How To Prevent Computer Damages From Crippling Pop-ups, Viruses, Spyware, & Spam To Avoid Paying Expensive Computer Repair Bills

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 hacker. 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 heavy fee for restoring their computer back to normal.

Imagine having these kinds of difficulty with your restaurant. Your entire 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 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 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 computer program often installed without the user’s knowledge. 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 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 truck full of spyware programs.

Malware: A portmanteau of the words malicious and software. This type of computer program is specifically designed to infiltrate and cause extreme damage to 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 try to 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. Frequently, malware is also designed to attach 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 protection 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 and aquire secured information from unsuspecting individuals and companies. Some have a grudge against the big software vendors and take their revenge by attacking their customers. Others does it just for the sheer fun of it. Whatever the reason, these evil programmers are getting more intelligent and advanced in their ability to access 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 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. Consider using an alternative web browser to Microsoft IE such as Firefox browser. Hackers have ways ways to access and effortlessly download malicious programs to your computer via a security hole in Internet Explorer. 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.

Mozilla Firefox is a completely free web browser that does not have the same security problems as IE. Many of my clients reporting that they like their Mozilla Firefox 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. [Never. This goes without saying because most viruses are replicated via e-mail. If the e-mail looks suspicious, delete it immediately!

4. Using s firewall. A firewall is simply a device that acts as a buffer between you and the big, wild world of the Internet. many internet users will get a DSL or cable Internet connection and plug it without a 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 flip side, the world has access to YOU. Hackers have developed special programs that they use to scan the Internet automatically looking for computers that doesn’t have 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 and employee information, 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.