As
a POS business owner, the last thing you want to occur to your investment
is a sudden crash , and that is just what you may experience if your computer
system is left unsecured. CC
Productions has the expertise to advice on, implement and support
POS computer security. Call 1-800-507-5554 Ext 1 for
solutions for securing your point-of-sale system.
Your
Computers Drive Your Business
Leaving your computer system unsecured is like leaving the door open for
thieves and vandals. The result of being lackadaisical about security
can be so devastating that it could take weeks of strenuous efforts and
thousands of dollars to get your system back to its status, if at all.
Viruses and other malicious programs can infect your system, and resultantly
corrupt or wipe your data. If that happens, your entire operations can
easily be brought to a complete halt. Therefore, point-of-sale operators
must take preventive measures to ensure business is never disrupted.
Any malicious
program on your computer can cause problems ranging from minor popups
to major ones such as server crash. Also, your computer can leave a doorway
to hackers, who may use your system for various nefarious activities.
Generally, viruses, worms, spyware and trojans can cause damage to your
computers and the information they contain. Look at it this way: there
is no variant of virus or spyware that is good for your computer! As much
as possible, the goal of any computer owner is to keep the intruders out.
Viruses, Worms, Spyware, Trojans. What are
they?
Malicious programs on your computer can cause problems ranging from generating
mere popups to serious ones such as crashing your servers and terminals
completely. To have an understanding of what each of these malicious applications
can do, Microsoft
gives definitions of each:
Virus: A piece of computer
code that attaches itself to a program or file so it can spread from computer
to computer, infecting as it travels. Viruses can damage your software,
your hardware, and your files.
Worm: Designed to copy itself
from one computer to another, but it does so automatically by taking control
of features on the computer that can transport files or information. Once
you have a worm in your system it can travel alone. A great danger of
worms is their ability to replicate in great volume. For example, a worm
could send out copies of itself to everyone listed in your e-mail address
book, and their computers would then do the same, causing a domino effect
of heavy network traffic that would slow down business networks and the
Internet as a whole.
Trojan: Computer programs
that appear to be useful software, but instead they compromise your security
and cause a lot of damage.
Spyware: A general term
used for software that performs certain behaviors such as advertising,
collecting personal information, or changing the configuration of your
computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent. You
might have spyware or other unwanted software on your computer if: You
see pop-up advertisements even when you're not on the Web; the page your
Web browser first opens to (your home page) or your browser search settings
have changed without your knowledge; you notice a new toolbar in your
browser that you didn't want, and find it difficult to get rid of; your
computer takes longer than usual to complete certain tasks; or you experience
a sudden rise in computer crashes. Spyware will make changes to your computer
that can be annoying and can cause your computer slow down or crash. These
programs have the ability to change your search page and make it very
difficult for you to change your settings back to the way you originally
had them. The key in all cases is whether or not you (or someone who uses
your computer) understand what the software will do and have agreed to
install the software on your computer.
There are a number of ways spyware or other unwanted software can get
on your system. A common trick is to covertly install the software during
the installation of other software you want such as a music or video file
sharing program. Whenever you are installing something on your computer,
make sure you carefully read all disclosures, including the license agreement
and privacy statement. Sometimes the inclusion of unwanted software in
a given software installation is documented, but it may appear at the
end of a license agreement or privacy statement.
What you can do about Viruses, Spyware and
other unwanted software?
Update your Windows software
It is essential that you keep your computer's operating system (OS) up
to date. The Microsoft security
update web site should be checked regularly for the availability of
new critical updates. You may set your computer to do automatic Windows
updates. Updates that correct security-related defects should be downloaded
and installed immediately.
Adjust Internet Explorer security settings
A smart way to browse the Web is to adjust Internet Explorer's security
settings to determine how much information you will accept from a Web
site. Microsoft recommends that you set
the security settings for the Internet zone to Medium or higher. To
view your current Internet Explorer security settings, click on Tools,
Internet Options and use the various tab options to tighten your security
settings.
Unknown to many users, Internet Explorer has features such as popup
blocker, smart
downloading, and
security alert which can be well utilized to minimize the probability
of infection.
