Protect Yourself and Your Business From Nasty Spam Emails and Viruses
Spam e-mails are not just annoying, they are also time consuming, but they’re also becoming more dangerous to you and the security of your computer.Think twice when you’re about to open e-mails from unknown senders, especially if you’re using a computer from the office where all your important documents are instored. Thousands of computer users and restaurant owners are getting infected by spam e-mails each month, forcing them to pay huge fees for cleaning and restoring their computer POS systems back to normal.
Here are the 3 computer dangers you should keep away from:
1. Hijacking and spoofed e-mails. Spammers have acquired a new technology that effortlessly allows them to fool you by making it appear as though their spam e-mails are coming from YOUR computer. This can cause your connection to the internet be terminated or put on hold by your service provider – all without your knowledge. That is why a good spam blocking software must be used not only to block inbound spam, but also unauthorized outbound spam from your serves.
2. Spam e-mails that carries viruses. Accidentally or intentionally opening an e-mail from an unknown sender can cause you many of problems. Mostly these unknown senders are the spammers who merrily speard their virus-infected e-mails and waits for the unlucky person to open it and/or download its content. This can cause your computer to slow down, identity theft, loose data, endless popping of adult sites or even crashes the system! What’s worst is that the personal information collected from your PC can be uploaded to the internet without your consent and use it to comit crime.
3. Phishing spam – spam e-mails that contains a link to a phishing web site. A phishing e-mail may appear to be a legitimate e-mail from websites you know, trust and use their service – commonly from banks. The purpose of this is to trick you into giving confidential information such as bank accounts, social security numbers, passwords, and credit card information. You’ve probably already received e-mails from banks you don’t use, or even from Paypal, that notifies you to verify your account in order to continue using their service. It will then direct you to a very convincing web site where you input certain information the spammer is trying to acquire illegally. In reality, this is a malicious third party that is going to use your information to open credit card accounts, access your account, steal money, and cause you other major identity and financial problems.
What to do to prevent this?
Above all, you should have a good quality spam blocking software installed.
Many retail business owner over look into this, so their restaruant POS system is the one who suffers the most.
Next, you better make sure you don’t get on a spammers list in the first place. Once you’re on a spammer’s list, it’s impossible to get off; and changing your e-mail address is a big hassle especially if you’re using it to keep in touch with important business and personal contacts.
Below are some advices that can help you protect your e-mail from getting listed on a spammer’s list:
1. Use a disposable e-mail account.
Using a free e-mail address like with Yahoo or Gmail can reduce the chance of ending up on a spammer’s list. To avoid ending up on a spammer’s broadcast list, you can always use free e-mail accounts whether it’s Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail it’s never a waste of time registering for them.
2. Never forget to double-check those check boxes that are automatically filled in.
Better make sure you don’t check on the box that says “Yes! I would like other companies to send me their discounts.” when you’re shopping online. You might end up getting your e-mail address will not only be sent to other advertisers but can end up on a spammer’s list as well.
3. Refrain from posting your personal or business e-mail address in public places like your website or blog.
Spammers uses a special program that can collect e-mail addresses from web sites without your permission. If you really want to post an e-mail address on your web site or business blog, it’ll be much safer to use “info@” so all replies forwarded to a folder in your in-box that won’t interfere with your main address.
4. If you have a hunch that it’s a spam e-mail, then don’t open it!
Opening, replying to, or even clicking a bogus opt-out link in an obvious spam e-mail signals that your e-mail address is active, and more spam will follow.
The only time it is safe to click or reply to the e-mail is when it is sent by a company you know or do business with (for example, a company that you purchase from or a newsletter you subscribed to).
For more information or to have a local POS professional serving the restaurant industry and your location see more information at POS-For-Restaurants.com.