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Image: Aminu Abdullahi/TechRepublic Apple is gearing up to announce iOS 19 at WWDC 2025, but not all iPhones may get the update. A new rumor suggests that Apple could be dropping support for three models from 2018 — the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max. According to a report from 9to5Mac, the information comes from an anonymous source on X, known for accurately predicting Apple’s software updates in the past. If these three iPhones are dropped, it would follow Apple’s usual pattern of providing around six years of major software updates before ending full support. The iPhone X, for example, missed out on iOS 18 last year, while the iPhone 8 series lost support after iOS 16. iPhones expected to get iOS 19 If these reports hold up, iOS 19 will be available on the following devices: iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max iPhone SE 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation Conflicting reports raise questions Not everyone agrees with this latest claim. An earlier leak from iPhoneSoft suggested that all iPhones running iOS 18 would also be compatible with iOS 19. That would mean the XR, XS, and XS Max should still be supported. While both sources have been reliable in the past, it’s unclear which one is correct this time. Must-read Apple coverage What this means for users Even if the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR don’t get iOS 19, they are unlikely to become obsolete overnight. Apple typically continues to release security updates for older devices to keep them safe from vulnerabilities. For instance, the iPhone 8 and iPhone X recently received an iOS 16.7.11 update with security patches. On the iPad side, reports indicate that the 7th-generation iPad (2019), which runs on the A10 Fusion chip, might also be left behind. However, most other supported iPads are expected to receive the update. iOS 19: What’s coming? Beyond device compatibility, iOS 19 is rumored to bring the biggest redesign in a decade, featuring a refreshed interface, enhanced Apple Intelligence functions, a revamped camera app, and deeper AI-powered features for Apple devices. Live translation for AirPods and AI-driven health coaching are also expected. However, some features may only be available on newer iPhones, as seen with iOS 18’s AI features being exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and later. Apple is set to officially announce iOS 19 during WWDC on June 9, 2025, with a beta release likely following soon after. The final version should be released in September alongside the next-generation iPhone models. source

Free web hosting offers a cost-effective entry point for launching small projects, blogs, or experimental websites without upfront costs. While these platforms offer beginners or low-traffic sites an ideal starting point, they often come with trade-offs like limited storage, bandwidth limitations, or advertisements. Choosing the right free web hosting platform allows you to experiment with a website without the financial commitment and have the option to upgrade to paid plans as your business grows. Below, you’ll find my top picks for the best free web hosting platforms, based on my hands-on testing and research. Top free web hosting services comparison Here are some of the most important features of a free web hosting solution. The table below illustrates which of the top six free web hosting services include which key features. Our rating (out of 5) Best for Starting price for paid plans (per user per month) Drag-and-Drop Builder Ad-Free Hosting 4.5 Best overall $17 per month Yes No 4 Personal websites $0.25 per month No Yes 3.7 Hosting custom web apps Charges are based on actual usage No Yes 3.6 Small businesses $10 per month Yes Yes 3.6 Enterprise-scale projects $3.50 per month No Yes 4 WordPress hosting $2.99 per month No No Wix: Best overall Image: Wix Wix is a leading web hosting provider that allows you to create stunning and functional websites without any coding knowledge. It features a user-friendly interface with a drag-and-drop tool and a range of customizable templates, making web design accessible to everyone. This platform also supports multi-cloud infrastructure powered by Google Cloud, AWS, Fastly, and Wix. Wix stands out as a top free web hosting provider, particularly for individuals and businesses looking for an intuitive and visually appealing way to get a website online. Its intuitive and straightforward platform makes it incredibly easy, even for beginners, to design their websites and portfolios. While its free plan includes Wix branding and uses a Wix subdomain, it provides a comprehensive suite of website creation features, a variety of templates, and secure hosting. Why I chose Wix I chose Wix as the best overall free web hosting provider because of its balance between ease of use and robust features. If you don’t have any coding experience, you can use its drag-and-drop tool, extensive template library, and smart design assistant to customize your website. Its comprehensive marketing tools, analytics, and security features also make Wix an ideal web hosting solution for businesses planning to scale their operations. Pricing Free 14-day trial available Free: Includes basic website tools with Wix branding Light: $17 per month Core: $29 per month Business: $36 per month Business Elite: $159 per month Standout features Customize your website’s appearance easily with its intuitive drag-and-drop editor. Choose from over 900+ designer-made templates and create your website from these layouts. Use the AI-powered Editor to generate a professional-looking website quickly. Enhance images directly within the Editor by adding filters and adjusting them in the Photo Studio. Create attractive and engaging landing pages to capture leads and drive traffic to your website. Top integrations Wix boasts a comprehensive App Market with tools designed to help you grow your online presence and attract more visitors. It connects with tools like Google Analytics for measuring campaign performance, Google Ads for promoting products or services, and Meta Pixels for tracking website visitor behavior. Image: Wix Pros and cons Pros Cons Clean and intuitive drag-and-drop user interface for building websites without needing any coding knowledge.  