October 2021 | Keynote Entertainment Blog

We’ve almost made it through another year. And these days, that’s quite the achievement! From remote work to home-school to lockdown (again… and again), there hasn’t been much to laugh about in 2021. But we’ve emerged in one piece – even if that piece is a little bedraggled and frayed at the edges. And you know what? We reckon that deserves one hell of a celebration.

Fun fact. You know how they say, “Laughter is contagious”? Well, it really is. It’s scientifically proven. Laughter triggers a response in the premotor cortical region of the brain, which prompts the facial muscles to smile in response to the sound. Laughter also releases endorphins in the brain via opioid receptors, creating a euphoric feeling (kind of like opioid drugs, without the obvious downsides), as well as serotonin – the same brain chemical targeted by antidepressants. AND it turns out laughter really is the best medicine too, with an anti-inflammatory effect that protects the heart muscles and blood vessels from cardiovascular disease. Seriously.

SO, we think the best gift you can give your team this festive season is a great big belly laugh!

Here are our top picks for virtual end-of-year party entertainers guaranteed to put the smile back on your team’s faces…

Dave Hughes & Dave O’Neil : The two Dave’s team up to host a memorable virtual version of Network Ten’s hit show, ‘Hughesy We Have a Problem’. If Julie from your Finance department is having an issue, Dave and Dave will solve it!

The Umbilical Brothers : This hilarious award-winning duo have been delighting stage, film and TV audiences across the globe for more than 30 years. Their hit performances provide a fast-paced mix of movement and sound that will leave you shaking your head in awe and laughing like a hyena!

Anthony Laye : Let Anthony take your team on an interactive, mind-blowing virtual adventure that will leave them wondering – how the hell did he do that?! Full of gobsmacking mind tricks, magic and laughter, losing your mind has never been more hilarious!

Anthony Lehmann: Accountant turned full-time funny person, Lehmo is one of Australia’s most well-known and in-demand comedians. Having headlined at some of the world’s largest venues and hosted regular gigs on radio and TV, Lehmo’s brilliant comedic talent will leave your team in stitches!

Lizzy Hoo : Lizzy is a writer, noodle enthusiast, designer, actor, rugby lover and rescue-greyhound owner. And she’s also one of Australia’s most popular comics, regularly performing to sold-out crowds at international Comedy Festivals worldwide. Your team will fall in love with her!

Nick Cody: With a heap of Australian and International TV & movie credits to his name, as well as regular radio & podcast gigs, Nick is a comedy superstar. He’s performed sold-out shows around the world, earning rave reviews for his insane ability to make people laugh ’til they cry!

Wayne Shapiro : Throw out every preconceived idea you’ve ever had about the Trivia Quiz! Wayne tailors a quiz for each audience, using his quick wit and incredible hosting talent to bring teams together, maximising engagement, camaraderie and involvement and keeping the laughs rolling.

Kat Davidson : As a professional improviser, Kat’s unique storytelling ability will have your team in fits of laughter as she tackles relationships, observations and random events with equal passion. It’s easy to see why Kat’s comedy shows are regular sell-outs!

Every single one of these entertainers can turn your virtual end-of-year party into the hit of the year. And you can rest easy knowing that we’ll make sure your entertainment runs smoothly… even if it’s the only part of your year that does!

If you’d like to secure any of these entertainers for your virtual end-of-year celebration, get in touch with us for a chat – but you better be quick, these guys are popular!

Covid-19 has created the perfect storm for cybercrime. With a large percentage of the workforce now working from home, cybercriminals are finding it woefully easy to prey on the vulnerable. With Cyber Security Awareness Month now underway, it’s the perfect time to make sure you and your team are cyber-safe and secure.

