You can’t help but notice trends and patterns when doing this kind of research, and I thought you might be interested in some of those trends. For example, in this article I’ve compiled five of the most popular types of software in the world, based on how often people look them up through Google, Yahoo, MSN and the other search engines.

#1 – Anti-virus Tools

For a long time, I’ve had a conspiracy theory that the companies that make anti-virus programs are in league with the people who create computer viruses in the first place. After all, few things sell anti-virus software like the constant threat of new viruses. Regardless of who’s generating the fear, they are doing a good job of it, because anti-virus software is consistently one of the most frequently searched programs.

Most people computer users are very familiar with these programs, because they come pre-installed on most PCs. There is also a dizzying array of software products that fall into this category, so I won’t try to summarize them here. That’s another article entirely.

#2 – Tax Software

Okay, so there’s a very good chance this one made the list because I conducted my research at tax time (in March). Perhaps if I conducted this study later in the year, tax software would not be quite as popular from a search engine usage standpoint. At any rate, it makes the cut today and falls in right behind the anti-virus programs based on the number of searches.

I use these programs every year at tax time. Or, to be honest, I should say my wife uses these programs while I provide moral support. At any rate, these software products are incredibly useful for people who prepare their own tax returns.

Though each program offers slightly different features, they all perform the same basic function. They walk you step by step through the process of completing your tax-return forms. You just fill in the blanks with the requested information, and the software does the rest. Popular tax software programs include TaxAct, TurboTax and TaxCut (by H&R Block).

#3 – Accounting Software

This type of computer program might be high on the list of Internet search for two reasons. For one thing, it’s very versatile and can be used by professional accountants, small business owners, and others. Secondly, there are terminology reasons for the Internet search popularity of this software. Some people use the phrase “accounting” when referring to the tax-preparation programs mentioned previously, while others use the phrase when referring to the more full-featured programs used by professional accountants.

Regardless of these semantic differences, accounting software is commonly searched through the major search engines, so it makes my list. These programs are most often used to manage the revenue and expenses of a company, including payroll and corporate tax information.

#4 – DVD Burning Tools

As the name suggests, these software programs allow you to reproduce or “burn” copies of DVDs. Of course, these tools also open a Pandora’s box of legal issues, because you cannot just make copies of a commercial DVD without violating copyright laws.

But this is not a legal lesson — it’s a list of popular software types as measured by Internet search patters. And by that yardstick DVD burning programs certainly make the list.

#5 – Video Editing Programs

These software tools allow you to edit video sequences on a computer. You don’t even need a fancy computer to use them, but just a regular old desktop unit (as long as its compatible with the software program you choose).

These products have become increasingly popular over the years, thus creating an army of amateur filmmakers. To use them, you would first create the video footage itself. Then you would use this unique and powerful software to edit the footage on any compatible desktop computer. You can import and export video to and from your computer, cut and paste sections of video, and add special effects and transitions.

* Sources: KeywordTracker and Keyword Discovery. I cross-referenced the most common software types from both tools to create this list.

The World Wide Web is a fascinating place. It has obliterated geography in terms of education and business. It facilitates learning by allowing kids to see things and experiences aspects of different places they may never get the chance to see in the non-virtual world. The Internet can bring people together who otherwise would never know each other and create a virtual universe that is totally cohesive, with every kind of information imaginable literally available at your fingertips. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

Unfortunately, the Internet has a dark side. It is full of material that is inappropriate for children and all kinds of predators. Leaving your kids alone to fend for themselves on the Web is exactly as dangerous at leaving them in a crowed airport or shopping mall. You don’t know where they’re going or who with. The news is filled with horror stories about kids who have been taken advantage of on the Internet, but you don’t want yours to miss out on all the positive aspects of the technology. The first line of defense in keeping your kids save on the Web is to teach them how to use it safely.

A lot of online dangers can be dodged simply by reminding kids of one of their earliest learned lessons: don’t talk to strangers. The kinds of people who want to harm kids have all kinds of tricks up their sleeves. They may try to lull your child into a false sense of security by pretending to be someone she knows. Make sure your child understands that it isn’t a good idea to give out personal information such as their address, phone number or the name of their school. The less information a potential predator has, the harder it will be for him to actually locate a victim. It might be a good idea to establish a secret password and share it only with friends and family so your kid has a way to identify people who are safe to chat with.

