Search the Community
Showing results for 'database'.
-
For those of you running your network over wifi...
jklcpa replied to Abby Normal's topic in General Chat
I agree with cbslee and that we should continue with our usual abundance of caution. I don't know why the articles I read said that MS had released and emergency patch today, because the updates that I received late this afternoon were for ancillary programs and the usual database updates for my AV software. -
Please tell me this is fake news - you can't make this up
Lee B replied to BulldogTom's topic in General Chat
Did you see that yahoo just announced that several years ago when their email database was hacked that every customers information was exposed which is 3 times the number that they had previously admitted to ! IT security experts are now saying that with hackers getting more aggressive and sophisticated that this situation is only going to continue to get worse ! -
I read an IRS notice today (sorry, the link is on my work computer so I can't share it now) telling us the changes to expect in eservices later this month. We now have to register through something like "Secure Access." Yes, even those of us who went through the other registration they demanded not long ago. If it wasn't through the secure system we have to do it all over. And yes, the notice stated if our credit report at Equifax is frozen, we will have to unfreeze it. Apparently the questions they ask so we can prove who we are come from Equifax's database (e.g., how much your mortgage is or where you lived 100 years ago). Talk about infuriating! To date Equifax has not notified anyone whose data were stolen. (Website is useless, so take heart NECPA, maybe you weren't all hacked after all.) And there is no word on exactly what info was taken. It "may" have been birthdates and SS#s, but was it also our mortgage payments and where we lived 100 years ago and all the rest of the history Equifax keeps on us? If the hackers have that, they can save us all the trouble of having to swim through the hoops IRS is imposing to access eservices and just do it for us. IT people are still in a state of shock that the company didn't notice 143 million files were transferred from their servers over a month or two. That amount of increased traffic should have raised multiple red flags. Maybe their IT music major guru did notice and just added server capacity.
-
Perhaps this should be a separate topic ? The SEC announced today that they recently discovered that their database containing sensitive corporate information which could have used to generate insider trading profits was hacked back in 2016. So here we all are being bounced around like ping pong balls in a game we can't see by unknown players waiting for our number to come up like a reverse lottery. Any thoughts that we as individuals have control are sadly probably delusional .
-
According to this article, Equifax knew about the software flaw, but also knew that there was a software patch available well before the hack started and did nothing. Equifax is not only greedy, it is stupid and incompetent and doesn't care that identity theft cost Americans 16 Billion Dollars last year ! The CEO and other officials should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law ! NEW YORK (AP) -- Credit agency Equifax traced the theft of sensitive information about 143 million Americans to a software flaw that could have been fixed well before the burglary occurred, further undermining its credibility as the guardian of personal data that can easily be used for identity theft. Equifax identified a weakness in an open-source software package called Apache Struts as the technological crack that allowed hackers to heist Social Security numbers, birthdates, addresses and full legal names from a massive database maintained primarily for lenders. SECURITY FOR DUMMIES The patch was released shortly afterward. Equifax said the database intrusion began in May and continued until July. Security experts said Equifax had more than enough opportunity to block intruders by sealing the security hole. "There is no excuse for not following basic cybersecurity hygiene," said Nate Fick, CEO of the security firm Endgame. "Some heads should definitely roll for this; it's only a question of how many." The company didn't respond to inquiries on Thursday
-
Lion, you are right--a freeze did no good because the hackers went in behind the scenes and accessed our data. Only legitimate inquirers like mortgage lenders and insurance companies were frozen out. To FDNY, that data is of immense value even with a credit freeze. Criminals can file tax returns for you, get a job under your SS#, get medical care under your name, open bank accounts with your data and launder money in them, etc. From what I've read, the Equifax website is not yet functional enough to let people know if they were victims. Most people are getting an offer of free credit monitoring. It's still unclear if the mandatory arbitration clause applies to Equifax or just to the credit monitoring company (which Equifax owns). I had credit monitoring a few years ago after another breach and did receive a call when I opened a new credit card. I confirmed that I opened it, but at that point it was already open and if thieves had done it they could have charged a lot before I got the call. I think monitoring offers a false sense of security. I was really upset that that it took less than 24 hours after the announcement for Lion's husband to get a scam email that undoubtedly would require him to enter personal info. I read a warning that people should beware phone scams supposedly from Equifax. I feel that we are all under attack. Now