A Microsoft Security Advisory note issued on January 15th revealed that Excel 2003 had been targeted by attacks on a previously unknown vulnerability. The advisory provided few specific details, but explained that hackers would need to place a specially crafted Excel file on a Web site to launch an attack.

Intuit, the maker of QuickBooks, hosts an online community named JumpUp.com. This community was created to assist new and existing business owners in networking and promoting their business. JumpUp.com offers free resources that are available to help you grow your business. Our featured guest in this episode of Small Business Trends Radio is Kira Wampler, Marketing and Community Leader at JumpUp.com.

by Linda L. Heineman, CPA I must confess, I love my home office. Over the years I have continued to fine-tune how my office works so I can stay home as long as possible.There are some great benefits to a home office. First, it's economical - no rent, no landlord. And, living in a traffic-clogged city like Los Angeles, it's wonderful not having to face a daily commute. You can work whenever you want. That flexibility is another reason why having a home office is so attractive.

ExcelZone's series of Five Minute tips aims to develop your skills at using Excel pivot tables. If you want to try out each tip for yourself, Excel expert David Carter takes you through a worked example on a small sample database of sales invoices.In the worked examples you will analyze the invoices to show sales by product, sales by customer, gross margins, margin percentage etc. The series is therefore relevant to sales and marketing people as well as accountants.

As reported recently on the Daily Dose of Excel site, Charles Williams of DecisionModels.com tried to find out what was causing the delays on certain versions of Excel when he tried to clear a large range of cells. Following further discussions on VBA news groups, it was found that problem could be linked to the EnableEvents property.

The great Facebook boom of 2007 has been accompanied by a new generation of phishing and trojan horse virus attacks, according to security experts.In its review of the year, MessageLabs noted that websites such as Facebook, Linked-In, and Plaxo presented rich pickings for identity thieves looking to gather personal information.

For those who can't wait until November to cast a vote, here's a more immediate alternative. Intuit Inc. is asking Americans to select a budding entrepreneur to win a $50,000 business startup package as part of its Just Start contest.The voting is free of debates, caucuses, and primaries, with polling places open online. The winner will be the entrepreneur who voters believe offers the clearest, most feasible business idea. The victor receives $40,000 in cash and $10,000 in products and services.

Most taxpayers may file their 2007 tax returns electronically beginning January 11 as the Internal Revenue Service opens the e-file program.Benefits of E-FileThe IRS states that taxpayers who use IRS e-file and who choose direct deposit can receive their refund in as little as ten days. With e-file there is no paper return going to the IRS, and with direct deposit, there is no paper refund going to the taxpayer. Tax return information received electronically is protected through encryption.

The following announcement was issued by the CPA Technology Advisor on the occasion of their annual Readers' Choice Awards presentations.With the changing of calendars from 2007 to 2008, it's also time to announce the results of the CPA Technology Advisor 2007 Readers' Choice Awards, an annual insight into the minds of tax and accounting professionals. The Awards, featuring more than 25 categories of professional applications, hardware, services and other technologies, give those in these professions a way to express appreciation for the systems that help them in their practice.