Chat interfaces and instant messaging are great tools for keeping in touch with friends and conduct business, but they are also direct connections between your child and possible pedophiles and other predators. Most instant messengers have settings that will only allow people on a pre-approved list to approach your child. That way you can let the kids chat with family and friends while keeping the bad guys out. You can visit to find more information on online child safety measures.

You can’t watch your kids every minute they are online, and you can’t always count on them to do what you have taught them to do. Parental control software is a great back up. Most browsers will allow you to customize age-appropriate settings for each child in your house. You can choose what kinds of Web sites you want your kids to access and block them out of the ones you don’t. It’s a great way to provide a virtual safety net for your family. If the parental controls supplied by your Internet Service Provider, check into installing additional software that will evaluate each site your child attempts to access. You set criteria by which the software judges each Web page and assigns a rating, much like a movie rating. Your kids will only be able to look at sites with ratings you have deemed appropriate.

Antivirus and spyware infections have been on the rise for years. A recent CNN study actually showed that around 90% of computer have some form of virus or spyware infection on their computer. The most surprising fact was that many of these computer owners had no idea. Their antivirus software could not pick up on the malicious files causing harm to their computer.

All antivirus programs are not created equal. In fact some are close to useless. Many of these free virus removers are free for a reason. They create the illusion that your computer is safe. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. The following are the most important features in deciding on the best antivirus software.

1. The software is constantly updated to protect against the latest threats. People mistakenly believe that their antivirus removers will automatically be able to detect new threats. THIS IS FALSE. Antivirus software is reactive, meaning it can only detect a virus after it has been updated to the threat database. If your software is not updating it’s threat database then it is useless against the latest attacks.

2. Deep scanning of DLL, registry, and startup files. Viruses are very sneaky these days and attach themselves in hidden folders that can evade the detection of typical antivirus tools. Many of these viruses install all kinds of malware sometimes requiring a removal of 50+ dangerous files. The worst part is if any of these files are not deleted the virus will simply regenerate itself completely after the computer restarts. Full detection is a requirement of all the best antivirus software.

3. Real time protection. Detection and removal is only half the battles. One of the most important features is keeping those viruses from infecting your computer in the first place.

Computer viruses are a serious threat to your identity and system. Identity fraud is the #1 cyber crime in the world and viruses are the biggest cause. They use keyloggers and spyware to record sensitive information like passwords, credit card, and bank account numbers. Allowing these viruses to fester on your computer is putting you at risk of financial danger.

If you feel your computer may be infected or are just seeking protection against future threats then I strongly advise downloading an antivirus program that has all three of these features. Fortunately I have found such a program. Have a look and see what I consider the best antivirus software on the internet.

You’ve selected and installed your product and now you are ready to get started. Before you can begin entering transactions, you need to create a company data file. There are several options to accomplish this, but the Easy Step Interview is, in my opinion, the best way to accomplish this task.

Starting the Interview… To begin, if you have not opened the program you should do so now, and then choose the “Create a new company box”. Select the “Start Interview” button. You will be prompted to enter your company information. Including the Company Name, Address, Phone, Fax, web site and email along with a Tax ID. This field will be either your Federal Tax ID number that has IRS has assigned to your business or the social security number of the business owner. If the IRS has assigned a number to your business use that number. Various rules exist on wether or not you are required to have a Federal Tax ID number, so if you are not sure, consult your accountant or legal advisor. After you have completed your company information, click “Next” to continue

Select your industry… QuickBooks has already started creating your company data file. Behind the scenes, it is selecting the screens you will need to run your business efficiently. Different industries will track different types of data. By selecting your industry, you will be letting QuickBooks know what types of information you are most likely to need to keep track of. Choose the industry that best matches the product or service your business provides. For our sample company, we are going to select “Lawn Care and Landscaping” if none of these options describe your business, select either the general service or product based business at the bottom of the list and then “Next” to continue.

