer Roman Zipp recommends opening a private (incognito) window, adding an item to the cart, clicking checkout and confirming you land on your real checkout.
A new quiz comes out every Friday with the briefing. Get the Friday briefing by email
Reader poll of the week
Have you checked whether any of your PCs are still on Windows 11 24H2 Home or Pro?
Reader polls aren’t scientific: they show how readers who chose to vote answered. One vote per reader. Background: Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro have had their last security update. Check your PCs