Extensive library with hundreds of professionally designed templates for different purposes.  An all-in-one platform for website building, hosting, and domain registration.  Ability to add features and functionality as your website grows. The free plan has limited customization options for personalizing your website’s design and features. Free plan and lower tiers lack robust e-commerce features.  It does not provide a Virtual Private Server (VPS) or shared hosting options. Lower-tier plans come with limited storage space. AwardSpace: Best for personal websites Image: awardspace.com AwardSpace is a versatile free web hosting platform that provides a range of hosting solutions for personal websites, agencies, and enterprises. It offers a no-ads, free hosting experience, which makes it an ideal option for individuals seeking a platform to build their brand. The platform includes PHP and MySQL database support even in the free plan, allowing you to build dynamic websites or blogs without financial commitment. AwardSpace’s free plan also offers enough disk space and bandwidth suitable for small blog websites, news media, and idea launching. You can use 1GB of disk space and 5GB of bandwidth on the free plan, which can be enough for your website. Unlike other free hosting providers, AwardSpace doesn’t put its ads on free websites, which helps maintain an uncluttered and cleaner look. Why I chose AwardSpace AwardSpace stands out as a free hosting option that allows you to launch a basic personal website or a small project without any financial commitment. Its free plan is packed with valuable features, including ad-free hosting for up to four websites, a CMS installer for content management, 24/7 support, and a user-friendly file manager. Additionally, the support for PHP and MySQL, even in the free plan, allows you to create more dynamic content or explore more advanced web applications as you plan to scale your website. Pricing Free: Ad-free hosting for one domain and three subdomains Shared Hosting Plans: Start at $0.25 per month Semi-Dedicated Hosting Plans: Start at $15.99 per month VPS Cloud Hosting Plans: Start at $13 per month Standout features Enjoy a completely ad-free experience even on the free plan to ensure your website looks professional and uncluttered. Customize your website using AwardSpace with its intuitive tools, free website builder, and one-click CMS installation to support popular content management system platforms. Set up popular CMSs like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal using the drag-and-drop Zacky website builder. Support different PHP versions and MySQL databases for handling data seamlessly and running dynamic websites. Top integrations AwardSpace offers a stable platform for installing your preferred CMS or website-building tools. It integrates seamlessly with popular platforms WordPress and

Accessibility features in Copilot+ PCs. Image: Microsoft Windows announced major updates to its portfolio, including Copilot+ PC experiences and Voice Access capabilities across Copilot+ PCs with AMD and Intel processors. A Windows Experience Blog, released Monday, described the AI-enhanced experiences that will soon be available on more devices, including Copilot+ PCs powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, Intel Core Ultra 200V, and Snapdragon X Series processors. AI-powered experiences Upon its release in 2024, Microsoft’s Copilot + PC has delivered exclusive features for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X platform devices. Now, nearly a year later, Microsoft is broadening access to select Copilot+ PC features to machines powered by AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 and Intel’s Core Ultra 200 series processors. Over the coming month, Windows will introduce these features via its Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR), with several experiences already accessible through the March 2025 Windows non-security preview update. Although the blog announcement provides details regarding the upcoming enhancements, these updates may vary by device and region, and the releases’ timing may also vary. PCs powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel Core Ultra 200V processors will gain access to new AI-powered features and experiences, including Cocreator, Image Creator, Restyle Image, and Live Captions. Additionally, upgraded Voice Access capabilities for Copilot+ PCs will become available to more devices later this year. Microsoft Copilot resources from TechRepublic Accessibility updates Windows will offer accessibility features to its Copilot+ PCs powered by AMD and Intel, including live captions and translation services. The Live Caption feature, which provides real-time translations in English for video and audio content, will soon support simplified Chinese and support additional AMD- and Intel-powered devices. The Voice Access feature — currently available on Snapdragon X Series Copilot+ PCs — will also receive an update, enabling more natural, flexible user interactions. Creative tools Windows provides AI-enabled creativity features for Snapdragon X Series Copilot+ PCs, and will soon make them available on Intel- and AMD-powered devices. Updated Microsoft Paint and Photos applications will include access to the Cocreator feature in Paint and the Image Creator and Restyle Image features in Photos. Paint’s Cocreator offers enhanced drawing and editing capabilities to support users’ creative expression. With AI support, users can combine text-based prompts with freehand artwork to generate more dynamic, personalized designs. The Photos app will include access to two new tools, Restyle Image, and Image Creator. Restyle Image lets users modify their photos into interpretations in different creative mediums and art styles. The Image Creator feature creates visuals based on detailed prompts. source