How is your Company Organized… you need to tell QuickBooks what type of business entity you have. There are a variety of business entities that you can choose from, a sole proprietor isn’t required to setup any “legal” business entity or structure, but the others will require some additional paperwork be filed with various government organizations. If you are uncertain about this you should contact your accountant or legal advisor. Our Sample Company is going to choose “Sole Proprietor” for his business structure. Click “Next” to continue

The first month of your Fiscal Year…your fiscal year in basic terms is your tax year. Most businesses will follow a fiscal year that is similar to the calendar year. Others will choose a fiscal year that is different from the calendar year. If you choose a calendar year, you can simply select January. If you want to choose a tax year that ends in a month other than December, you may be required to complete the appropriate government paperwork. Again, consult your accountant or legal advisor for more information.

The Administrator Password… it is there to help you protect your data from being accessed by those who are not entitled to it, you should choose a password that is complex enough to do it’s job…enough said. Click “Next” to continue.

Create your company file… Now that you have entered your company basics, QuickBooks is getting ready to create and save a company file. Click “Next” to continue. QuickBooks will recommend a location for you. Generally, you should accept it’s recommendation and save the file by clicking save. Make a note of where the file is located in case you have difficulty finding it later. Click “Save” to continue. You will get a pop up that indicates QuickBooks is saving your data. Be patient.

Customizing your data file… QuickBooks wants to know all about the transactions you plan to enter.

The Questions you will be asked:

• Do you sell product or services
• Do you sell online
• Do you charge sales tax
• Do you create estimates
• Do you use sales orders
• Do you use sales receipts
• Do you use statements
• Do you use progress invoicing
• Do you want to mange the bills you owe
• Do you print checks
• Do you track inventory
• Do you accept credit cards
• Do you track time (either for payroll or to bill customers for time)
• Do you have employees
• Do you need to track multiple currencies (international sales or purchases)

Although it is best to think these through ahead of time, if you change your mind later, you can always turn these options on or off later using Preferences from the Edit Menu. Note that most of the preferences will be found in the “Company Tabs” not the user tabs of the preferences. We’ll cover preferences in a later issue. Click “Next” to continue.

Selecting the start date…to start tracking your business in QuickBooks…unless today is your first day in business and depending on your needs, you may want to choose the beginning of the year, month, quarter, or some other date. Particularly if you have been in business for some time, there are various advantages and disadvantage to consider. Such as the amount of time it will take to “catch up on data entry” and the value of having that data available. There can be excellent benefits to having Year to Date information for your tax returns, or even last years information available to use to compare how your business is doing from year to year. When choosing a date, you should consider the amount of time it will take to “catch up” on the data entry as well as the rewards that you will reap from doing the extra work. Either way, if you are not fully committed to getting everything entered, then you should choose a date that will require less data entry. Since we are still early in 2010, our sample company is going to track data from January 1, 2010 forward. Click “Next” to continue.

Existing Bank Account… Can be entered now or later. The benefit of entering it now, is that QuickBooks will do the accounting part of entering your opening balance for you. Doing it later will work also, but may be just slightly more difficult. We will enter it now. Our bank is PNC, and our records indicate that we have a cash balance in this account of $1,000.00 as of December 31, 2009. Enter “PNC Bank” and select the button for opening before January 1, 2010. Click Next. Enter the date from the bank statement that you obtained the opening balance and the balance in the account from the bank statement. Click Next to continue. We do not have any additional accounts in our sample company but if you do, you can continue to enter the accounts and the opening balances here. When done, click “Next” to continue.

Reviewing Income and Expense Accounts… throughout the interview, we have answered various questions about our business and what we do. QuickBooks has been gathering that information and has recommended a chart of accounts to use. Generally, the selections that QB chooses will be a good fit. However, no two business are ever identical. Review the recommended accounts and make any changes. If you are not certain about what accounts you will need, keep the default choices and then next. You can always add accounts or delete accounts as needed later. Click “Next” to Continue.

Congratulations! You have completed the Interview. Click Finish. QuickBooks will save your selections and then direct you to the home screen.

After the lukewarm reception of their Vista Operating System release, Microsoft held their breath and released Windows 7 to the computer community. The result was well received, as Windows 7 is arguably Microsoft’s most secure, stable and convenient operating system to date.

