The week in digital: Copilot on your files, Gemini’s free tier and an email deadline
Copilot’s local file access, Gemini’s free-tier change, Microsoft’s EWS deadline, an Atlassian patch, the OAIC’s smart-glasses probe and the ATO card delay.
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Deadlines, price changes and new rules for Australian businesses, soonest first.
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ASOS says names and contact details may have been accessed after a rogue app alert
ASOS app users, including in Australia, got an ‘ASOS HACKED’ push alert. What ASOS says was accessed, what wasn’t, and the scam messages to watch for.
ATO credit-card cutoff moves to 30 June 2027 after small-business pushback
The government will fund the ATO to keep accepting credit cards until 30 June 2027, not 30 November. What changes for tax payments and payment plans.
Let’s Encrypt certificates drop from 90 to 64 days on 10 February 2027
Free Let’s Encrypt certificates will last 64 days, not 90, from 10 February 2027. Who needs to check their renewals, and when testing starts.
Copilot will reach into files on Copilot+ PCs, and Surface Laptop Ultra starts at A$4,399
Microsoft says Copilot will use files and take actions on Copilot+ PCs, with permission. What’s coming, what isn’t dated, and what the new Surface costs here.
Atlassian’s critical file-access flaw needs an urgent check with your IT provider
Atlassian rates CVE-2026-21589 critical. Self-managed installations need urgent attention; Cloud is patched. What to ask your IT provider.
Claude offers startups a free year of Team, with limits
Claude’s expanded startup program includes a free Team year and API credits. Australian founders should check eligibility, expiry and future charges.
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Five Google Analytics reports worth checking once a month
A monthly Google Analytics 4 routine for a small business: where visitors came from, where they landed, what they read, what they did and what they searched.
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Squarespace vs Wix vs WordPress: which suits an Australian service business?
Published plan prices, what the cheapest plans leave out, and who looks after the site: Squarespace, Wix and WordPress compared for Australian service businesses.
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ChatGPT vs Copilot vs Gemini: what business plans include in Australia
Compare business AI features, plan types and published prices. What Australian teams should check on currencies, GST, existing subscriptions and usage charges.
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Your turn
Quiz archiveThe weekly quiz
How closely did you follow the week?
Question 1 of 5
What starting price does Microsoft’s Australian store list for Surface Laptop Ultra?
Show answer
Answer: B. A$4,399 including GST
Microsoft’s Australian store lists Surface Laptop Ultra from A$4,399 including GST, with a 16 October release date. US$2,599 is Microsoft’s announced US starting price.
Question 2 of 5
Once Google’s changes apply, which Gemini model family stays available to personal accounts without an AI subscription?
Show answer
Answer: A. Flash-Lite
Google’s table lists Flash-Lite for personal accounts with no AI subscription. AI Plus adds Flash, and AI Pro and Ultra add Pro.
Question 3 of 5
When does Microsoft’s final shutdown of Exchange Web Services (EWS) in Exchange Online start?
Show answer
Answer: D. 1 April 2027
Microsoft says the final EWS shutdown in Exchange Online starts on 1 April 2027, with no extensions. The 10 October change requires an app allow-list for tenants explicitly configured with EWSEnabled=True.
Read the story: Microsoft 365’s October email change: check your connected apps
Question 4 of 5
What does Atlassian say Cloud customers must do about the CVE-2026-21589 file-access flaw?
Show answer
Answer: C. Nothing: affected Cloud products are already patched
Atlassian says affected Cloud products are already patched and Cloud customers need take no action. Self-managed installations need the fixed release.
Read the story: Atlassian’s critical file-access flaw needs an urgent check with your IT provider
Question 5 of 5
What is Square’s Australian Instant Transfer fee from 1 October 2026?
Show answer
Answer: B. 1.95%
Square’s Australian Payment Terms raised the Instant Transfer fee from 1.5% to 1.95% from 1 October 2026. It comes on top of card-processing fees, and standard next-day transfers stay free.
Read the story: Square’s Australian Instant Transfer fee has risen to 1.95%
A new quiz comes out every Friday with the briefing. Get the Friday briefing by email
Reader poll of the week
Will your workplace let Copilot or another AI assistant read files on staff computers?
Reader polls aren’t scientific: they show how readers who chose to vote answered. One vote per reader. Background: Copilot will reach into files on Copilot+ PCs, and Surface Laptop Ultra starts at A$4,399