Tips On How To Avoid Spending Expensive Repair Bills On Computer Damages Made By Viruses, Spyware, Spam & Pop-ups

October 15, 2009

As long as your computer has access to the 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 experience customers getting displeased 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 deadly 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 harmful 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 even know it. 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 computer program often installed without the user’s permission. This program collects information about you and your online activities and then reports it 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 scripts, 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 full load of spyware programs.

Malware: A combination of the words malicious and software. This type of computer program is specifically designed to infiltrate and disrupt your system, this include viruses, worms and Trojans. A malware is a program designed to be used for malicious intent and it’s harder to remove and will fight back when if 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: 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 protection for your POS systems at all, then your system is surely one of the easiest targets.

Some of them have criminal intent and purposely use these programs to steal money and aquire secured information from unsuspecting individuals and companies. Some have a grudge against the big software vendors and seek to harm them by secretly attacking their customers. While other hackers does it just for fun. Whatever the reason, these twisted programmers are getting more intelligent and advanced in their ability to infiltrate computer systems and networks.

Here 4 Simple Steps You Can Take To Secure Your Computer From These Attacks

1. Do not forget to keep your antivirus software updated at all times. You ought 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. Instead of just sticking to one why not consider an alternative browser to Microsoft Internet Explorer like the Mozilla Firefox. Hackers have figured out ways to access and easily download malicious programs to your computer via a security hole in IE. 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. Few of my clients even report back that they like their Mozilla browser better than Internet Explorer. Switching from IE to Firefox is a simple and cost-free way to add more protection to your computer. You can easily download this browser at www.mozilla.org.

3. Don’t] open suspicious looking e-mails or attachments, especially from email addresses who are not listed on your address book. This goes without saying since most viruses are distributed through e-mail. If you feel it’s suspicious, delete it immediately!

4. Setting up a firewall. A firewall is designed to block unauthorized access while allowing outgoing communication. Many users will just buy a DSL or cable Internet connection and plug it directly using no firewall.

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 that they use to scan the Internet automatically to search for computers with no firewall. And once they find one, they they immediately access your computer, download vicious programs, and can even use YOUR computer to send out 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 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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