PoolOfArticles.com

As long as your computer has access to the internet, especially e-mails, 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’s even more worrying is that several of my customers keeps coming back to my repair shop a few 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. Your entire POS systems 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.

Here are Three of The Most Dangerous Computer Threats You Should Look Out For

One of the most dangerous 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 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 aware of its existence. 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 type of computer program that is hidden from you, it obtains data and other activities you do on the interenet without your knowledge, 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 thinking you are only downloading a legitimate program to add smileys to your e-mails, you are unknowingly also downloading a heaping spoonful 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 infiltrate or disrupt a system causes inconvenience to the user. Malware is harder to remove and will fight back when if clean it from your system. In some extreme cases, we had no other choice but to wipe out the entire 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 easy targets.

Some of them have criminal intent and purposely use these programs to steal money from individuals and companies. Some have a grudge against the big software vendors and seek to harm them by attacking their customers. Others does it purely for fun. Whatever the reason, these evil programmers are getting more intelligent and sophisticated in their ability to access computer systems and networks.

Below Are 4 Simple Steps You May Take In Order To Secure Yourself From Malicious 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 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 download malicious programs to your computer via a security hole in Internet Explorer. Even worse about this is that even if you do not click anything and/or download a program to get infected. You are very susceptible to attacks if you use an older version of Windows such as Windows 98.

Mozilla is a completely free web browser that does not have the same security problems as IE. A growing number of our clients reporting that they like their Mozilla Firefox browser better than Internet Explorer. Migrating from IE to Firefox is a simple and a cost-free way to add another layer of defense to your computer. You can easily download this browser at www.mozilla.org.

3. Do not. This goes without saying since most viruses are replicated via e-mail. If you feel it’s suspicious, delete it immediately!

4. Using s firewall. A firewall is designed to block unauthorized access while allowing outgoing communication. Many users will get a DSL or cable Internet connection and plug it directly into their computer with no firewall in between.

Always remember that the internet is an 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 other side, the world has access to YOU. There are special programs developed by hackers that they use to scan the Internet automatically to search for computers that doesn’t have a firewall. And once they find one, they access your computer, download vicious programs, and can even use YOUR computer to distribute 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 or employee information, 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.