Image: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/Creative Commons U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a new 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the U.S., taking effect on April 5. He is also imposing additional “reciprocal” levies on approximately 60 countries that represent the largest contributors to the U.S. trade deficit —  a move that significantly impacts tech prices. These include: 46% tariff on goods from Vietnam. 32% tariff on goods from Taipei and Taiwan. 26% tariff on goods from India. 25% tariff on goods from South Korea. 24% tariff on goods from Japan. 20% tariff on goods from the E.U. China faces a 34% reciprocal tariff, in addition to the 20% tariff already in place. These percentages were calculated to generate revenue equal to the trade deficit with each country and then halved. The reciprocal tariffs will come into effect on April 9. Trump says that trade deficits — in which the U.S. spends more on imports from these nations than it earns through exports — are the result of higher foreign tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and economic policies abroad that depress wages and limit domestic consumption. Tariffs have also been applied to countries with low tariff rates but high trade surpluses with the U.S. like the U.K. and Australia. The president managed to pass them without congressional approval, declaring a national emergency and claiming that persistent trade imbalances undermine national security by weakening U.S. manufacturing and exposing supply chains to foreign dependence. SEE: Trump’s Import Tariffs: How They’ll Shake Prices, Jobs, and Trade Separately, Trump has revoked tariff exemptions on Chinese imports valued at $800 or less and intends to extend this policy to other countries with comparable exemptions. Canada and Mexico will not face higher rates than what they were given in February, and goods compliant with the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), including auto parts from Canada and Mexico, remain exempt. In response, the U.K. has  reportedly offered major U.S. tech firms reductions to its digital services tax in exchange for relief from new trade barriers, according to The Guardian. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU is “prepared to respond” with countermeasures and that it “holds a lot of cards, from trade to technology to the size of our market,” via The Associated Press. How will these tariffs affect you? While these tariffs were brought to restore economic fairness, boost manufacturing, and create more jobs in the U.S., they are also expected to trigger price increases in tech products. According to CNBC, after Trump’s announcement on April 1, NVIDIA’s stock fell by 5%, while Apple and Amazon fell by 6%. This is due to fears that their operational costs will rise and supply chains, which rely heavily on overseas manufacturing and imports, will be disrupted. U.S. chipmaker NVIDIA should be somewhat shielded from the impact due to Trump’s exemption on semiconductors, sparing it from the 32% tariff on chips manufactured in Taiwan by TSMC. However, it remains unclear whether the semiconductor exemption will also cover the 10% baseline tariff on all imports. Apple products, mostly manufactured in China, India, and Vietnam, are likely to become more expensive as the company passes increased import costs on  o U.S. consumers. Amazon might do the same, as a high proportion of the goods listed on its marketplace are from Chinese sellers. The e-commerce giant will especially be impacted by the removal of the tax exemption on products under $800. The U.S. relies on China and Taiwan for approximately 80% of its foundry capacity for 20 to 45nm chips and about 70% for 50 to 180nm chips. Tech firms may attempt to shift sourcing to reciprocal tariff-free countries, but many will pass the additional costs to consumers instead. First tariffs were set in February These new tariffs come after those imposed in February — 25% on all imports from Canada and Mexico except energy resources and minerals, 20% on Chinese goods, and 25% on European Union tech components like semiconductors. With 80% of U.S. foundry capacity for key semiconductor sizes currently reliant on China and Taiwan, experts predicted ripple effects across the entire tech sector, impacting everything from smartphones and cloud services to AI infrastructure. At the time, Gil Luria, head of technology research at D.A. Davidson, told Bloomberg that part of the reason Trump is implementing tariffs on goods from the E.U. is in retaliation for the region “making a habit” of fining major U.S. companies, such as Apple, Google, and Meta, for “whatever behavior they choose to penalize.” He added that the E.U. may become “combative” in response, and the level to which it does will determine the scale of the tariffs’ impact on the big tech players. SEE: Were the White House’s Tariffs Calculations Done By AI? Data centers and AI infrastructure face higher costs The expanded tariffs on aluminium and steel from February are predicted to sting data center companies, as these materials are essential for server racks, cooling systems, and other infrastructure, driving up construction and equipment costs. The additional expenditure and potential supply chain disruption may be reflected in cloud storage prices from companies like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, as well as SaaS and AI companies that utilise large-scale data processing. It could also delay plans to build new data centers that companies have earmarked to meet the growing demand for AI. Nevertheless, the stated intention is to reduce dependence on foreign adversaries. While this may result in higher prices for consumers in the short term, it could also drive investment in domestic industries and boost supply chain resilience. SEE: Microsoft to Invest $80 Billion in AI Data Centers in Fiscal 2025 Tech companies ramp up U.S. manufacturing Even prior to the tariffs, many companies have been announcing plans to build new facilities within the U.S., which is a trend likely to continue. In March, TSMC pledged to expand its spend on building data centers in the U.S. to $160 billion, which it deems the “largest single foreign direct investment in

