You’re on the road for a good reason: There’s something important that requires your attention — and you need to stay mentally alert. The best way to do that is to maintain as healthy a routine as possible.

So make it a point — not just as an option or afterthought — to schedule in exercise and healthy meals. If you do, you’ll be sharper and make better business decisions.

Break Free From the Pack

I recently came across another wrongheaded “business success” article. It advised up-and-comers to “read the same magazines as your peers.”

Certainly, you must keep up on what’s going on within your industry. But you won’t get very far if all you have is the same information as everyone else.

You should be constantly looking for breakthrough ideas by going outside your field. Identify hot trends in other industries. Then think about how they might be adapted to yours.

“Beginning my day with good ideas.”

“First of all, thanks for all the great tips in your newsletters. It took a while, but I now love the new ETR format. By the way, I read it first thing in the morning. I’m a firm believer in beginning my day with good ideas and good thoughts. It sets a pattern for the rest of my day.”

Bruce Weir
Lake Stevens, WA

Clean. Focused. Easy to digest.

Starting Monday, we’ll be sending you just ONE powerful, provocative, advice-packed success secret each day that can help you grow your business, boost your income, cut costs, enhance productivity, achieve your dreams, or otherwise improve your life.

We’re confident that you’ll get even more value from this “new” format: a single, useful idea every day that has the power to make you wealthier, healthier, or more successful.

The changes we have planned will help you enormously in the weeks and months to come. I can’t reveal all the exciting details right here, so be sure you read ETR this coming Monday for a special announcement from Michael Masterson.

Turns out the listing was fake (though the apartment was real). Something on CraigsList that’s not on the up-and-up? Shocking, I know. How did my brother find out? When he inquired about the rental, he got an e-mail asking for his Social Security number, driver’s license info, bank account details, etc. so they could run a “credit check” – and he knew something was amiss.

Yes, that’s the kind of information a prospective landlord is likely to ask for (legitimately) – but only when you meet him in person and after you have seen the property. And what have you learned about e-mailed requests for personal information from people you don’t know? That’s right, you’re probably dealing with an identity thief who’s doing some “phishing.”

It turns out that identity thieves aren’t the only ones misusing CraigsList apartment ads. Scammers are posting vague listings with no specific addresses – but rock-bottom rents. Those who inquire are asked to provide a credit report before they can see the apartment, and are helpfully given a link to get a “free” one. It’s a link to a company that actually does offer a free report… after you’ve signed up for their expensive credit monitoring service.

The lesson? CraigsList is a great resource, but caveat emptor. When a deal sounds too good to be true – it probably is.

[Ed. Note: Unscrupulous businesses got you down? Why not Unscrew Your Life with ETR's monthly newsletter designed to help you overcome life's annoyances, scams, and more.]

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From: Kelly Brock

Date: Sun, May 17, 2009 at 10:15 PM

Subject: Google reported your site as suspicious with malware

To: AskETR@etrfeedback.com

Hi,

Google has reported your site has been loading with malware and suspicious activities, and has blocked users from accessing it. To be on the safe side, I am not opening the link to your website till all is clear. You might want to check and clarify. Attached is the browser screen. Hope this help.

Regards

Kelly

Our website was under attack.

I immediately started digging, and saw that certain pages of our site were trying to redirect our visitors to a Chinese site called gunbar.cn. That site then tried to pass along a virus to our visitors’ computers.

It seems that an extremely malicious Trojan/Virus had been released on the Web. ETR – along with WalMart.com and Variety.com, among others – was one of its latest victims. Colin Witucki, ETR’s Operations Manager, and I managed to eradicate the virus from ETR’s site. But this experience offers a good lesson for anyone with an Internet business.

If you take the proper precautions – like using reputable anti-virus and malware protection software – this is a one-in-a-million occurrence. And the possibility of contracting a virus is certainly not a reason to get scared away from doing business online.

But it CAN happen.