my rant: The credit reporting agencies collect all kinds of data on us, without our consent, and make money selling it to whomever pays for it. Those supposed breaches at the IRS IP PIN, transcript, and FAFSA apps were not breaches at all but thieves who had purchased credit reports and had enough info about the victim's prior addresses, loans, etc. (with additional personal info freely available on the internet and social media) to pass as the real person. If I don't want my credit history shared I have to PAY them to freeze it (and unfreeze it if I want to shop my auto insurance or refi). I am helpless to keep my financial info out of Equifax's database, have no control over whom they sell it to, and now it's gotten into the hands of criminals. This breach affected over half of the US adult population, so if you are a couple chances are at least one of you is involved. Thanks to Equifax, we will all have to looking over our shoulders for the rest of our lives. I will not join a class action but may sue them for $10m or more. GRRRRRRRR.
-
ATX programs have always been a major resource hog. When the ATX program is installed, it sets up 4 different database servers on both standalone and networked systems. IMHO the program starts and tries to access the servers before the servers have spun up which generates the error messages, which is just bad programming. Earlier this year when I would get this message, I would wait a minute and it would always start up on the second try. Since I have installed a SSD hard drive on my Win 7 Pro 64 bit system with 6 Gigs of Ram, this error has not happened. By the way, since I have installed the SSD, my system is ready to go from a cold boot in less than 1 Minute.
-
The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry today warned tax professionals to beware of phishing emails purporting to be from a tax software education provider and seeking extensive amounts of sensitive preparer data. The email’s origin is unknown but likely issued by cybercriminals who could be operating from the U.S. or abroad. The email is unusual for the amount of sensitive preparer data that it seeks. This preparer information will enable the thieves to steal client data and file fraudulent tax returns. The IRS reminds all tax professionals that legitimate businesses and organizations never ask for usernames, passwords or sensitive data via email. Nor should a preparer ever provide such sensitive information via email if asked. All tax professionals should be aware that their e-Services credentials, the Electronic Filing Information Number (EFIN), the Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) and their Centralized Authorization File (CAF) number are extremely valuable to identity thieves. Anyone handling taxpayer information has a legal obligation to protect that data. Because the IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry, acting in partnership as the Security Summit, are making inroads on individual tax-related identity theft, cybercriminals increasingly target tax professionals. Thieves are looking for real client data so they can better impersonate the taxpayer when filing fraudulent returns for refunds. The fake email uses the name of a real U.S.-based preparer education firm. Here’s the text as it appears in phishing emails being sent to tax professionals: In our database, there is a failure, we need your information about your account. In addition, we need a photo of the driver's license, send all the data to the letter. Please do it as soon as possible, this will help us to revive the account. *Company Name * *EServices Username * *EServices Password * *EServices Pin * *CAF number* *Answers to a secret question* *EIN Number * *Business Name *Owner/Principal Name * *Owner/Principal DOB * *Owner/Principal SSN * *Prior Years AGI Mother's Maiden Name If you received or fell victim to the scam email, forward a copy to [email protected]. If you disclosed any credential information, contact the e-Services Help Desk to reset your password
-
I had a reject of form 7004 last Aug when I filed it for a 5/31 C corp that had used that fiscal year since its incorporation in 1946! When I called in to the practitioner priority line, the rep told me that the IRS had updated one of its systems and that most of the companies having this issue were older companies that were missing an entity code in the IRS' database and making the system want to default to calendar year filing. I paper-filed the extension, and I do not recall how the client and I decided it had been resolved. The rep took down all of the information that she passed on to the IRS entity division for correction and said that it might take 30 days or more to correct. By the time we filed the return in mid-Nov, the e-filed form 1120 was accepted without any troubles at all. Here's that post with more details and a couple of other members that had similar troubles:
-
I can never pass those "public database" type questions. They have too much information that has to do with my ex (1987 divorce) and his second wife. I don't know what street they lived on in Syracuse or what bank gave them a mortgage in Philly or how many cards they have from Brooks Brothers. I always fail. Couldn't reactivate my e-Services account online or even by telephone but had to wait for codes to arrive in the mail. I don't get any W-2s or 1099s in my name/SSN except the one from my sharecroppers who always, every single year have a typo; a different typo each year, but a typo. And, IRS says my cell is not in my name, but AT&T says it is in my name so can't change it to my name. I can't prove I'm me, but some thief in Turkey or someplace can prove he's me!