There are several reasons to upgrade or switch to Windows 7. Below are 7 of the most important ones:

Lower System Resource Requirements: Unlike Vista, which has a well-deserved reputation as a top-heavy resource hog; 7 is lean and mean. Without having the burden of a fancy operating interface, Windows 7 can save its power to open programs faster and boot, shutdown and restart quicker. Even low-end laptops with a 1GHZ processor and 1G of memory can run Windows 7 with little difficulty. The failure of Vista to attract a huge following is largely due to many people having to upgrade their computers just to run the resource heavy OS. Windows 7 will work on almost any existing computer configuration just fine.

Libraries: Vista and XP relied on My Documents for file storage. Windows 7 introduces document libraries. Libraries are virtual folders that can display contents of multiple folders in their structure. Now it is possible to access multimedia files in one folder on the hard drive even when those files exist in multiple locations and hard drives.

Stability: Stability and reliability are hallmarks of Windows 7. Unlike Vista, and even XP, inexplicable “blue screens of death” are nowhere to be found and 7 works right out of the box with no need for more drivers. Adding updates is also a simpler and more painless process than in earlier Microsoft operating systems.

Aero Peek: This feature displays outlines of all open windows behind your active window. Each box has a thumbnail preview of the corresponding window, so rather than having to open each window to see which to open, you can just choose from a preview pane. Another feature, Aero Snap makes it easier to resize and tile windows to fit available space.

User Account Control (UAC): In Windows 7, the UAC has become less intrusive than the overprotective, annoying pop-up laden Windows Vista feature. Users of Windows 7 can use a slide-bar to customize their own security settings. Though providing just as much security protection as Vista, in Windows 7 most of the work is behind the scenes.

No “Bloatware”: Another overwhelming complaint about the Vista release was the vast amount of free trial programs pre-installed at purchase, which weighed the Vista system down. Many users had to pay retail computer sellers to uninstall these programs before taking their computers home. With Windows 7, these programs are still available. However, they are available as online downloads from Microsoft.

Overall Better Performance: Faster document retrieval, simpler organization, and better navigation make Windows 7 a sleeker, better performing operating system.

In addition to these functionality features, Windows 7 is also perhaps Microsoft’s most aesthetically pleasing Operating System as well. It features many more themes and designs than its predecessors and had its entire design redone by a professional team of designers, whose sole aim was to give it a modern look and feel.

Windows 7 is a notable improvement to Windows Vista and could easily go down as Microsoft’s best Operating System to date. If you’re a PC user, you owe it to yourself to give it a try.

Crime fighting has moved to a new and different playing field in recent years. There has been a great push to come up with new and ingenious methods of fighting crime in order to combat the new territories crimes are covering. The best tool in the war on crime in the information age is computer forensics.

Computer forensics is a highly specialized type of computer work that when done properly can uncover information that has been lost (whether intentionally or deliberately) from the computers main memory. The information remains but the computer can be told to ignore the existence of that particular data. Someone skilled in computer forensics can find that lost (or misplaced) information and restore it. In some instances this becomes evidence and in other instances it can lead to more information or the real evidence. Regardless, when it comes to computers, digital forensics is an important tool.

Using computer forensics can uncover all kinds of crimes in order to make the world safer. People will say thins and research things online. Those things become a matter of record. Hanging out in message boards and forums leaves a trace. Searching for certain information leaves a trace.

The places criminals visit online leaves a trace that someone skilled in computer forensics can find. Some evidence is found more easily than others depending on the types of efforts that were taken to remove the trail they left behind. In general, though that information is more difficult to hide than most people realize. Especially to hide from the capable hands of someone trained to dig it out.

What Kind of Information can be Uncovered?

When it comes to fighting crime, there are many ways that computer forensics has proven to be effective. The information that is uncovered can be anything from espionage to theft and several other crimes in between. Evidence of affairs, money laundering, smuggling, and other crimes have also been uncovered as a result of computer forensics.

The most important thing to remember about computer forensics though when you find yourself in need of this vital services is that you need to make sure you find someone qualified to handle the job if you want it done right and you want it done well. This is not a job that just anyone off the streets can do. For the other side of the crime fighting table, computer forensics can be used in order to discover evidence to exonerate the falsely accused taking justice one step further and insuring that crime fighting efforts are aimed in the right direction.