Technical data

Cash Register Express
Page 16
Computer Essentials
Overview and System Security
On the surface, Cash Register Express is a very simple to use point of sale system. Cashiers can ring up
customers quickly and accurately. Behind the scenes, however, your Cash Register Express retail point
of sale system consists of multiple components, functioning together, all running on the Microsoft
Windows operating system. In most cases your computers are connected to the Internet for e-mail,
credit card processing and a variety of other uses. In today’s world of computers a variety of risks
(both internal and external) exist that you should protect against.
Viruses, Spyware and Worms are malicious programs written by outsiders that can cause serious
damage to your data or even your computer. Unknown to you, these can be downloaded and
installed on your computer by visiting an infected web page, downloading and running malicious
programs or by an outside intruder accessing your computer from a different continent via the
Internet. To protect yourself you should do the following:
 Install a router, which is an Internet buffer between you and the outside world. Routers help
control who can access your computer and will help keep unwanted intruders out. Popular
brands of routers include Linksys and DLink, however you should do your homework and
choose the router you feel most comfortable with.
 Install and activate a firewall which is an additional layer of protection against outside
intruders.
 Anti-virus and anti-worm software runs on your computers and, if configured properly, can
actively watch each of your actions and put on the brakes if you are about to download or use
an infected file. It’s important to scan your hard drive regularly for viruses and also keep
current with the latest virus updates (which can change very frequently). Popular brands of
anti-virus software include Symantec (Norton Anti-Virus) and McAfee, however you should
do your homework and choose the anti-virus software you feel most comfortable with.
 Spyware is another malicious form of software that can sneak onto your computers. The
effects of spyware vary from slowing down your computer to revealing your personal
information with a wide array in between. Many anti-virus packages also protect you against
spyware, however you can also download additional packages that can scan for spyware,
eliminate it and protect against future infections.
 Hardware and database failure, while extremely uncommon, is a reality of life that you should
protect against. Lightning may strike – literally – and fry a hard drive or files on your
computer. The two best ways to protect against this are fairly simple. The first is to have a
surge protector unit with a battery backup; common brands are APC and SmartPower,
however you should do your homework and pick the one you are most comfortable with.
The second way to protect yourself is to perform daily backups of your data that you keep
off-site.