Spam e-mails are not only annoying and time consuming, but they’re also becoming more dangerous to your personal privacy and the security of your computer.So better 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 business documents are saved. Millions of computer users and restaurant owners are getting infected by spam e-mails every year, forcing them to pay huge fees to clean and restore their computer POS systems back in order.

Below are the 3 dangers that any PC user should keep away from:

1. Hijacking and spoofed e-mails. Spammers have found new ways to make it appear as though their spam e-mail is coming from YOUR own computer. This can cause your connection to the internet be be temporarily terminated or put on hold by your service provider – without you even knowing it. 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 opening a spam e-mail with nasty viruses attached to it can cause your computer a lot of problems. You can end up with a crashed system, identity theft problem, lost data and much more. You think that your computer has just slow down, but it could also mean that your personal data is being uploaded without your knowledge and sent to a third party, either to sell, trade or use it to comit crime.

3. Phishing spam. A phishing e-mail appears 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 a PayPal or bank spam e-mail that said your account was going to be closed unless [you verified your information|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|e-mails from banks you don't use, or even from Paypal, that notifies you to verify your account or else they will close it]. It will then direct you to a very convincing web site where you input certain information the spammer is trying to glean. 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.

Here’s what you can do to pervent this:

Before everything else, it’s absolutely very important that you get a quality spam blocking software installed as a first line of defense.

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 included on a spammers list in the first place. Once your e-mail gets listed on a spammer’s list, it will stay there forever and possibly get distributed to more spammers; and changing your e-mail address is a major inconvenience especially if you rely on it to keep in touch with important business and personal contacts.

Here’s a few of ways you can do to reduce the chances of your e-mail address getting on a spammer’s list:

1. Using a disposable e-mail address.

Using a free e-mail address like with Yahoo or Gmail can reduce your chance on getting listed on a spammer’s list. Use this when subscribing or shopping online to avoid your primary e-mail address from ending up on their broadcast list.

2. Never forget to double-check those tick boxes that are automatically filled in.

Make sure you don’t check the box that says “Yes! I want other companies to send me their discounts.” when shopping online. You’ll end up getting your e-mail address can (and will) be sold to every online advertiser.

3. Refrain from posting your personal or business e-mail address on your web site, web forums, or newsgroups.

Spammers uses a special program that can automatically collect e-mail addresses from web sites without your consent. If you really want to publicly post your e-mail address on your home page, it’s 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. Refrain yourself from replying on obvious spam e-mails.

Opening, replying to, or even clicking a bogus opt-out link in an obvious spam e-mail signals that your e-mail account is active, and they’ll send you more spam e-mails.

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.