Ever Get Annoyed Paying Expensive Bills on Computer Damages Done By Crippling Pop-ups, Viruses, Spyware, & Spam?
As long as your computer has access to the world wide web or internet, especially e-mails, then it may be only a matter of time before you get attacked by 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’s even more worrying is that several of my customers keeps coming back to my office a couple days or weeks later complaining about the EXACT same computer problems and ends up paying for ANOTHER repair just to get their computer up and running again.
Imagine having these kinds of problem with your restaurant. POS computers being infiltrated and 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.
The Three Dangerous Threats You Must Be Aware Of
One of the most dangerous aspects of online threats is their ability to cloak their existence. Hackers and the authors of malicious spyware and malware programs go to great lengths to create programs that are difficult to identify and remove.
This can mean that malicious computer programs can directly be downloaded and work its dirty tricks on your system before you are able to identify them. Below are the two most common threats you’ll need to guard against with a brief explanation of what they {are|are and how you acquire them}:
Spyware: Spyware is a computer program often installed without the user’s knowledge. This program gathers information about you and your online activities and then reports it back to some outside person. 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: A combination of the terms malicious and software. This type of computer program is designed specifically to infiltrate and cause extreme damage to your system, this include viruses, worms and Trojans. Malware is a bit harder to remove and will try to fight back when you try to clean it from your system. In some extreme cases, we had to wipe out the 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: Hackers are computer programmers turned evil. They are the people who design the spyware and malware programs that attack your computer.
So if you’re a restaurant or any other retail establishment owner, having no protection 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 from individuals and companies. Some of them may have a grudge against the big software vendors and take their revenge by secretly attacking their customers. While others does it just for the sheer fun of it. Whatever the reason, hackers are getting more intelligent and sophisticated in their ability to infiltrate computer systems and networks.
Here 4 Simple Steps You Can Take To Secure Your Computer From Malicious Attacks
1. Do not forget to keep your antivirus software updated at all times. 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. You may want to consider using an alternative browser to Internet Explorer like the Mozilla Firefox. Hackers have ways ways to access and effortlessly download malicious programs to your computer via a security hole in IE. What’s more disappointing about this is that you don’t even have to click on anything 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. A growing number of my clients telling that they like their Mozilla browser better than MS Internet Explorer. Shifting from IE to Mozilla is a simple and a cost-free way to add more protection to your computer. If you want to download the Mozilla browser, go to www.mozilla.org.
3. Don’t] open suspicious looking e-mails or attachments, especially from people who are not listed on your address book. Because most viruses replicates through e-mails you receive from anonymous accounts, and even from your friends. If you think it’s suspicious, don’t open it, delete it immediately!
4. Set up a firewall. A firewall is designed to block unauthorized access while allowing outgoing communication. many computer users will just get a DSL or cable Internet connection and plug it directly into their computer with no firewall in between.
The one thing you have to remember about the Internet is that it is a big open field. You have access to the world, but on the flip side, the world has access to YOU. Take note that hackers have programs that automatically scan the Internet for computers connected via a cable or DSL connection without a firewall. Once they find one, they they immediately access your computer, download vicious programs, and can even use YOUR computer to send viruses to your friends and other computers, all without your knowledge or consent.
It only takes one click of a mouse to gain easy access to your restaurant POS system, collect all customer or employee data, destroy your computer system, and sends out 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.
Post a comment