Here’s what I learned during our own battle – and how you can use it to prevent or thwart any attacks on your site…

This particular Trojan/Virus has a way of infecting a computer without being detected by anti-virus software, and it seems that one of the computers in our office had caught it. A computer can catch this electronic parasite simply by “visiting” an infected website.

It works by first infecting your computer, and then infecting your website using login criteria it steals from your FTP client. (FTP is a software used to upload and download pages from your Web server.) It then begins to upload infected Web pages to your server without you knowing it!

The URL for the virus was originally several variations of gumblar.cn. It had been out for a short time – and I was aware of it – but the version we contracted was fairly new.

This malicious code started slowly and kept spreading until many of the pages on our site were infected. Though I acted as soon as I knew we had a problem, I wasn’t able to catch it in time to prevent our website from being flagged by Google and other online authorities.

Because we were flagged by Google, when people visited our website they were greeted by an ugly red sign that read: “This site has been listed as an attack site.” From that warning page, the ETR site was accessible only by clicking on the “Ignore this warning” link (which, as you can imagine, NO ONE used).

Needless to say… our website was in serious trouble. We could have been blacklisted by Google and other search engines if the problem had not been taken care of quickly.

How WE Overcame This Malicious Attack

It wasn’t easy. It took a lot of work and about five re-submissions to Google’s review board, but we managed to fend of the attack and get our website back to normal.

• The first thing we did was change ALL the passwords on every site we hosted on the server. Once they were changed, the virus had no way to upload itself to the server.

• Colin and I then ran around to every computer in the office (more than 20) and installed virus protection software called Avast! Antivirus. This was the only software we could find that detected this Trojan/Virus.

• Once everyone’s computer was clean, I proceeded to clean out the files on the server. Since the virus had randomized the malicious code (it looked completely different on every page), I wasn’t able to remove it simply by using the software. I had to go in and remove the line of code file by file. There are more 3,000 files on our site, so you can imagine how beat I was after the first 300 or so.

That’s when I decided to try to write a small application that would do it automatically using PHP (a Web programming language). I ran my program on the server – and IT WORKED! It cleared all the malicious code on our pages. And when I submitted to Google’s review board this time (they allow a review request every eight hours or so), they finally removed the block they’d put on our site.

Thank goodness we were able to get out of this jam. Unfortunately, thousands of Websites get infected by viruses every day. That’s why we’re taking every precaution to ensure that it does not happen to us again (including some that – for security reasons – I can’t mention here).

Your first step in detecting and removing this nasty little bug (as well as just about every other worm, virus, or Trojan out there), is to install AVAST! Antivirus.

I can’t say enough about how much help this software was. It helped save our online business. Our office computers had Norton, McAfee, and AVG installed – and NONE of those programs caught this Trojan/Virus.

The little application I wrote was also a big help – so I thought I’d offer it to our readers and website visitors here.

PLEASE NOTE: Use this PHP script at your own risk! The application worked for me – but though it was intended to remove only the malicious code, it does remove lines of JavaScript code that contains similar structures. If you do not know how to use it (there are two lines of code you need to change to suit your needs), I recommend that you hire an expert webmaster to help you. If you do not know of any, post your comment on this article and I will recommend someone.

We dodged a bullet – but how will YOU fare if a virus attacks your business website?

As I said, it is unlikely that you will have a problem if you take the proper precautions. Here are the two most important things you can do:

1. Be vigilant.

This is key. I am constantly scanning ETR’s website to watch for viruses, and I check the site every day for irregularities. You should do the same. You – or your Web manager – should also keep up to date on the latest viruses and how they get access to websites. That way, you’ll be on top of them before they ever affect your site.

2. Take some easy initial steps to protect yourself.

• Make sure your FTP login information and passwords are secure. Write them down somewhere rather than saving them on your site. And give access to upload only to people who absolutely need it.

• Run a daily scan for malicious software (malware). I use malwarebytes.com. [

• Install privacy software that detects and removes spyware from your site. I use spybot.com.

