If your computer has access to the internet and e-mail, then it may be only a matter of time before you fall victim to a malicious spyware program, virus, worm, or hacker. Every day we experience customers getting displeased and unhappy about their computer problems due to these threats, and it is only getting worse.
What is even more distressing is that many of these computer users are back in my office a couple days or weeks later with the EXACT same problems and end up having to spend ANOTHER hefty fee for restoring their computer back to normal.
Now imagine having these kinds of difficulty with your restaurant. Your entire POS systems being infiltrated, damaged and completely destroyed by these ravaging viruses, worms and Trojans. You absolutely have no way of protecting your restaurant POS system if you do not take extra precautions.
Here are Three of The Most Dangerous Threats You Should Look Out For
One of the most dangerous aspects of online threats is their ability hide their existence and penetrate your system without your knowledge. Hackers and other programmers who code malicious spyware and malware programs go to great lengths to create programs that are difficult to identify and remove.
That means a malicious program can be downloaded and doing its dirty work on your computer long before you are aware of it. Below are the two most common threats you’ll need to guard against with a brief description of what they are:
Spyware: Spyware is a type of computer program that is secretly installed on your pc, it gather data and other activities you do on the interenet without your permission, then reports such data back to a third party. Sometimes advertisers uses this sneaky program to secretly monitor their customers’ activities. So Better becareful on what website you visit before clicking on that “download” button.
Most spywares are secretly attached to files you download over the internet, like free programs, music files, and screen savers. While you think you are only downloading a legitimate program to add smileys to your e-mails, you are unknowingly also downloading a full load of spyware programs.
Malware: Malware is the combination of the words malicious and software, and represents all programs, viruses, Trojans, and worms that have malicious intent to damage or disrupt a system. Malware is harder to remove and will fight back when you try to clean it from your system. In some extreme cases, we have had to completely wipe out all of the information on the computers’ hard disk and start with a complete re-install of the operating system. Most of the time, malware secretly attach itself to your emails without your knowledge causing computer damage to your email receipients.
Hackers: These are programmers for whom computing is its own reward, has the habit of breaking into other people’s computer just for the sheer fun of it but causes no harm. But today, hackers are widely known as evil programmers who loves to modify your files, cause damage to your system and even design the spyware and malware programs to attack your computer.
So if you’re a restaurant or any other retail establishment owner, having no kind of security for your POS systems at all, then your system is surely one of the easy targets.
Some of them have criminal intent and use these programs to steal money from unsuspecting individuals and companies. Some of them may have a grudge against your software vendor and seek to harm them by attacking their customers. Others do it purely for fun. Whatever the reason, hackers are getting more intelligent and advanced in their ability to access computer systems and networks.
Here 4 Simple Steps You Can Take To Secure Your Computer From These Attacks
1. Never forget to keep your antivirus software updated at all times. You will want to make sure it it auto scan and update feature that will make sure your computer is using the most current protection available and regularly scanning for threats.
2. Consider Mozilla Firefox as an alternative for MS Internet Explorer. Hackers have figured out ways to access and effortlessly download malicious programs to your computer via a security hole in Internet Explorer. What is amazing about this is that you don’t even have to click on anything or download a program to get infected. You are especially vulnerable if you have an older version of Windows such as Windows 98.
Though Mozilla Firefox is a free browser, it doesn’t have the same security problem as IE. Few of my clients saying that they like their Mozilla browser better than MS Internet Explorer. Migrating from IE to Mozilla is a simple and a costless way to add more protection to your computer. To download this free browser, go to www.mozilla.org.
3. Never open suspicious looking e-mails or attachments. This goes without saying because most viruses are replicated by e-mail. If you think it’s suspicious, delete it immediately!
4. Using s firewall. A firewall is designed to block unauthorized access while allowing outgoing communication. many computer users will get a DSL or cable Internet connection and plug it directly using no firewall.
Always remember that the internet is a wide open field where you are vulnerable from all sorts of things that may come in your way. You have access to the world, but on the other side, the world has access to YOU. Hackers have developed special programs which they use to scan the Internet automatically to search for computers with no firewall. And once they find one, they access your computer, download vicious programs, and might even use your computer to send their ravaging viruses to your friends or other computers without your permission.
It only takes one click of a mouse to gain easy access to your restaurant POS system, collect all customer and employee data, destroy your computer system, and sends out virus-infected emails to your customers and friends using your email account! It will surely be the end of your hard work, a huge waste of money on the restaurant POS solutions you’ve bought, and possibly the downfall of your business if you let this things happen to you.
The author Michael Tash is the Vice President of Customer Relations at POS-For-Restaurants. With over 20 years of restaurant experience, POS-For-Restaurants.com helps you use your technology to be more efficient and more profitable.