Key takeaways: It is possible to get a business loan with no money, but lenders may require strong personal credit, a solid business plan, or collateral. Alternative financing options include microloans, equipment financing, business credit lines, invoice factoring, merchant cash advances (MCAs), and accounts receivable (A/R) financing. Choosing the right option depends on factors like business type, revenue model, and financial situation. Properly using and repaying your financing can help build business credit, increasing your chances of qualifying for larger loans in the future. Step 1: Strengthen your personal and business credit. When applying for a startup business loan with no money, lenders will closely evaluate your credit history to assess risk. If your business lacks revenue or assets, a strong personal credit score can improve your chances of approval. Start by checking your credit reports for errors and paying down existing debt to boost your score. Additionally, consider opening a business credit card or a small credit line to establish business credit. The stronger your credit profile, the more financing options you’ll have. Step 2: Create a solid business plan. A well-crafted business plan is essential when applying for a startup business loan, as it shows lenders you have a clear path to profitability. Your plan should outline your business model, target market, revenue projections, and how you intend to use the loan. Lenders want to see that you have a strategy to generate revenue and repay the loan, even if you don’t have upfront capital. A strong plan can make up for a lack of financial history and increase your chances of securing funding. Step 3: Choose the right financing option. Since traditional business loans can be difficult to secure without upfront capital, exploring alternative financing options can be a smarter approach. The best option depends on your business type, revenue model, and financial situation. I discuss each in detail later, but here’s an overview. Microloan is ideal for startups needing 1) small amounts of capital to get their businesses off the ground; and 2) access to mentorship and business training. Equipment financing works well for operations with machinery, tools, or technology, as the equipment itself serves as collateral. Business line of credit offers flexible, revolving credit, making them useful for covering ongoing expenses or managing cash flow as needed. Invoice factoring or A/R financing helps businesses with outstanding invoices access immediate cash without waiting for customers to pay. Invoice factoring involves selling your invoice to a factoring company to obtain immediate cash, while A/R financing allows you to use the invoices as collateral by borrowing against them. MCA can be a fast funding solution for businesses with strong daily credit card sales, though it often comes with high fees. Business credit card provides an easy way to cover short-term expenses while helping to build business credit. Step 4: Apply for the option that fits your needs. Once you’ve identified the best for your business, the next step is to prepare and apply. Each type has different eligibility requirements, so it’s important to gather the necessary documentation. For example: Microloan may require a business plan and proof of industry experience. Equipment financing typically requires a quote for the equipment and an assessment of your creditworthiness. Business credit line and credit card are often based on your personal and business credit scores. A/R financing or invoice factoring requires unpaid invoices from reliable customers. MCA is based on your daily credit card sales history. Before applying, check the lender’s requirements and improve your credit profile if needed. Having the right paperwork ready can speed up the approval process and increase your chances of securing funding. Step 5: Use the funds strategically to grow your business. Once you’ve secured financing, use the funds wisely to maximize your business’s growth and ability to repay the loan. Prioritize spending on essential expenses that will generate revenue — such as equipment, inventory, marketing, and operational costs. If your financing option involves revolving credit, such as a business credit line or credit card, use it responsibly to maintain a healthy credit profile. For loans with fixed payments, ensure you have a clear repayment plan to avoid missed payments or high fees. By making smart financial decisions, you’ll build your business’s financial strength and improve your chances of qualifying for more funding in the future. Mercury Venture Debt may be an option for startups that have already raised venture capital. It has a term loan that focuses more on the strength of your venture capital investors than on your business’s current cash flow. Visit Mercury for details. Best business loan types for businesses with no money Securing financing can seem daunting for entrepreneurs with promising ideas but no established revenue stream. However, several funding options exist specifically for pre-revenue startups and new businesses. Even with zero dollars coming in, these alternative methods can help transform your business concept into a revenue-generating reality by focusing on your potential rather than your current bank balance. Income minimum Time in business Loan term Interest rate range Microloan None 6 months+ 6 months to 6 years 7% to 15% Equipment financing Must be able to cover new payment + existing debt 6 months+ 1 to7 years Based on equipment lifespan. 6% to 20% Business line of credit $50,000 to $250,000 annually 6 months+ Revolving (ongoing) 8% to 60% Invoice factoring No strict minimum Depends on invoice values. ;$5,000 minimum for 80% advance rate No strict minimum Until invoice is paid Typically 30-90 days. 1% to 5% factoring value per month with 70% to 90% factoring advance MCA $10,000+ in monthly credit card sales 3 months+ 3 to 18 months Factor rates of 1.1 to 1.5 APR can potentially reach 350% A/R financing No strictminimum Depends on invoice values. 2+ years operating history preferred Until invoice is paid Typically 30-90 days. 1.15 % to 5% factoring rate with 70% to 90% factoring advance Business credit card Personal income requirements vary by card No strictminimum Personal credit history is important. Revolving (ongoing) 13% to 26% Microloan This is a great option if

