Tax time isn’t much fun until you see that strangely beautiful check made out in your name from the federal and/or state treasuries—if you’re even that lucky. Contrary to what we’d like to think, the goal for most people shouldn’t be to get the largest refund check possible but to get very little and pay nothing. A large refund check means that for the past year, Uncle Sam has been hanging onto your money, interest-free. You have to pay interest when you borrow from your bank or from the government, but the government doesn’t owe you any extra for the privilege of using your money over the past year.

To avoid this sinking feeling next year, pay really close attention to your financial statements and tax filings, for your company and for yourself. In keeping with my logical yet attention deficit-like mind, I’ve gone back to TopTenReviews.com for their straight-forward charting of the top—eh hem—nine tax filing software programs for 2011. There is a wide range in price, but the first three softwares (TurboTax, H&R Block and TaxACT) all come with maxed out ratings.  During this time of year, tax softwares are on sale almost everywhere.  Check out places like Office Depot and Costco for some solid savings.  Virtually all tax programs have some kind of “home & business” edition, as well as e-filing features to make submitting your forms quick and easy.

Tax deduction finders are fairly common and certainly recommended (TurboTax, H&R Block and TaxACT all find tax deductions), but don’t forget to do some of your own research! The U.S. Small Business Administration has a page chock full of information about tax deductions for small businesses. Among seven examples of the “top tax deductions for your small business,” provided by Nolo, is bad debt; if a customer doesn’t pay for a product you ‘sold’ them, the cost can be deducted, but if a client hasn’t paid for a service, the work isn’t deductible. Ouch.

Government-run websites are going to be your best sources of information, so you’ll probably want to check out the Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center from the IRS. It covers virtually ev-er-y-thing you need to complete your business tax filing. Want some more information and not sure how to find it? Post your question in the comments section and we’ll surely find an answer!

There are things that we, as professionals, students or hobbyists, tend to take for granted as far as what’s “obvious” or “common sense.”  Cloud computing is one of those things that I figured out based on what I knew previously about the Internet and its inner workings, and I always assumed that if I could figure it out, it must be as obvious as tying one’s shoe.  Recently, though, a cohort, who is by no means a stupid person, asked me what “the cloud” is.  This friend has been studying biological science for years, so as dumbfounded as I was that such an intelligent individual wouldn’t know what cloud computing is, it quickly occurred to me that the term still isn’t used widely enough to be “common sense.” Would you believe me if I told you that you probably use some form of cloud computing on a regular basis?

“The Cloud” is basically another term for the Internet. I say that this is the basic definition because in connotation, it is more used to describe the applications that we use via the Internet, including email clients, document and graphics editors, and virtual storage. You’re probably familiar with Google’s Gmail, and you may even use Google Docs or Google Apps. Perhaps you use an app like Piknic to edit your photos for sharing or Dropbox to share various files with friends, family and coworkers. You may be using Mozy to backup your computer regularly so as not to lose your important files. These applications all offer the unique benefit of collaboration that traditional software can’t so easily offer.

Is there a security risk? Sure, but the engineers of these online software are ever-so-aware of your skepticism, and they’re likely working much harder on the security aspect than are producers of ‘normal’ software. Also bare in mind that just because it rests solely on your hard drive does not guarantee security: Viruses and other malware are built smarter and stealthier now, so as they say, abstinence [from the Internet] is the only way to truly avoid…malware

Cloud computing seems like something you’d like to try out, but you’re not sure where to start or what is even necessary. Going to a completely Internet-based can be useful for growing businesses, but making a huge shift in that direction can be overwhelming. Each application will have a bit of a learning curve, so I’d recommend starting with your email. Programs like Mozilla Thunderbird and Microsoft Office make a more secure connection to your business email because rather than forwarding to a different address, thereby sending it further through cyberspace, they pull email directly from your email server to your desktop program. But consider that web-based email applications let you check email from anywhere—your desktop, laptop, Smartphone or a someone else’s computer—so if you’re constantly on the go, then the minor risk is often worth it. Google Apps (at merely $50/year) includes ample space for email, so you can start there and gradually move into the other apps, integrating them into your company’s work environment one-by-one.

Around the same time, getting started with an Internet-based computer backup system will save you from the seemingly inevitable frustration of losing documents in a disaster. Even static electricity can ruin your motherboard or hard drive, forever erasing your most critical documents and your sweetest photographed memories. Services like Carbonite and Mozy will automatically back up specified folders, and there are countless other programs, so do some research to find the best one for your purposes. These services may not have cheap price tags, but they become invaluable when even the simplest incident leaves you with nothing.

With the Cloud being such a new development, we’re all still learning about it, so I’d love to hear of any other applications you use and like or if you have any more questions! Leave a comment or drop me an email (see the green envelope icon in the first sidebar?) and I’ll update the site with new information as we go.