-
In college we "learned" a version of a word processing program, a spreadsheet type program and a database type program. This was before MS offered any such programs that I'm aware of. All three programs came on a single 5.25". My first version of Lotus 123 I bought used - it was something like 25 3.5" floppies. That computer class was 1 semester and 1/2 mainframe and 1/2 PC oriented. I could do all the PC stuff, my fraternity brother handled the mainframe program. You didn't even have to submit a program - you submitted a printout of the program on green bar paper. Weird times.
-
HELP!! I CANT GET MY PROGRAM OPEN INITIALIZATION ERROR ISSUE CONNECTING THIS WORKSTATION TO THE CONFIGURED DATABASE PLEASE ENSURE THE SERVER IS RUNNING AND THE SERVICE IS STARTED
-
Ohio is very specific. Driver's License information. No other option other than a person not having a driver's license. Ohio can cross check the database for identity verification.
-
Yes I did at just over 3 and half hours. It was bitter sweet because the Rep I got was amazing. He was patient. He apologized twice for the other Rep disconnecting me. And best of all he was knowledgeable. He remoted in on my PC and was able to assist me. What happened was at the beginning of January ATX sent me a link to download the PaperlessPlus software but it still had the 2015 version. So that's why my activation code would not work. The two versions look almost identical. He was also able to clean up some networking issues and transfer my database over. I thanked him a million times. It was worth the wait. I am glad I didn't hang up.. I was tempted a few times.
-
Johnny: I Presume that you did have the clients in your file before the update, correct? Usually, it is just the link to the actual database that gets scrambled. Close 2016, open 2015, and then reopen 2016. Sometimes, that might help. if not, you have call customer support. Rich
-
I have ATX 2012 - 2016. They all have always been working fine in the past. I have windows 10 and recently just added a separate admin profile and a user profile on the computer. After doing so I came across the database server error. When I try to open ATX 2016 or 2015, the server progress box comes up saying database server error. "Could not open transactional storage: C:/ProgramData/CCH Small Firm Services\ATX 2016 Server\DataStore\Data" This keeps coming up and I've tried everything and it doesn't seem to work. Like I mentioned before, everything was working before I decided to add a admin and a user profile on the computer. I just don't see how that would effect it. I tried opening them as admin and it still doesn't work. Any suggestions?
-
I just installed 08-11 for some non-filers and it appears that the data location is in the program folder (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\ATX2008). I see a Database folder and a Backup folder. I need to be sure because my offsite backup software needs to know which folders I want backed up, and I'd rather not backup up the entire programs folder. I would also like to backup program settings, customized master forms and customized letters. I believe the customized forms and letters are under Masters, under either Latest, Modified or Revisions, so I selected all three folders to be backed up, but I don't see a settings file anywhere. Thanks in advance!
-
After changing my router from verizon fios, i now try to load ATX 2015 and get error message could not open transactional storage with the status of some processes. Has anyone else had this issue.
