Point of Sales popularly known as POS is a growing business in Nigeria. The security of the POS business has become an issue of concern for so many businesses, especially for those using as retail. In this article, we will be looking at the 5 common POS system breaches and how to prevent the breaches. You might want to know the common POS system breaches, follow us and we will how to prevent them after reading this content.
There are two main areas of vulnerability POS can be exposed to which include the following:
Hardware
Hardware occurs when criminals fix a ‘skimmer‘ device to a POS terminal to intercept and capture card data.
Sofware
Software occurs when criminals use malware to gain access to POS networks and steal payment card data as it transmits through the network.
List Of 5 Common POS System Breaches
The following are the 5 common POS system breaches you need to know and guide against while doing your POS business.
- Employment Theft
- Malware Infection
- Physical Damage
- Skimming Device
Employment Theft
This is one of the 5 common POS system breaches that involves staff members of a POS outlet abusing their privileges or credentials and using them to manipulate or steal your data. This can occur when employees are allowed to use their devices to access your POS system, bypass your security or share their passwords with others. Part of the preventive measures to avoid employee theft is to train your staff on POS security best practices, enforce role-based access control, implement audit trails and monitor their activity.
Malware Infection
Malware infection is among the 5 common POS system breaches. This type is one of the common ways that hackers target POS systems. Malware infection involves installing malicious software or malware on the system. Compromised websites, removable devices, phishing emails or compromised websites are the different avenues through which Malware can infect your POS system.
Once Malware is installed on your system, it can steal your card data, disrupt your operations or encrypt your files. So antivirus software should be installed, update your POS systems regularly to avoid suspicious attachments or links being opened. Also, place a limit and monitor who has access to your POS devices.
Physical Damage
Physical damage is one of the 5 common POS system breaches and involves someone destroying or damaging your POS device (both the hardware and software). Physical damage can happen as a result of accident, theft, natural disaster or vandalism. When your POS device has physical damage, it can affect your ability as the owner to access your data, process transactions, or restore your system. To prevent physical damage, you should secure your POS devices and put them under lock and key or cables. Another option is to regularly back up your data and have a disaster recovery plan.
Skimming Device
Skimming device is among the 5 common POS system breaches and this involves attaching a small device to your card reader that will capture the card data as it is swiped or inserted in your device. It is always hard to detect if a device has a skimming device installed in it because it can easily be hidden inside your device or blended with your equipment. Their mode of operation is that Skimmers can transmit the stolen data wirelessly to the hackers. One of the ways to prevent skimming is to regularly inspect your card readers, use encryption, use tokens to protect your card data and also look out for tampering signs.
How To Prevent The 5 Common POS System Breaches
In this section, we will be looking at the 5 common POS system breaches and how to prevent them. Follow the steps below to see the best way to secure your POS environment by using multiple layers of protection. To read more about POS systems, click here
Use Of Strong Password: This involves replacing the default user name and password after installation with another you can easily remember. It is also advised to change the passwords regularly.
Always Update Your POS Software: Another way to prevent the 5 common POS system breaches is to install security upgrades and patches to keep your systems protected against known bugs and vulnerabilities.
Ensure You Install Anti-Virus Software And Firewall.
Set up Encryption: Setting up encryption is one of the ways to prevent the 5 common POS system breaches. The POS providers will always set up encryption of data transmission as a default setting. If you have issues with it, you can talk it over with your provider and ensure there are processes set in place to safeguard your system from any abuse.
Control Access: Controlling who has access to your device is very important. Ensure that it is only authorised and relevant employees can have access to customer data. Also, restrict POS computers and terminals from accessing the internet which can also prevent exposure to online security threats such as malware and viruses.
Disable All Remote Access: One of the ways to prevent the 5 common POS system breaches from happening is to disable all remote access. Having your remote access on can expose your POS system to so many vulnerabilities and make it easier for cybercriminals to exploit. So you need to consider the option of disabling your POS network as a way of preventing the 5 common POS system breaches.
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