Tips to Avoid Identity Theft

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes nationwide. To prevent the theft of your identity follow these tips below, provided by the Internal Revenue Service:

• Don’t carry your Social Security card or any documents that include your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
• Don’t give a business your SSN or ITIN just because they ask. Give it only when required.
• Protect your financial information.
• Check your credit report every 12 months.
• Secure personal information in your home.
• Protect your personal computers by using firewalls and anti-spam/virus software, updating security patches and changing passwords for Internet accounts.
• Don’t give personal information over the phone, through the mail or on the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or you are sure you know who you are dealing with.

If you think you may be at risk for identity theft due to a lost or stolen wallet, or suspicious activity on your bank accounts or credit reports, call the Internal Revenue Service Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490. If you have any questions, please contact us!

518 Arbor Hill Rd.

 Kernersville, NC 27284

 Ph: 336-996-3338

 www.cpamcdaniel.com

 

Sage Mobile Applications

Business transactions are not always conducted in brick-and-mortar establishments, so it’s important to be able to conduct business transactions anytime and anywhere. Sage offers a variety of mobile applications to help your business transactions run smoothly and efficiently while on the go.  

·         Sage Mobile Sales: Sage Mobile Sales allows you to link quotes, orders, and payments from Sage ERP system to the mobile app on your device. Salespeople out in the field will be able to view and edit customer information, create quotes and email to customers, check product availability, and enter orders and accept immediate payment.

·         Sage Mobile Service: Sage Mobile Service allows field technicians to optimize schedules, routes and assignments, attain customer sign-offs and take photos of projects, and allows access to the customer’s Sage ERP information. This app allows you to provide estimates and receipts through email, so customer contact is quick and efficient.

·         Sage Billing and Payment: Sage Billing and Payment gives you a choice of providing electronic or paper copies of invoices, as well as allowing the receipt of electronic payments. Electronic invoices and receipts can be sent to customers based on the preferences you choose.

For more information about Sage Mobile Applications, visit the Sage website.

518 Arbor Hill Rd.

 Kernersville, NC 27284

 Ph: 336-996-3338

 www.cpamcdaniel.com

 

Tips for Protecting Your Business’ Wireless Network

Keeping your business’ wireless network secure is of utmost importance, especially when considering all the recent hacks shown in the news. To protect your business, PC World has compiled a list of eight tips you should follow to keep your business’ wireless network secure.

1.      Change the default password: When you set up your router, immediately change the default password to the personalized password of your choice. Many default passwords can be searched and located on the internet, so it is important to have a personalized password on wireless network.

2.      Use only WPA2 encryption: WPA2 encryption prevents neighbors or computer hackers from hacking into your system and spying on your online activities. All new Wi-Fi routers support WPA2 encryption, and wireless devices and Wi-Fi adapter cards made in recent years do as well.

3.      Use a complex passphrase: PC World recommends using a passphrase of at least 25 characters including a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols to make your passphrase difficult to guess.

4.      Avoid common SSID names: SSID stands for Service Set Identifier, which is the name of your wireless local area network. Do not use the default SSID, or common names, such as these.

5.      Disable WPS: Wi-Fi Protected Setup was created as a way for users to add new devices to their network, but if a hacker guessed your pin code, they would be able to make changes to your Wi-Fi hardware.

6.      Set up a guest network: When friends or family need to connect to your Wi-Fi, set up a separate wireless network under a second SSID. Many wireless routers allow this option, and it is an easy way to ensure that your passphrase stays secure. Once you no longer need the guest network, you can disable it.

7.      Forget MAC addresses filtering: The Media Access Control (MAC) address is an identifier hardcoded to Ethernet ports and Wi-Fi devices. Unless you are computer programmer, it is not advised to use MAC address filtering due to the hassle that could result from a misconfiguration (manually adding all devices to your network).

8.      Disallow admin access from wireless network: If a hacker was to log in to your wireless network, disallowing administrative access would stop them from being able to make changes to the configuration of your Wi-Fi router.