KeePass fast facts Our rating: 3.0 stars out of 5Pricing: FreeKey features Downloadable user-generated plugins. Open-source. Completely free. KeePass is a free and open-source password manager that’s been around for over 20 years. Since its release in 2003, the password manager’s ability to add user-generated plugins and extensions has made it a popular option for enthusiasts and more technical users. While KeePass offers decent and secure password storage, its dated design, lack of traditional password capture and replay, and unintuitive application make it hard to recommend against more modern password managers. NordPass Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Micro (0-49 Employees), Small (50-249 Employees), Medium (250-999 Employees), Large (1,000-4,999 Employees), Enterprise (5,000+ Employees) Micro, Small, Medium, Large, Enterprise Features Activity Log, Business Admin Panel for user management, Company-wide settings, and more Dashlane Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Micro (0-49 Employees), Small (50-249 Employees), Medium (250-999 Employees), Large (1,000-4,999 Employees), Enterprise (5,000+ Employees) Micro, Small, Medium, Large, Enterprise Features Automated Provisioning ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features Access Management, Compliance Management, Credential Management, and more KeePass pricing KeePass is a completely free password manager that doesn’t have any paid tiers. This is in contrast to competitors like NordPass and Dashlane which have paid plans and have free versions, but with inherent limitations. For example, Dashlane’s free version only allows for a maximum of 25 passwords. However, you can avail of their paid plan to get unlimited password storage. Image: KeePass One big difference between KeePass and other password managers is that a lot of features aren’t included out of the box. Instead, users can customize their KeePass client’s feature set via downloadable plugins from the password manager’s site. Plugins are available for capabilities such as importing and exporting passwords, data backups and auto typing. Is KeePass safe? Yes, KeePass is a safe and secure password manager. It utilizes the industry standard AES-256 encryption for its database and user vaults. It’s also open-source, allowing the public to verify its source code for possible vulnerabilities or potential security holes. This is a big feature for privacy enthusiasts, especially those who value transparency, as it lets the users and experts collaborate with KeePass in keeping it secure to use. Encryption-wise, I like that KeePass encrypts the whole database, which means that not only are passwords encrypted but also other items such as usernames and notes. As of March 2025, KeePass had not been involved in any data breach. The password manager has been audited in the European Commission’s Free and Open Source Software Auditing (EU-FOSSA 1) project, which showed that it had zero security issues. KeePass also shares that it is the recommended password manager in the BSI Cyber Security Recommendations BSI-CS 003 2.0 by the German Federal Office for Information Security and is on the list for recommended free software for French public agencies. To me, these recommendations from government agencies hold a lot of weight since they handle highly sensitive and public data. Key features of KeePass Aside from password storage and password generation, KeePass comes with a few key features that make it unique compared to other password managers. Library of plugins and extensions KeePass Plugins. Image: KeePass One of KeePass’ biggest selling points is the ability to download and add plugins for each user’s KeePass client. These plugins add more features or modify existing functionality, such as letting users import or export different file formats, changing the KeePass user interface, or adding autofill capabilities. Right now, there are more than 180 downloadable plugins on the KeePass website. This is perfect for users who value being able to customize their password manager and its feature set. For me, I prefer a password management solution that already comes with dedicated features, without having to worry about adding them after the initial installation. If you’re like me on this, 1Password or NordPass are password managers with a variety of features already baked in. Local-device password management A KeePass database saved on my desktop. Image: Lui Millares Another standout feature from KeePass is that it is a completely local password management system. This means that all your passwords and stored credentials are encrypted locally on your computer or device of choice. This is in contrast to other password managers that store passwords in the cloud, like 1Password or LastPass. If you’re paranoid about cloud-based password managers possibly being involved in a data breach and leaking your data, KeePass can be a great solution since everything is stored locally. You can read our LastPass review to learn more about how data breaches can affect a password management solution. On the flip side, KeePass’ all-local implementation can be a disadvantage since you won’t have the convenience of easy access to your passwords on multiple devices through the cloud. Auto-Type functionality Unlike most modern password managers, KeePass doesn’t have a conventional autofill feature. What it does have is Auto-Type — a global auto-type hotkey which automatically types out credentials in your chosen account pages. Auto-Type via KeePass. Image: Luis Millares Auto-Type works by having KeePass open in the background, switching to the website, and KeePass automatically typing out your login credentials after you hit a particular keyboard shortcut. This is opposed to other password managers that automatically fill out the username and password fields via a browser extension or through a clickable pop-up. While seeing KeePass automatically type out my password was cool at first, I did find it really finicky to use after a few times. Because I had to manually set the sequence in which the login credentials are to be typed, i.e. if the username or password goes first, there were times that KeePass couldn’t type my details in the proper fields. Despite Auto-Type being a unique party trick that I haven’t encountered on other password managers, I honestly found manually copying and pasting from the KeePass client to

