Ever Get Annoyed Paying Expensive Bills on Computer Damages Done By Crippling Pop-ups, Viruses, Spyware, & Spam?
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 (worst) hackers. Every day we get customers coming in who are experiencing computer problems due to these threats, and it is only getting worse.
What is even more frustrating is that many of these computer users are back in my repair shop 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.
Imagine having these kinds of problem with your restaurant. POS computers being infiltrated, damaged and completely destroyed by viruses and worms. You absolutely have no way of protecting your restaurant POS system if you do not take extra precautions.
Here are 3 of The Most Dangerous Threats You Must Be Aware Of
One of the deadly aspects of online threats is their ability to cloak their existence. Hackers and other programmers who code malicious spyware and malware programs go to great lengths to create harmful programs that are difficult to identify and remove.
That means a malicious program can be downloaded and do its dirty work on your computer long before you are able to identify them. Below are the two most common threats you’ll need to guard against with a brief description of what they {are|are and how you acquire them}:
Spyware: Spyware is a type of computer program that is secretly installed on your pc, it collect information 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 spyware finds its way onto your computer via file downloads including free programs, music files, and screen savers. While you think you are only downloading a legitimate program to add emoticons to your e-mails, you are unknowingly also downloading a heaping spoonful of spyware programs.
Malware: Malware is short for malicious 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: Programmers who find breaking in to their friends or coworkers’ computer is fun, but causes no damage, they love the challenge of being able to infiltrate a computer system and brag about it. Today these hackers mostly love to design spyware and malware programs that attacks computer systems causing extreme damage.
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 easiest targets.
Some of them may have criminal intent and purposely use these programs to steal money or aquire secured information from unsuspecting individuals and companies. Some have a grudge against the big software vendors and take their revenge by secretly attacking their customers. Others do it purely for fun. Whatever the reason, these evil programmers are getting more intelligent and sophisticated in their ability to infiltrate computer systems and networks.
Below Are 4 Simple Steps You May Take In Order To Secure Yourself From These Attacks
1. Always remember to regularly update your antivirus software. You will want to make sure it has an auto scan and update feature that will make sure your computer is running the most current protection available and regularly scanning for threats.
2. Consider another browser like Mozilla Firefox as an alternative to the browser MS Internet Explorer. Hackers have ways ways to access and download malicious programs to your computer via a security hole in Internet Explorer. What’s more disappointing about this is that even if you do not click anything and/or download a program to get infected. You are easily attacked if you use an older version of Windows such as Windows 98.
Though Mozilla Firefox is a free browser, it does not have the same security problem as IE. Many of my clients even report back that they mostly prefer using Mozilla Firefox than Microsoft IE. Migrating from IE to Firefox is a simple and cost-free way to add more protection to your computer. To download this free browser, go to www.mozilla.org.
3. [Never. Because most viruses replicates through e-mails you receive from anonymous accounts, and even from your friends. If the e-mail looks suspicious, don’t open it, delete it immediately!
4. Setting up a firewall. A firewall is a computer program that acts as a security barrier, protecting files and programs on one network from users on another network. many internet users will get a DSL or cable Internet connection and plug it without a firewall.
Always remember that the internet is a big open field where you are vulnerable from all kinds of things that may come in your way. You have access to the world, but on the flip side, the world has access to YOU. Hackers have developed special programs which they use to scan the Internet automatically looking for computers without a firewall. Once they find one, they access your computer, download vicious programs, and may even use YOUR computer to send viruses to your friends and other computers, all without your knowledge or consent.
Just one simple click os a mouse and they’ll 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.
Michael Tash of POS-For-Restaurants, is the author and Vice President of Customer Relations for POS-For-Restaurants.com. With over 20 years of restaurant experience, POS-For-Restaurants.com helps you use your technology to be more efficient and more profitable.
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