The Efficiency Experts

Cloud9 Real Time Computing

2011-09-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

Remember the massive power outage that affected more than 8 million people on September 8th?

Cloud9 Real Time never went down ...

http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/091211_Web_Hosts_Remain_Online_During_San_Diego_Blackout

Cloud Computing

2011-09-16T11:43:00.000-07:00

I was just made aware of this great article in the Wall Street Journal regarding Cloud Computing.

It's worth the read ~

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904060604576572930344327162.html?KEYWORDS=seeking+safety+in+the+clouds

QuickBooks 2012 is almost here!

2011-09-10T16:27:00.000-07:00

And from what I've already heard, it has MANY new features!

Please contact me and I'd be happy to let you know when it's available for purchase. And remember, I can save you money on the purchase price!

Time to share again... WiFi security concern

2010-03-16T20:10:00.002-07:00

Here's a Windows XP wi-fi security concern... please read this article since it may pertain to YOUR computer!

Your wireless-enabled Windows XP laptop could be advertising itself as an ad hoc wireless network without your knowledge, allowing other wireless users in the vicinity to connect to it.

Oops! Read more about how this happens and what you can do about it:
http://www.wxpnews.com/R0RR3N/100316-Security-Hole

Be safe on the Internet. The "bad guys" are watching!

Time to check YOUR version of Internet Explorer...

2009-11-29T09:20:00.003-07:00

Direct from Windows XP News: "Older versions of Internet Explorer are vulnerable to attack"

Many of those who use Windows XP are still using the older version of Internet Explorer that came with the operating system (IE 6) or its immediate successor (IE 7) and haven't upgraded to the latest version of the browser (IE 8).

If you're in that category, be aware that a new exploit has been posted by a hacker that can be used to install unauthorized software on computers running the older versions of IE. Even if you have the latest service pack (SP3), this attack can still work.

You can protect against it by disabling JavaScript. Read more here:
http://www.wxpnews.com/R0RR3N/091124-Internet-Explorer-Attack

After-The-Fact Bookkeeping is HERE!

2009-11-16T10:54:00.000-07:00

Too busy to learn QuickBooks yourself? Do you WANT to continue with your manual bookkeeping system?

Then please consider our After-The-Fact Bookkeeping.

With our service, you simply need to:

Write checks and pay your vendors
Make your deposits
At the end of each month, send us your check stubs and all bank statements (checking, savings, credit cards, loans, etc) by e-mail (PDF), mail or delivery

It's then our responsibility to:

Enter all of your data into the latest version of QuickBooks
Reconcile all of your accounts, including your credit cards and loans
Prepare Financial Statements (Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet, and comparative reports)
Prepare Sales tax forms (as needed)
Prepare Payroll tax forms (as needed)
Prepare Workers compensation reports (as needed)

When your bookkeeping is done properly and in a timely manner, it greatly reduces your tax preparation time at year end and it could lower your Tax Accountant's charges.

With our service you'll have clean, accurate, and up-to-date books with financial information that you can trust. This will greatly assist you in the review and analysis of your business so you can better manage your top line revenue and bottom line profit.

How to update your QuickBooks

2009-10-31T13:08:00.001-07:00

Hopefully your QB's is updating itself automatically.

To verify, open your QB's and click F2. The first line will tell you the version number and release. The most recent releases are as follows:

   QB Pro 2007 = Release R13
   QB Pro 2008 = Release R10
   QB Pro 2009 = Release R8

If your version is not the most recent release, then click:

Help
Update QuickBooks
Click the OPTIONS tab and be sure "automatic update" is marked YES.
Under "Select the updates you want QB's to download automatically" and select "mark all".
Click Save.

Click the "Update Now" tab
Click "Get Updates"
When done, click "close".

You may have to close QB's and then re-open to have the update install.
Click F2 again to verify your release is now at Release R8P.

QuickBooks security issue with versions 2007 - 2009

2009-10-31T09:07:00.000-07:00

If you are using QuickBooks 2007 through 2009 Simple Start, Pro, Premier, or Enterprise, PLEASE BE SURE TO UPDATE YOUR QUICKBOOKS.

There is a security issue with the use of Active X Technology and your QuickBooks.

Please update your QuickBooks immediately to protect your data.

If you have any questions, please contact me.
Diana Makes

WATCH OUT... Facebook Users Under Cyberattack!

2009-10-28T20:24:00.006-07:00

From the HEADLINES at USAToday.com by Byron Acohido

Two top botnet gangs are bombarding Facebook members with targeted phishing emails. They're hoping to get control of members' Facebook and other accounts -- a rising type of cybercrime. There is nothing Facebook can do, beyond warning its members, to slow down these attacks. "This virus has been spreading over email, not on Facebook," says Facebook spokesman Simon Axten. "We’re educating users on how to detect this through the Facebook Security Page."