As the world’s attention is fixed firmly on the global public health crisis, cybercriminals are waiting in the wings, ready to pounce when opportunity knocks. A look through history shows us that exploiting people and businesses in times of natural disasters and pandemics is not a new concept, with confusion and fear delivering the ideal breeding ground for cyberattacks. According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), in the 2020-21 financial year there were:

over 22,000 calls to the Cyber Security Hotline – an increase of more than 310% from the previous financial year.
over 67,500 cybercrime reports, with losses totalling more than $33 billion.
more than 1,500 cybercrime reports of malicious cyber activity related to the coronavirus pandemic, with over 75% resulting in Australians losing money or personal information.

Hackers are extremely clever when it comes to disguising their activity, and it’s getting increasingly difficult to spot a hacking attempt. Phishing, malicious links, email compromise, malware, ransomware, fake landing pages… the list is long and disturbingly creative. By simply clicking on a link, you can unwittingly give hackers open access to all your data, setting in motion an unstoppable chain of events.

So what can we do to stay safe and secure while working from home?

We asked Brian Hay, one of Australia’s most renowned Cyber Security specialists and winner of McAfee’s international award for Cybercrime Fighter of the Year (yes, really!), for his expert advice.

Ok Brian, first of all – how do cyberattacks happen?

Think of it like this. Every time you get in your car, you increase your risk of an accident. And when an accident happens, what’s generally the cause? The failure of the motor vehicle technology, or the behaviour of the person behind the wheel? That’s right, the behaviour of the person. The challenge we face with cyber security and cyber safety is that we think it’s all about the technology, when in fact it’s all about the people. Up to 95% of all data breaches are caused by people, not technology failures. 96 – 99% of cyberattacks are directed at the person – not the network – why? Because we are the soft target – the vulnerability!

Well that’s just scary. How can we reduce our risk of falling victim to a cyberattack?

First, we need to get our attitude right:

Understand that there’s no such thing as privacy on the internet – when you connect to it, it connects to you!
Appreciate that in the eyes of a cybercriminal, we are all legitimate targets.
Accept you will be approached – by email, by phone calls, by SMS messages – so prepare.

Next, we need to work on our behaviours and arm ourselves with some tools to help us in our fight.

10 ways you can protect yourself against cybercrime:

Dodgy links: Never click on an embedded hyperlink or button in an unsolicited email, and you will never fall for a phishing attack.
Phone protocol: Develop your own personal phone protocol – don’t answer calls from numbers you don’t know, if it’s important they’ll leave a message. Likewise, don’t respond to unsolicited SMS messages (friends excepted).
Authentication: To elevate your security through the roof, always enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Strong passwords: Create strong passwords or passphrases and remember – 1 password = 1 account, don’t double-dip!
Safe passwords: Consider using a Password Manager – life will become so much easier and safer.
Not for kids: Don’t let the kids on the work devices.
Oversharing: Don’t overshare on social media, you never know who’s watching!
VPN: Use a virtual private network (VPN), it’s a simple way to secure open wifi and prevent prying eyes.
Antivirus: Ensure you’re using antivirus and your systems are set for auto-updates.
Whoops: Sometimes accidents happen – so back up every day!

And here’s one more tip for good measure. Did you know that no government body, including the ATO, AFP, MyGov and Medicare, will ever send you an email or SMS asking you to click on a link to provide login, personal or financial information, or to download a file or open an attachment? They’ll also never use aggressive or rude behaviour, or threaten you with arrest, jail or deportation.

If you’re one of the unlucky ones to be targeted by cybercriminals, make sure you report it via ReportCyber . You can also contact the ACSC via email or through the Australian Cyber Security Hotline on 1300 cyber1 (1300 292 371) for advice and assistance.

And remember… if you connect it, protect it. Cyber security is everyone’s job, so do your part and #BeCyberSmart!

As well as providing expert cyber security services to the corporate world, Brian Hay is also a highly sought-after presenter thanks to his engaging, humorous and down-to-earth approach. A virtual cyber security presentation from Brian will provide your remote workforce with the knowledge and practical advice necessary to keep them cyber-safe, and help prevent an online disaster from derailing your business. If you’d like to engage Brian to speak to your team, get in touch with us for a chat.