While you shouldn't let the threat of a virus keep you from starting an online business, it is something you should be aware of. A few ounces of prevention - and an understanding of how to thwart an attack - can help keep your website, your visitors, and your business safe.

[Ed. Note: Starting an Internet business may sound daunting - especially when you think of all the "technical" aspects. But that's where ETR's experts come in. Edwin Huertas, MaryEllen Tribby, Charlie Byrne, and other Internet marketing specialists will show you, step by step, exactly how to set up an Internet business. After 5 days with them, you WILL have a fully functioning Internet business with the potential to pull in thousands of dollars every month. Get all the details here.]

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Good records save you money because they make deductions possible. (Read: Pay less taxes.) They save you time because they keep Uncle Sam off your back. Not having them puts you in Uncle Sam’s pocket (and maybe even in jail).

Follow these record keeping rules:

Rule 1. Keep all tax records for a minimum of 3 years and long-term records (real estate closings, stock transactions, IRA or retirement plan purchases) for a minimum of 10 years.

Rule 2. Receipts must be dated and include the business name. (Not yours – the name of the business issuing the receipt… even if it’s just a corporate ID #.) To qualify as a “receipt” for tax purposes, logs must be dated and kept continuously.

Rule 3. Sort receipts by date. Having all of each month’s receipts in one envelope is better than having, for example, all your gas receipts for the year in one envelope.

A good way to handle business-travel expenses for tax purposes is to keep a simple mileage log in your car and use the log to store all your travel-related receipts. At today’s standard rate of $0.55 per mile, 10,000 business miles would give you a $5,500 standard mileage deduction. (You can find a sample mileage log here..) On the last day of every month, take the receipts from your mileage log and put them in an envelope. Write “travel receipts” with the month and year on the envelope. Then stash it in a shoebox or desk drawer.

Simple steps like these can save you thousands.

[Ed. Note: Internet Money Club member Tim Clay is an Enrolled Agent (a federally authorized tax practitioner) and a certified QuickBooks Advisor with 25 years of experience. Visit www.AskTaxGuys.com to learn more and sign up for Tim's free tax-tips newsletter.

One of the best ways to reduce your tax bill for 2010 - while building a business that could throw off income for years to come - is to further your education. Learn how you could set yourself up with income for life right here.]

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People do not normally get swine flu. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has determined that this sub-type of the disease is contagious, though, and is being spread through large airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

In most people, the symptoms – fever, cough, sore throat, and runny nose – are mild. People with other chronic medical conditions and the very young and very old are at risk for complications, such as severe respiratory problems and bacterial pneumonia. However, swine flu is easily treated with anti-viral medications, including Tamiflu and Relenza.

You can prevent swine flu by minimizing your exposure. This includes avoiding travel to places where the highest numbers of cases are being reported. If you need to be around someone who has (or possibly has) swine flu, wear a surgical mask and wash your hands well after your interaction with them. If you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose and then wash your hands.

Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and high-quality protein helps by boosting your immune system, providing the nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that fight infection. And regular aerobic exercise increases the number of circulating white blood cells in your system, which helps stop any developing infection.

As I said, there’s no need to panic. By taking a few simple precautions, you should be fine.

[Ed. Note: Lisa Forgione, MD, is an Emergency Medicine Physician practicing in Wadesboro, North Carolina. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine and a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Forgione participated in the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and has received several Physicians Recognition Awards for teaching from the AMA and AAFP.

For more on current health issues, plus plenty of strategies for eating better, getting fit, and living longer, sign up for ETR's FREE natural health newsletter. ]

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But those should be the first – not only – steps you take, especially if you’re traveling to areas known for conditions that make them unstable or dangerous (e.g., civil unrest or disease outbreaks). You see, the U.S. isn’t always up to date when it comes to issuing travel warnings. And in emergency situations… well, U.S. travelers in Mumbai during the recent attacks report calling the embassy only to be told to watch TV news for more information.

