Avoid Headaching Expenses on Computer Repair Bills Because of 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 get attacked by malicious spyware program, virus, worm, or (worst) hackers. 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 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 difficulty with your restaurant. Your POS systems being infiltrated and 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 Three of The Most Dangerous Computer Threats You Must Be Aware Of

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 really exert vast amount of effort just 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 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 information 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 emoticons to your e-mails, you are unknowingly also downloading a truck full 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 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 no other choice but to wipe out the entire hard disk and start with a complete re-install of the operating system. Frequently, malware is also designed to send itself from your e-mail account to all the friends and colleagues in your address book without your knowledge or consent.

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 easiest targets.

Some of them have criminal intent and use these programs to steal money or aquire secured information from individuals and companies. Some have a grudge against the big software vendors and take their revenge by attacking their customers. Others do it purely for fun. 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 These Attacks

1. Never forget to keep your antivirus software updated at all times. You ought to make sure it has an auto scan and has an update feature that will make sure your computer is using the most current protection available and regularly scanning for threats.

2. Instead of just sticking to one why not consider an alternative browser to Microsoft Internet Explorer like the Mozilla Firefox. Hackers have ways ways to access and download malicious programs to your computer via a security hole in IE. Even worse about this is that you don’t even have to click on anything or download a program to get infected. You are very susceptible to attacks if you have 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 my clients reporting that they like their Mozilla Firefox browser better than MS Internet Explorer. Shifting from IE to Mozilla is a simple and a cost-free way to add another layer of defense to your computer. To download this free browser, go to www.mozilla.org.

3. Do not. Because most viruses are distributed through e-mails you receive from anonymous accounts, and even from your friends. If it looks suspicious, do not open it, just get rid of 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.

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 other side, the world has access to YOU. Hackers have developed special programs which they use to scan the Internet automatically for computers that doesn’t have a firewall. Once they find one, they they immediately access your computer, download vicious programs, and may even use YOUR computer to send e-mails infected with 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 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.

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