In one of the ongoing attacks, the bad guys are directing an army of computers they've previously infected to systematically send out individual email messages to millions of Facebook members. The messages advise recipients to click "here" to activate a "new login system that will affect all Facebook users." This takes the victim to mocked-up Facebook log-in page with the victim's email address already filled in, but the password is blank. Typing your password gives full access to your Facebook account to the crooks. But the bad guys aren't done yet.Another prompt then appears, advising you to download an “update tool,” which actually installs the ZeuS banking Trojan. It lurks on your hard drive waiting for a chance to steal your online banking log-in information the next time you type it.

As of this morning, AppRiver had counted 41 different Web domains sending out 600 of these targeted phishing emails per minute. "We have seen around 6 million pieces of email so far this morning," he says.At its peak yesterday, about 1,000 viral emails per minute were being pushed out, he says. "This was a two-pronged attack," says Touchette. "The first purpose was to phish Facebook accounts, and the second was to attempt to deliver a Trojan onto the victim’s machine." This same cybercrime group has tried variations of this attack with email lures purporting to come from the IRS, the British customs service and a banking consolidation service in the United Kingdom called One Account. The latest campaign was preceded by a similar one, with messages purporting to come from the FDIC. The crooks' main goal is to "intercept financial account information," says Tochette.

The other big, ongoing Facebook phishing campaign began on Monday around noon Pacific time, says Jamie Tomasello, abuse operations manager for messaging security firm Cloudmark.These emails purport to come from support@facebook.com, and contain a zip file said to hold the recipient's new password, recently changed for security reasons by Facebook. This simple ruse is fooling many. Cloudmark has found evidence of Facebook members actually going into their junk mail folders to retrieve these viral messages, then clicking on the infectious zip file. This installs a banking Trojan, called Bredolab, which competes against ZeuS for sales in the cyber underground."

People are very addicted to their Facebook accounts. They are so accustomed to communicating frequently and rapidly all the time," says Tomasello. "They are aware of all the attacks, and are concerned about them. Yet many of them believe this is a legitimate security message from Facebook that got inadvertently sent to their junk mail folder."

Similar attacks are inundating Twitter, as well. So many Twitter users are changing their passwords to start anew that Twitter but can't handle the changes and has begun locking out such changes. Twitters now advises users not to change their usernames and passwords.

Tomorrow antivirus company Kaspersky plans to publicly unveil Krab Krawler, a tool it has been developing that's designed to troll Twitter microblogs for malicious URLs and then add them to Kaspersky's blacklist of malicious programs.

Microsoft Launches Windows 7 on October 22nd

2009-10-23T10:12:00.004-07:00

I love computers. Microsoft has been part of my life since they provided the DOS operating system for personal computers in the early 1980's. Here we go again... change is good. Right?

NEWS FLASH... Microsoft launches Windows 7 on October 22, 2009 to replace the problematic Windows VISTA operating system. VISTA is gone! Windows XP is still a favorite of computer users because it works!

There's been a lot of marketing hoopla around the new Windows 7 operating system software. Beta software testers say Windows 7 is a "blend" of Windows XP, Windows VISTA and new stuff.

Here's a very informative website if you're interested in Windows 7:

http://www.win7news.net/

At this point in time there is NO UPGRADE path to go from from Windows XP to Windows 7.

Reason #1... there would be too many problems for Microsoft to support since Windows XP was released in May 2001. Windows XP is now considered an "old" (legacy) operating system.

Reason #2... Microsoft wants all of us to buy new computers with Windows 7 installed from the factory. They will make companies like Dell, HP, etc. support the computer hardware AND the Microsoft 7 operating system. That takes a huge burden off of Microsoft.

Reason #3... Microsoft is interested in increasing their sales revenue, profit and market share.

Reason #4... Microsoft wants to "sunset" Windows XP and will stop all security updates in May 2014. Everyone will need to purchase new computers with Windows 7 in the next 4.5 years.

I'll be purchasing a new DELL laptop computer with Windows 7 installed. Watch for future postings about the "good" & "bad" aspects of the Windows 7 operating system that you'll be using on your NEXT computer.

Webmail Password Theft Problem...

2009-10-13T13:20:00.002-07:00

YIKES... scary stuff. The following information was provided by WinXP News. Take a LOOK...

Webmail password theft problem is bigger than it first appeared. The first reports said that thousands of Hotmail accounts had been compromised when phishers gained their passwords.

Now it turns out that Gmail and Yahoo email accounts were similarly targeted as part of the same scheme. Now attackers are using the stolen passwords to send out phishing messages, while at the same time some researchers are saying that the initial theft may have been accomplished through malware infections rather than phishing responses. However it happened, we recommend that you change your passwords on all your webmail accounts, just to be safe. Read more here: http://www.wxpnews.com/R0RR3N/091013-Compromised-Email

Windows XP Security News - Patch Tuesday

2009-10-13T13:11:00.002-07:00

Does anyone still believe that computers are simple, easy & fun?

Think again... it's Patch Tuesday. Fix today... work secure on Wednesday!

XP Security News: Patch Tuesday to bring critical updates from both Microsoft and AdobeGet ready: This month's Patch Tuesday is going to be a big one.