-
Then you're probably going to pay handsomely for truly customizable software or else customize something yourself from Excel or a database software. For economical + customizable, you're going to have to demo a few (or maybe, many) to see what might meet your needs. Obviously, something that allows you to add custom fields. Call your current software provider to see if they have something for you to demo. Take a look at Catherine's worksheet. By the way, all the "calendar" programs I've seen DO include payroll, sales, that sneaky NY LLC fee I sometimes miss, etc., so you'd need fields to add client-specific needs, such as financial statements, info needed, staff, etc. When my sister worked at Northrup Grumman as government liaison with all the paperwork she had to deal with and government as well as company deadlines, she used a Windows calendar to track. She set it to alert her of upcoming events. Her computer would Ding, and then talk to her, such as, You need to get information from Jane Doe in XYZ dept. by Friday, and send her an email, and leave a text on her screen. I was sitting in her office one day when her computer spoke to us telling Jan she had to buy me a birthday present by tomorrow if she was going to get it in the mail to me by Friday to get it from IL to CT by my birthday! Since I was in town, she'd already given me my gift (Cub's tickets) but had forgotten to mark that activity done. Maybe you have a staffer who's good at research, demo-ing, customizing, etc., or three staffers.
-
I am getting the database server error problem today for the first time for both 2014 and 2015. 2013 works fine. any suggestions? of course sept. 15th is coming and I need to restore access.
-
how the IRS would ever allow those that are "registered" to practice before the IRS without ongoing CPE This is what is all about. I argued with IRS tax preparer office saying back then when I got IL registered CPA your office accepted my credentials as valid to be recognized and enrolled & listed me under IRS tax preparer database and what has changed overnight that you wont now. I spoke to IL dept of financial & professional regulation they are suggesting since law changed from 2012 wherein all subsequent CPA's are licensed CPA and no more registered CPA's and then I am grandfathered and would not be subject to 3 year 120 CPE requirements as the case may be for licensed CPA's.
-
I meant to post here on the forum about another scam too. About 10 days ago, I received a call on my office line from someone claiming to be from Medicare and needing to update my husband's personal information in the Medicare database. Yeah, right! The caller had a foreign accent and with lots of background noise, and is obviously a similar scam to others that try to fool the recipient into sharing personal data. I did a quick google search and found that this is targeting those on Medicare, Social Security, and that might have supplemental insurance, and it may be phrased as needing to update the information presented on any one of those cards.
-
I filed an extension for a fiscal year estate today and it was accepted within a couple of hours. The last one I tried to do the same thing for had that database mismatch. So it was the IRS, not me. Not too often we can say that.
-
Ran into the exact same thing for an estate I was trying to put on extension. I am using a fiscal year and filed the first 1041 with whatever year-end date. The extension for the second fiscal year kept rejecting because year end did not match IRS database, even though it exactly followed the prior year end. Thanks for sharing this tidbit. Now I know it's not me doing something stupid.
-
A May 31st fiscal year C corp had their 7004 rejected today with the error code indicating that the year end did not match the IRS database. The IRS rep on the practitioner priority line told me that an entity code is missing from the client's file and that IRS systems now think this is a calendar year taxpayer. Last year's return on extension e-filed without a hitch in Feb 2016, and when asked what changed since then, she then added that IRS is updating systems that might stop the e-files of some older companies that are missing these sorts of "codes" and that she's had more calls recently for this situation. Similar situations are occurring with S corps and the IRS system thinking those companies should be reporting as C corps. The bottom line is that even the paper-filed 7004 will be in limbo until the database is corrected, that the 1120 itself will also reject, and it is probably also holding up the processing of an 1120X for an NOL carryback. Rep told me that this might be fixed sooner, but the advice is to wait at least 30 days or more, and that the entity division might or might not send out paperwork requiring signatures. I have this work almost done and now will be holding the return for e-filing until this is straightened out. No way we want to paper file this. With 2 calls to the client, getting the POA, the call to IRS, and the trip to the post office, I wasted a lot of time on this today for something that should have taken a couple of minutes. /rant Anyone else run into anything like this recently?