If you're running Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and you use Internet
Explorer to browse the Web, your browser security settings for the Internet
zone are already set to Medium by default. Internet Explorer in Windows
XP SP2 also includes a number of features to help protect against spyware
and many other kinds of deceptive or unwanted software.
Install anti-virus software and anti-spyware protection, and update
regularly
Ensure that your computers, especially the ones that are connected to
the Internet, have reliable antivirus software. It is, however, not good
enough just to have virus or spyware program, unless it is updated. Establish
an automated schedule for updating your antivirus software daily, so it
can continue to recognize new virus codes as they emerge. Tweak the settings
to allow the program to do automatic updates and turn on the feature that
allows the software to monitor all incoming files, and email messages,
so your machine is protected continually from attack. Some of the recommended
antivirus programs in the market are Symantec/Norton, McAfee, and TrendMicro
PcCillin.
In recent times, anti-spyware programs have become so popular because
many infections do not fall within the boundaries of virus. It is prudent
to have at least one anti-spy program running.Microsoft currently offers
anti-spyware beta software for download; more information is available
on Microsoft
Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) site. Other reputable anti-spyware include
Lavasoft's Ad-Aware,
CounterSpy,
Web Washer and Spysweepeer.
Surf
and download more securely
The best defense against spyware and other unwanted software is not to
download it in the first place. In addition, warn against downloading
free software such as screensavers and file-swapping applications. If
you're not sure about a program you are considering downloading, ask or
research it from a search engine to see if anyone else has reported that
it contains spyware.
Make it mandatory for employees not to open suspicious or unsolicited
attachments to email messages. Avoid running attachments (especially .EXE
files) that come in your e-mail, even if they come from your friends,
relatives or colleagues.
Avoid browsing sites that are not safe, including software crack and porn
sites. Avoid responding to spam, especially links that require you to
be removed from the mailing list of companies that give no telephone contact
information.
Never provide credit card numbers, passwords or personal information in
response to email messages. It is wise to check regularly for email program
updates.
Use
a firewall
Firewalls protects your computer from unauthorized use, and forces every
access to your system to be approved by you. Microsoft
says connecting to the Internet without a firewall is like leaving the
keys in your car with the engine running . Although you may be able to
get in and out before anyone notices, someone may take advantage of the
opportunity.
A firewall examines information coming from and going to the Internet.
If you set up your firewall properly, hackers searching for vulnerable
computers can't detect your computer. As a result, you probably need professional
help with firewall installation and configuration
There are three basic types of firewalls available today:Software firewall,
Hardware routers, Wireless routers. Most broadband users have routers
installed as a first line of defense. This has not proved to be adequate
to ward off attack. In most cases, a hardware and/or software firewall
is required. Software firewall requires just the installation and configuration
of a firewall application, and is less expensive than hardware solutions.
Some of the most reliable software firewall in the market are Zonealarm
and Norton Personal Firewall. Hardware firewall usually starts from $300
to thousands of dollars. We can advise you on the best options for your
business.
Get security help from a solution provider
Although
there are perhaps thousands of IT solution providers, not all are knowledgeable
or experienced in security services. SmallbizPipeline.com
recommends your choice of company will have a Microsoft Certified Systems
Administrator (MCSA) or Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator Engineer
(MCSE) on staff, as well.
Backup
Critical Files
Make frequent backups of your data files, and keep some of your backups
out of your computer. Most computers now come with CD burners. Make it
a habit of burning critical data such as your POS files and email database
to backup discs on a regular schedule. If you have no CD-RW, you can get
a cheap USB removable flash drive from a nearby electronics store to store
your data on.
Look for more on Backup in next month's issue of ProfiTouch.
What We Can Do For You.
CCProductions offers a wide range of solutions in point-of-sale computer
systems security. Our staff consists of professionals with various qualifications
including MSCE, CCNA, A+, among others. Hundreds of our clients are benefiting
from our affordable but effective broadband Internet installations finished
with software and hardware firewall, together with professional anti-virus
implementation that hardly ever fails. We can also give you a do-it-yourself
solution which your company's IT consultants can integrate into our systems
without any headache. Talk to us without delay to see what we can do for
you.
CC Productions has the expertise to give advice on, implement
and support POS computer security. Call 1-800-507-5554, Ext 1
for professional solutions for securing your point-of-sale system.
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