Microsoft plans to release thirteen security bulletins, with eight of them rated as critical. The patches include one for the infamous SMB 2.0 vulnerability. Twelve of the bulletins affect the Windows operating systems, but not necessarily all versions. Find out more here: http://www.wxpnews.com/R0RR3N/091013-Ginormous-Patch

Meanwhile, a new vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat is apparently already being exploited by hackers. It applies to versions 9.1.3, 8.1.6 and 7.1.3, and a patch is expected to be released on Tuesday: http://www.wxpnews.com/R0RR3N/091013-Adobe-Reader-Security

If it ain't broke... don't fix it. Does that saying apply to computers?

2009-10-06T17:28:00.004-07:00

This is Dennis sharing my personal viewpoint. There are numerous articles about the "hype" surrounding the new Microsoft Windows 7 operating system. Will this be THE replacement for the aging Microsoft Windows XP operating system?

The Efficiency Experts has recommended that all clients, friends & family NOT upgrade from Windows XP to Windows VISTA. Will we change our mind to endorse and support the new Windows 7 operating system? We promise to keep you posted on our own experiences with Windows 7 BEFORE we make any recommendation. Keep a watchful eye on future blog posts.

Please read these articles and decide for yourself.

1. U.S. DoE lab sees "no reason" to switch from XP to Windows 7. The folks who make these decisions at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which is the Department of Energy's oldest physics lab, have decided not to switch from Windows XP to Windows 7 when the new operating system comes out - at least, not yet. They do plan to deploy Win7 eventually, but only on new hardware and only after the first service pack is released. They're not the only ones. According to a survey done by ScriptLogic, only 34% of companies that responded plan to deploy Windows 7 by the end of 2010. Read more here: http://www.wxpnews.com/R0RR3N/090929-Upgrades-Nixed

2. 10 Reasons XP will be around for a while. In all the excitement surrounding the release of Windows 7, you might be feeling a bit behind the times if you're still using XP. If so, you're in good company. A TechRepublic poll conducted a few months ago indicated that 96% of the 13,000 respondents say they are still using Windows XP as their primary operating system. Brien Posey offers ten reasons XP won't be going away anytime soon in this article: http://www.wxpnews.com/R0RR3N/090929-10-Things

3. Survey Says: 40% of XP users don't want to upgrade. Many die-hard Windows XP users have become converts; attracted by Windows 7's shiny new interface and more importantly, by some of its new usability features. Even though they skipped Vista, they're now planning to take the plunge and move to Windows 7. However, a recent survey reported on the TopNews site indicated that 40% of XP users said they plan to continue using their current OS indefinitely and don't want to upgrade to Windows 7. Read about it here: http://www.wxpnews.com/R0RR3N/091006-WXP-to-Win7-Upgrade

The Efficiency Experts agree that Windows XP users should hold off on Windows 7

2009-10-06T16:45:00.006-07:00

Dennis J. Makes from The Efficiency Experts found this great article that will be of interest to ALL computer users running the Microsoft Windows XP operating system.

This story was originally posted at PCWorld.com. Please read: "Reasons Some Windows XP Users Should Hold Off On Windows 7". Windows 7 is an improvement over Windows Vista, but the jump from Windows XP isn't right for everyone!

The complete story can be found here:http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,171309/article.html

3rd Quarter Tax Reports are DUE by 10/31/09

2009-10-06T15:52:00.005-07:00

Just a reminder that your Quarterly Tax Reports for the 3rd quarter are due by 10/31/09.

That includes your 941, state withholding, and state unemployment.

If I can assist you with preparing your reports within QuickBooks, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Diana

QuickBooks Document Management 2010

2009-10-03T08:56:00.003-07:00

I just attached my first PDF of a VISA statement to a check in QuickBooks 2010!

The new QuickBooksDocumentManagement for 2010 is very slick! One must sign up for the service, but you get 100MB of off-site storage at no charge. If additional storage is needed, there is a monthly fee.

I have been dreaming of going paperless; this is a wonderful tool!

Happy Weekend!
Diana

QuickBooks 2010 is HERE!

2009-09-30T17:48:00.005-07:00

Yes! I just received my copy of QuickBooks 2010 today and I can't WAIT to load it up!

Looks like there are some great new features and I'll be sharing them with you here.

And remember ... if you want to buy the new version, I can save you money and get you free shipping! Just go here ...

www.efficiencyexperts.com/intuitsavings

Or EM me with any questions.

Diana

ADVANCED Certified!

2009-09-27T07:42:00.000-07:00

Diana here ~ I bit the bullet last week and renewed my ADVANCED ProAdvisor Certification! It took me about 24 hours of study and preparation before taking the test, and I am proud to have scored 91%.

As with anything these days, Intuit's QuickBooks program has many nuances and features that can be used to your advantage, IF you know the features even exist! And who has time to search help files and query the right question? I hope you will give me the chance to share my knowledge so your QuickBooks can serve YOUR needs.