As the April 15, 2025, tax filing deadline approaches, you may find yourself joining the growing crowd of US taxpayers scrambling to find a qualified tax accountant. With a dwindling IRS workforce, trying to do taxes alone isn’t an attractive alternative, especially if you hit any snags in tax prep. Acumatica Cloud ERP Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features Accounts Receivable/Payable, API, Departmental Accounting, and more QuickBooks Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Micro (0-49 Employees), Small (50-249 Employees), Medium (250-999 Employees), Large (1,000-4,999 Employees) Micro, Small, Medium, Large Features API, General Ledger, Inventory Management Quicken Business & Personal Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Micro (0-49 Employees) Micro Features Accounts Receivable/Payable, Invoicing / Billing, Mobile Capabilities, and more Here’s the backstory for the shortage and a few practical places to start your search to secure a tax pro in 2025. Why can’t you find a tax preparer? There’s a growing shortage of tax professionals in the US. Many certified public accountants (CPAs) have retired over the past few years, and fewer young professionals are entering the field. Accounting programs have seen declining enrollment, and the high stress and long hours during tax season have pushed some out of the profession. These trends are evidenced by the following statistics: Decline in accounting professionals: Over the past five years, the US has seen a reduction of approximately 340,000 accountants, indicating a substantial decrease in the workforce. Aging workforce: Currently, about 75% of CPAs are part of the Baby Boomer generation and are approaching retirement age, highlighting an emerging gap in experienced professionals. Seasonal surge in demand: Tax professionals are frequently scheduled out several weeks in advance. This makes it very difficult for taxpayers to get on a tax preparer’s schedule if they don’t start looking until March or later. More complex tax situations: Tax returns have become increasingly complicated. Between gig work, cryptocurrency transactions, and remote work arrangements, more people are seeking professional help to navigate the maze of deductions, credits, and compliance rules. How to increase your chances of landing a tax pro 1. Contact your state’s CPA society. Every US state (and most territories) supports an independent CPA professional society. Many have directories or referral services that aren’t widely advertised. Some even have “Find a CPA” tools geared toward matching by specialty, which can be especially useful if you need both financial statement preparation and tax preparation services. 2. Reach out to university accounting programs. Some accounting departments have student-run tax clinics (especially around tax season) where advanced students help with returns for free or at a low cost under faculty supervision. Contact the business school at your local university to determine if that institution has a tax prep program. Note that these programs will likely cater to simpler returns, and there may be income or other demographic limitations for participation. If you land a preparer through a program like this, starting a professional relationship with someone new to the profession may set you up for long-term service and reduce your chances of repeating this search year over year. 3. Link up via LinkedIn. If you’re on LinkedIn, search for CPAs or tax preparers in your area or industry. Look for professionals posting about tax topics, as this often signals their engagement in the community and potential openness to engaging new clients. Consider posting a status asking for referrals — your network may have good recommendations. 4. Ask your other service providers. In addition to leveraging your LinkedIn connections, tap into your existing network of professional service providers. Inquire with financial advisors, mortgage brokers, lawyers, and more for tax preparer recommendations. These professionals frequently collaborate with CPAs and can point you to someone trustworthy. Some professionals, like financial advisors, might also have accounting designations or experience providing tax preparation services. While they may not advertise those, they may be open to offering them for a bundled fee in conjunction with the other services they provide. 5. Tune into podcasts, blogs & social media/online marketplaces. YouTube channels, podcasts, and tax-focused TikToks are other ways to identify individuals interested in growing their brand. Listening to someone’s content gives you a sense of their style and may reveal their niche. Tax content creators may be open to taking clients, offering consultations, or — at the very least — offering recommendations. Tip: When going with someone you don’t know, be sure to confirm their credentials to ensure that they’re a credible authority, as a social media platform alone doesn’t guarantee expertise. 