518 Arbor Hill Rd.

 Kernersville, NC 27284

 Ph: 336-996-3338

 www.cpamcdaniel.com

 

4 Ways to Boost your Home Wi-Fi

Browsing on the internet can be fun, but not when your internet is running slowly. To prevent that from happening, USA Today recently posted an article listing four ways to boost your home Wi-Fi:

1.      Test your Internet Speed: The only way to know how quickly (or slowly) your internet is running is to test it! Check on your internet speed by doing a speed test at speedtest.net. Hook up your laptop to your cable or DSL modem and run a test. Then, run a test when your laptop is on the wireless network. If the computer’s speed is slower on your Wi-Fi than when connected to your modem, there is an issue with Wi-Fi.

2.      Upgrade or update your router: Updating your router will increase your network’s speed and security. Check your modem; if it says 802.11b or g, it’s time to get a new modem. The newer modems are labeled 802.11n or 802.11ac. If your router is a current version, try running a firmware update. Check the instructor’s manual for your modem for instructions on how to complete the update.

3.      Take a quick Internet survey of your house: Check just how many computers are using Wi-Fi to see whether your internet is running slowly simply because of extra use. If this is the case, try limiting the number of people using the internet at the same time.

4.      Buy a wireless extender: If you have a large house or your modem is not in a centralized location, a wireless extender will transmit the Wi-Fi signal to the farthest regions of the house.

518 Arbor Hill Rd.

 Kernersville, NC 27284

 Ph: 336-996-3338

 www.cpamcdaniel.com

 

Your credit card’s been hacked…now what?

In December, as many as 40 million Target cardholder’s accounts were hacked into, as well as the credit cards that are stolen or hacked into every day. Credit card security is of utmost importance, as your credit score and bank account are at risk when your account is hacked into or your card is stolen. CNN Money lists the top 4 steps you should take immediately to protect yourself and your credit score.

1.      Check your statement. Check your credit card statements often to be aware of all charges placed through your account. Be aware of every single charge listed on your statement. If you notice any unusual charges or have questions about a charge, follow step two.

2.      Call your credit card company and bank. If any charges look suspicious or you have any questions about charges, call the company and clear it up. The faster the situation is brought to attention, the quicker it can be resolved and the higher the chances will be of the charges being erased.

3.      Replace your credit card, change your PIN. As soon as it’s obvious your account was hacked or your card was stolen, replace your credit card and change your pin immediately. Once your new card and pin are activated, be sure to update all of your accounts that have your credit card on file or withdraw automatic payments.

4.      Sign up for a fraud monitoring service. Research the best threat detection services that would fit your needs and budget, and you can rest assured that your account will be monitored.

518 Arbor Hill Rd.

 Kernersville, NC 27284

 Ph: 336-996-3338

 www.cpamcdaniel.com

 

 

What You Need to Know about the Cloud

Cloud computing has increased in popularity in recent years, and is already slated as the computer storage of the future. Although the cloud is talked about often, there are still many questions about what the cloud actually is.  Simply put, cloud computing is the storage of data on an internet program rather than on your computer’s hard drive. When using the cloud, you access and store all of your data and programs through an internet provider. Some examples of companies that provide this data storage are Apple iCloud, Google Drive, and Amazon Cloud Drive. Although you might not realize it, many online programs that you use already store your data in the cloud, such as web e-mail, social networking websites, and photo-sharing websites.  The biggest gripe against cloud computing currently is the issue of being able to access your files and/or programs without an internet connection, and also being able to trust that your information is stored securely through your provider. As cloud computing is fairly new, companies are still developing rules and regulations when it comes to cloud computing and storage. For further information, check out articles from Kiplinger and PC Mag. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!

518 Arbor Hill Rd.

 Kernersville, NC 27284

 Ph: 336-996-3338

 www.cpamcdaniel.com

 

Pay Your Invoices Online!

McDaniel & Company, PLLC now offers the option of paying invoices online. To pay online, simply go to our website, www.cpamcdaniel.com, click on ‘Online Payment’ and enter your information! Once the transaction is complete, you will receive a success message with the amount paid, and our office will send you a payment receipt via e-mail. All of your information is processed securely and instantly on our website. We accept all major credit cards, including American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa. Paying online is not your only option for payment; you can still send payment in by mail or call us with your credit card information. If you have any questions about paying online or would like assistance, contact us and we will be happy to assist you!

518 Arbor Hill Rd.

 Kernersville, NC 27284

 Ph: 336-996-3338

 www.cpamcdaniel.com