Author Archives: Andrew Jaffe

I am often speaking to new clients about setting up a web site and suggest they create an LLC. They then tell me that they have an LLC and I ask if they use it properly. Often the reply is, “I just have one.”

To limit your liability with an LLC, you need to inform the people you are working with that they are dealing with an LLC. To do this, you need to sign every email, document or other correspondence as follows:

Your Name, Managing Member
Name of LLC

Example,
John Doe, President
ABC, LLC

If you are signing a contract, but the word “By” in front of your name:

By John Doe, President
ABC, LLC

In my examples above, I used the title President instead of Managing Member. When you have the Organization Meeting of your LLC, you can assign a corporate title to the Managing Member. I always suggest to my clients they do that as people understand the title President and don’t often understand what a Managing Member is.

I mentioned an Organizational Meeting above. You need to have this meeting, even if you are a 100% owner of the LLC, (when you just meet with yourself.) You need to create minutes of this meeting, appointing the Managing Member, giving them a title, choosing an accountant, a bank and a lawyer.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have concerning this blog post.

Ransomware is a malicious virus used by cyber criminals to hold your files hostage. The criminals encrypt your hard drive and ask for payment for you to get access to your computer.

Here are some ways to guard against Ransomware attacks:

1. Make sure you have good anti-virus software installed on your computer.
2. Keep your most important data backed up so that should you suffer such an attack your downside risk is lowered.
3. Do not open email or attachments from people you do not know.
4. Do not download apps without thoroughly researching their origin.

If you are a victim of a ransomware attack:

1. Disconnect your computer from the Internet.
2. Restore your computer to the factory installed version, and then download your backed up data and programs.
3. Contact law enforcement. Both the FBI and the FTC can be of help to you.

Should you pay the ransom? That is a personal decision. If you don’t have good back-ups, it may be your only option. However, once you agree to the ransom, the criminals may know you have not backed up your data and demand more money. Further, you will be the target of many other scams.

Your best defense is a good offense. Use good virus protection software, and backup your data.