So you should also register for e-mail alerts from the Australian (smarttraveler.gov.au), British (fco.gov.uk), and Canadian (voyage.gc.ca) governments. Their worldwide travel advisories tend to be more current and more frequent than those from the U.S. Plus, they’ll send you e-mails and text messages quickly and often during emergency situations.

(Source: Conde Nast Traveler)

[Ed. Note: Staying safe when traveling is just one of hundreds of situations you can learn to handle with aplomb with Unscrew Your Life. It's a monthly newsletter with tips for overcoming life's sticky situations, large and small. Find out more here]

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1. Despite what you may have been led to believe, there are no significant tax loopholes for wealthy people. Except for the regular benefits you get from having your own corporation, high-income earners have to pay their 40 percent taxes or go to jail.

2. Even if there were any tax shelters left, they aren’t worth the time and trouble required to get into them. Everyone I know who has been involved in a tax shelter or some tax-avoidance scheme eventually has regretted it. If you want to pay less tax you’ll have to earn less income. As long as Uncle Sam is leaving you enough money to become financially independent, it doesn’t pay to work yourself up over taxes.

[Ed. Note: The above article was adapted from Automatic Wealth: The Six Steps to Financial Independence, published with permission from John Wiley & Sons. Get your copy today.]

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What should you do?

Don’t panic…

Simply by filing Form 4868, the IRS gives you an automatic extension of six months (until October 15).

With the extension, you avoid getting hit with a late-filing penalty, and that can be considerable. The penalty is 5 percent (of the tax you owe) per month up to a maximum of 25 percent of your total tax bill. Avoiding this penalty is too easy to just “let it happen.”

But, there are still two more ways for Uncle Sam to ding your pocketbook.

• Late-payment penalty. If you owe money on your taxes and do not send full payment with the extension application, the late-payment penalty kicks in – and this can be up to another 25 percent of the tax due.

Not quite sure how much you owe? Come up with a “ballpark” figure based on your 2007 taxes, and send as much of that as you can. That way, even if you end up owing more, at least you avoid some of the late-payment penalty.

• Interest. In addition to the late-payment penalty, you’re going to be charged interest on any balance due (tax owed minus the payment you wisely make with Form 4868) at the Federal Short Term Rate plus 3 percent. The rate changes every three months, and the interest is compounded daily.

So get Form 4868 filled in and filed NOW!

[Ed. Note: Internet Money Club member Tim Clay, E.A., is an Enrolled Agent - a federally authorized tax practitioner - and a certified QuickBooks Advisor with 25 years of experience. Visit www.AskTaxGuys.com to learn more and sign up for Tim's free tax-tips newsletter.
One of the best ways to reduce your tax bill for 2010 - while building a business that could throw off income for years to come - is to further your education. Learn how you could make between $50,000 and $5 million by starting your own Internet business - and get ETR's 10-pound "playbook to Internet riches" right here ]

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Here are her five tips for getting a great deal on hotels with three or more stars:

1. Book directly with the hotel.

Call the front desk and ask to speak with the “on-site reservationist.” Avoid the reservations 800 number, which will usually connect you to an outside company that isn’t open to negotiation and can’t access the best deals.

2. Appeal to the “human factor” for negotiating power.

Once you get an on-site reservationist on the phone, let her know why you’re excited about going to that particular hotel. Going on your honeymoon? Let your excitement show.

3. Be nice.

“If you’re nice,” Wendy told me, “you’re much more likely to get what you want. If you’re unkind, you’ll pay full price for the room by the elevator.”

4. Try someone else.

If you still don’t get the deal you’re looking for, call back a few hours later to see if you can catch someone on the next shift.

5. Ask for a nicer room.

If you’re already getting a discount, you’ll be less likely to get upgraded to a nicer room for free. But if you’re paying full rate, make sure you ask if a room upgrade is available.

[Ed. Note: Keep up to date on the latest travel tools, tricks, and tips by signing up for The Right Way to Travel FREE e-letter, brought to you by AWAI's Travel Division. Sign up here.]

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