{"id":1775,"date":"2021-09-17T15:59:35","date_gmt":"2021-09-17T15:59:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pcidssguide.com\/?p=1775"},"modified":"2023-10-09T18:45:16","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T18:45:16","slug":"point-of-sale-pos-security-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pcidssguide.com\/point-of-sale-pos-security-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Point of Sale (POS) Security Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

Today, cybersecurity is a significant risk for firms in every industry, including retail. There is an ever-increasing amount of information stored and moving between cloud systems. One of the most vulnerable areas in its digital security plan is its point of sale (POS) system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

POS systems are an integral part of almost any brick-and-mortar business that involves transferring money for goods or services. Modern POS devices can process transactions, manage inventory, record orders, and connect to other point-of-sale systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See Also: Point of Sale (POS) Security Checklist<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, many POS-related data breaches and security issues in recent years indicate that POS systems are vulnerable and may be at risk from attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staying educated and proactive in ensuring your business is protected is key to preventing a breach in your retail store. Here are the possible POS system risks that every business owner should know in our article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unauthorized access to the point of sale application<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Attackers use point-of-sale applications to steal personal and sensitive information such as credit or debit card information. They then use them to make fraudulent purchases that cause financial losses and damage to their credit standing for unsuspecting customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why fighting fraud is vital to point-of-sale sellers, as it can threaten the business’s existence and has a devastating effect on retailers, who are the main customers of point-of-sale sellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Point-of-sale vendors must improve the security of their point-of-sale applications, making it easier to detect suspicious and fraudulent POS transactions and act accordingly to protect shoppers’ sensitive data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Network and Software Vulnerabilities<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An unsecured network causes the most common POS problems. Hackers can infiltrate these weak installations and steal valuable information such as customer credit card numbers and business account data. If possible, your POS technology should be kept on a separate, password-protected network. It’s also a good idea to change passwords at least once every 90 days to avoid data leaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s also critical to keep your software up to date. Software companies release patches and improvements for their operating systems all the time. Using up-to-date software means having access to the latest security measures and giving you the peace of mind you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

POS Device Management<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even if the network is protected, your devices also need to be secure. Protecting your computers and tablets with passwords is a significant first step. Train employees to always log out and never share passwords or other information when walking away from your POS system. Choose technology products that have inherent security measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other simple methods to strengthen the security of POS systems can also be implemented. Many people miss the significance of changing the default manufacturer passwords on these devices, for example. However, cybercriminals can access lists of default passwords from these manufacturers’ networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, you need to change the default passwords when you connect the device to your software. It is vital to purchase genuine POS devices from reputable companies, as there are fake devices available that can give cybercriminals easy access to all your customer data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phishing Attacks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Phishing is a relatively new hacking technique where hackers trick employees into opening malicious links via email. After clicking a link, hackers can gain access to both your system and your data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To avoid this, train employees to never open unusual emails or links sent to them. Install an antivirus system that can automatically block this type of malware. Eliminate this problem by training and monitoring POS device usage so employees don’t check their email or surf the web on company-owned devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malware targeting point of sale applications<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Malware designed to harm computer systems is one of the critical tools hackers use when attacking POS systems. Malware is used to steal personal information and, in some situations, money from bank accounts directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See Also: How to Protect Your POS System from POS Malware<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An effective app security technology must be able to detect malware, tampering, rooted or jailbroken point-of-sale devices, and more so that point-of-sale providers can take action before it’s too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When using mobile POS devices to process payments or perform other electronic transactions, proper application security technology should include a feature that alerts shops and POS providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This attack is made possible by adding malware to the endpoint. Retail organizations can deal with legacy systems that are difficult to patch and easy targets for malware attacks. To avoid malware, retailers need to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n