Malware [general term] - software designed to secretly access a computer system without the owner’s informed consent. (Wikipedia)

Computer Virus [a type of malware] - a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer…. A true virus can spread from one computer to another (in some form of executable code) when its host is taken to the target computer; for instance because a user sent it over a network or the Internet, or carried it on a removable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB drive.  (Wikipedia)

Computer Worm [a type of malware] - a self-replicating malware computer program. It uses a computer network to send copies of itself to other nodes (computers on the network) and it may do so without any user intervention.  (Wikipedia)

Trojan Horse [a type of malware]- appears to perform a desirable function for the user prior to run or install but instead facilitates unauthorized access of the user’s computer system… The term is derived from the Trojan Horse story in Greek mythology.  (Wikipedia)

Spyware [a type of malware] – can be installed on computers and collects little bits of information at a time about users without their knowledge.  (Wikipedia)

Adware (advertising-supported software) [can be classified as or can come tied to spyware] - any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer. These advertisements can be in the form of a pop-up… Adware, by itself, is harmless; however, some adware may come with integrated spyware such as keyloggers and other privacy-invasive software.  (Wikipedia)

Keylogging [sometimes a type of spyware] - the action of tracking (or logging) the keys struck on a keyboard, typically in a covert manner so that the person using the keyboard is unaware that their actions are being monitored.   (Wikipedia)

Trojans are regarded as some of the most troublesome issues in the realm of computer security because a hacker who has planted a Trojan horse on your computer has likely granted himself remote access to watch or control your computer. Since they can slip onto your computer nearly undetected (without adequate security software running), these malicious software live up to their name, without a doubt.

With many different types of malicious software (malware) readily available, proper protection is crucial. Note that the terms I’ve listed above only scratch the surface of the kinds of malware and existing information on these malware. Above, I’ve outlined a basic tree of computer threats, starting with the broad umbrella term, “malware,” and listing some types of malware, followed by some types of “spyware,” which are also a type of malware. Some of these seem like common sense, and they are, but there are intricate differences between them that make each threat a unique problem to be dealt with specifically.

Luckily, there actually is a nearly “end all, be all” answer in that various programs referred to as “Internet Security” suites are available, of high quality and not terribly expensive. Beyond programs labeled solely as antivirus, Internet Security suites protect your computer(s) from viruses, spyware, Trojans, adware, and other internet, email and network vulnerabilities. Check out this review sheet of the Top 10 Internet Security Suites for 2011, which incorporates a thorough analysis of the necessary internet security components. I had been using ESET Smart Security for a year on my desktop, but since my Eee PC netbook works much better with the sleek Trend Micro Internet Security, and since Amazon was offering a three-PC download of the latest Trend Micro Internet Security for less than $20, I switched to Trend Micro and would certainly recommend it. Any of the programs listed in the aforementioned Top 10 sheet will serve you well, so no worries.

Ultimately, the specific settings you place on each of your computers’ security suites are up to your taste and schedule. I, for the sake of my personal information and for my business and clients, have my security programs run every single day, but a lesser-used computer may only need weekly scans. I also have my desktop scanned at a time when I am not around each day, and my laptop is scanned around 5am, when I am surely not awake and won’t interrupt it. A schedule that doesn’t conflict with your computer usage is best because the scan could put a strain on your computer’s performance if you’re trying to work or surf the internet at the same time.

Not unlike our teenage years, the threats we face today require a conscious protection effort. Safeguarding ourselves from Trojans, as well as viruses, worms and others, is a fairly simple process that we easily take for granted.

I’ve watched several clips and have read plenty of reviews on Apple’s new iPad, which hits the streets on April 3rd. TechCrunch shared an image comparing the iPad to a rock, and engadget posted a review of disappointment with a video of an uncooperative iPad and its lack of features.  Naturally, my initial take on an Entrepreneur article titled “How the iPad Will Change the Way You Do Business” was a wary one.  My foremost thought when checking out reviews of the iPad was that business owners are not going to waste their precious time and money on something that seems downright incomplete.  But Allen Moon, the author of the Entrepreneur article actually makes a solid argument – one that I’m even willing to share.

If you’re already familiar with the iPad, you’d might as well skip the first section of the article; Moon briefly describes the iPad’s resemblance to the iPhone and its pitfalls.  He then explains that those who are middle-aged and older will find the iPad easier to work with than a ‘traditional’ laptop, that those who travel or want to shut their kids up will find its portability useful, and that students will start getting more and more of their textbooks as iPad e-books.
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The feeling of autonomy is great. We’ve likely all enjoyed the excitement of getting that first car, moving off to college, finally nailing a job that doesn’t nail us to a desk… But do we necessarily want to have free-range in roaming around a website? In most cases, the answer is simply no. Many people simply don’t have the time to learn how to navigate each website they visit.

There is a such thing as too many possibilities, especially when it comes to offering visitors the option of going wherever they want on your site. It may not make much sense, but think about the ideal website: You land on the main page and you see an attractive, easy-to-understand navigation bar with, say, five links. Generally, you can read about the company/person, read about any products they have to offer, contact the company/person, see a list of references (portfolio or clients), or you can move right in to buy their products or services. The best websites will have these links conveniently intra-linked or otherwise tied together to take you from a page of reading about the excellent products/services offered to buying what you just read about.

On the other hand, if your site’s visitors have been fishing around your site, hit any dead ends, or can’t find an easy way of getting from point A (learning) to point B (doing) as you want them to, they will ‘walk’ away. To avoid losing potential clients to the frustration of a complicated website, lay it out ahead of time. Go through, step by step, to figure out exactly what you want visitors to do when they land on your website. Sure, you’d want to give them some autonomy by not locking them into a hallway with only one exit door; but be sure to include conspicuous links on each page to show visitors where they can go without having them wander in circles.

LymeLight will gladly help you work out the floor plan for your website, so you can be sure that you’re taking care of your visitors and increasing your site’s number of accurate leads.