6. Check out online marketplaces. Some tax preparers offer their services on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. You may also find a tax preparer using financial services networks like XY Planning Network. If you have doubts about using a preparer from one of these online marketplaces, here are some things to consider when hiring a CPA from any source that does not come with a personal recommendation. Verify credentials. Ensure the CPA or enrolled agent (EA) is licensed and in good standing. You can verify this information in some states by entering the state name and “professional license verification” into a search engine and then looking up the preparer’s name. Not all tax preparers must be CPAs or EAs, but the lack of a designation makes it more difficult to verify their skill level. Meet face-to-face. Ask for an in-person meeting or a video conference call. Without a recommendation, the more information you know about the preparer, the better equipped you’ll be to make the best preparer selection. Inquire about the security of information. Be wary of how your preparer asks for your data to be submitted. Tax preparers have a duty to protect client information and shouldn’t request that sensitive information be transferred through non-secure methods. More about Tech & Work More helpful tips & resources When looking for a tax preparer, you can do a few

Image: EV_Korobov/Adobe Stock Cyberattacks aren’t just about stealing data anymore — they’ve evolved into a key weapon in geopolitical fights, crippling vital infrastructure, and shaking public trust in governments. A new report by NETSCOUT reveals that hackers are increasingly using Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks to disrupt elections, protests, and policy debates, turning digital sabotage into a tool of modern warfare. The company’s Second Half 2024 DDoS Threat Intelligence Report sheds light on how cybercriminals and hacktivist groups have turned DDoS attacks into a dominant form of cyberwarfare, strategically targeting critical systems during periods of national instability. In addition, NETSCOUT revealed that nearly nine million DDoS attacks were recorded in just the second half of 2024 — a 12.7% increase from the first half. Regions such as Latin America and Asia Pacific were among the largest hit, experiencing approximately 30% and 20% increases, respectively. DDoS attacks surge during political crises According to NETSCOUT, politically motivated DDoS attacks skyrocketed in 2024, with some countries seeing spikes of over 2,800% during major conflicts. Israel faced a 2,844% surge in attacks during hostage rescues and political tensions. Georgia saw a 1,489% jump as lawmakers debated a controversial “Russia Bill.” Mexico experienced a 218% rise in attacks during its national elections. The U.K. had a 152% spike when the Labour Party returned to Parliament. “DDoS has emerged as the go-to tool for cyberwarfare,” said Richard Hummel, NETSCOUT’s threat intelligence director. A pro-Russian hacking group, NoName057(16), was behind many of these strikes, repeatedly hitting government services in the U.K., Belgium, and Spain. AI and botnets make attacks deadlier Hackers are now using artificial intelligence to supercharge their assaults. Most DDoS-for-hire services now use AI to bypass security checks like CAPTCHA, lowering the barrier to entry and increasing attack success rates. Meanwhile, powerful botnets — networks of hijacked devices — are being weaponized to overwhelm servers. Law enforcement agencies, despite coordinated crackdowns like Operation PowerOFF, continue to struggle with long-term takedown effectiveness. Despite global crackdowns, like Operation PowerOFF, new attack platforms quickly replace the ones taken down. “Attackers adapt and reconstitute their networks, with no significant decline in global attack volume,” the report noted. Why DDoS attacks are so dangerous now DDoS attacks don’t just crash websites — they can paralyze essential public services like banks, hospitals, power grids, and emergency response systems. By striking during moments of political turmoil, threat actors amplify national chaos and undermine government credibility. What’s being done to mitigate DDoS attacks? Governments and companies are scrambling to strengthen defenses, but NETSCOUT warned that many organizations are still unprepared. The firm urges businesses running critical services to adopt real-time threat monitoring and better response plans. source

Square’s fast facts Our rating: 4.5 out of 5 Starting price: $0/month, plus processing fees Key features: Get started for free, and make the most of in-person selling Choose from a wide variety of industry-specific POS tools Advanced support add-ons to help your team scale up Maximize value with Square Banking Figure A: Square Logo (Source: Square) Square is a major player in the payment processing industry. But is it the right payment solution for you? In my years of reviewing point-of-sale systems, I’ve become familiar with what different business types expect of payment software. Square is an interesting product that definitely stands out. This guide provides some insight into Square as a POS and payment provider and what it has to offer. I will be going over what the brand promises, what it delivers, and how it stacks up against some of its competitors. Square’s pricing For me, one of Square’s best features is its small business-friendly pricing: you can sign up for free, claim a card reader for free, and use their payment processing without paying a monthly subscription. All you’ll be on the hook for are the processing fees. If you only sell in person and can be served effectively by a magstripe reader, you could get started for $0 and only need to pay 2.6% + $0.15 per transaction. Here are some specifics: Monthly subscription tiers Free: No monthly subscription fee, just processing fees; covers core POS, online store and checkout, invoice, virtual, gift card, and customer directory functionality Plus: Starting at $29/month plus processing fees Premium: Custom monthly pricing, plus processing fees Processing fees In-person: 2.6% + $0.15 per transaction Online: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction Manual entry: 3.5% + $0.15 per transaction Invoices: 3.3% + $0.30 to 3.5% + $0.15 per transaction Popular add-ons Advanced invoicing: $30/month Payroll: Starting at $35/month + $6/payee/month Email marketing: Starting at $15/month Text marketing: Starting at $10/month plus messaging rates Loyalty programs: Starting at $45/month Advanced access: Starting at $35/location/month Afterpay: 6% + $0.30 per transaction Payment Hardware Square Magstripe reader: First is free; additional $10 Square Contactless and Chip reader: $49-59 Square Terminal: $299 or $27 per month for 12 months Other Square POS hardware also comes with a built-in card reader as opposed to just connecting it to a separate payment terminal. Square Stand: An iPad or tablet docking station ($149 or $14 per month for 12 months) Square Kiosk: Another iPad or tablet docking station with self-checkout feature ($149 or $14 per month for 12 months) Square Register: An all-in-one POS hardware with chip, contactless, and magstripe readers built into a separate customer-facing screen ($799 or $39 per month for 24 months) SEE: 7 Best Small Business POS Systems Square’s key features Square has several core value propositions that both the brand and its satisfied customers point to as reasons to sign up. Get started for free Figure B: Square Reader in Action (Source: Square) I appreciate that Square lets customers start accepting card payments at zero upfront cost. In-person processing fees are also competitive, so if that’s all you’re looking for, Square is one of the most affordable options on the market. Even its upgraded POS hardware and Square readers are comparatively inexpensive, though many software features required to make the most of those devices need a paid subscription. On the free tier, you can also: Send invoices and receive payment for them Offer digital gift cards to customers Create a business website with a digital storefront to accept payments online Use a virtual terminal to accept card-not-present transactions While the fees for anything but card-present transactions are a bit high, it’s hard not to see the value in having access to the services at no additional cost. Industry-specific POS tools Figure C: Square Self-Serve Kiosk (Source: Square) Finding a platform that covers both broad market needs and specific use case requirements simultaneously can be a chore. Square manages it, though, with at least three key verticals: Restaurants Retail Appointments Each of these verticals has a dedicated version of the POS platform, with features and tools tailored directly to what they need the software to do. And the fact that there are free versions of these POS software makes Square stand out from its competitors. A lot of those enhanced features require upgrading to a paid subscription. That said, for a lot of small businesses, just finding the functionality they need at all is a pretty big deal, so adding $30-ish a month to the asking price isn’t too bad in that context, in my opinion. Add-ons and upgrades Figure D: Square Full Register Setup (Source: Square) From my initial assessment of Square’s offerings, it’s clear that the provider serves two major demographics: businesses looking to quickly and inexpensively get started with payment processing and everyone else. Makes sense, considering how Square got its start as the pioneer in mobile card payments. What that means in practical terms, though, is that a large swathe of what makes Square’s platform so capable is reserved for those who sign up to pay for it. There are a dozen or so paid add-ons, and you can upgrade nearly everything you can get for free for increased functionality. Now, most features are low-cost, at least individually, and their modular nature means that you can pick and choose, so you don’t pay more than is justified by your usage. But unless you’re big enough to justify custom pricing, going for a “kitchen sink” approach may be more expensive than it’s worth. Still, the flexibility to add on things like marketing tools and access management as needed is nothing to shake a stick at. Especially since you can upgrade or downgrade as needed without penalty. Here are a few of the most popular add-ons that Square offers: Payroll Email marketing Loyalty program functionality Afterpay SEE: 5 Best Retail POS Systems Banking and beyond Figure E: Square Account Dashboard Example (Source: Square) It doesn’t get talked about as much as

Windows 365 Link. Image: Microsoft Microsoft has launched the Windows 365 Link, a compact cloud-based PC designed for businesses that rely on virtual desktops. First introduced in November 2024 at Microsoft Ignite, the device is now available for purchase in multiple countries. Unlike a regular PC, the Windows 365 Link does not store files, apps, or data locally. Instead, users log into their Windows 365 Cloud PC, where all their work is saved and processed. This design improves security since no sensitive information is left on the physical device. Under the hood: Specs and features While the Windows 365 Link isn’t built for power-intensive tasks, it does come with decent hardware for a cloud-dependent system: Processor: Intel N250 RAM: 8 GB LPDDR5 Storage: 64 GB UFS Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Ethernet Ports: HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-A (x3), USB-C (x1) Size: 120mm x 120mm x 30mm (about 4.7 inches square) The device also supports dual-display setups, making it suitable for professional environments where multiple screens are needed. Mobility must-reads Pricing and availability The Windows 365 Link is priced at: $349.99 in the U.S. £349.99 in the U.K. €419 in Germany JPY$56,800 in Japan CAD$519.99 in Canada AUD$639 in Australia NZD$739 in New Zealand However, it won’t be available for direct retail purchase; businesses must acquire the Windows 365 Link through authorized Microsoft resellers and commercial partners. Depending on your region, Microsoft’s Windows 365 Link is available through authorized enterprise resellers, including SHI International Corp., ASI Solutions, Insight Canada Inc., Japan Business Systems, Inc., and Bechtle Ltd. source