Is Your POS System Safe?

How would you feel if your store software was hacked into? Or, as a consumer, would you ever go back to a retailer where your credit card information was stolen?

In September of last year, two Romanian hackers pleaded guilty to hacking the POS system of more than 150 Subways and 50 other fast food restaurants. They stole credit card information from more than 146,000 customers and losses amounted to $10 million. Hackers also attacked 63 Barnes & Noble stores nationwide in the same month, breaking into keypads where customers swipe their credit cards and enter their personal identification numbers (PINs).

QSR magazine’s December 2012 issue cites that cyber crimes are on the rise nationally. Further, Verizon’s 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report says more than half of all worldwide data breaches in 2011 occurred in the food and hospitality industries. And recently, the Dexter Malware virus made news for targeting traditional PC-based POS systems, automatic teller machines (ATMs), and kiosks. It remains without a root cause.

It’s definitely smart to use a POS system for your store, but what is not smart is using one that doesn’t have layers of security helping to protect your sensitive data. ShopKeep POS, a Brooklyn based company that works primarily with independently owned restaurants and retailers, has taken many steps to ensure security. First, ShopKeep encrypts credit card information right when you swipe. Their swiper key allows only ShopKeep POS to use it, preventing a Barnes and Noble type hack. Customer credit card info is never stored on the iPad or in your office either so it can’t get into the hands of unauthorized users. Plus, since only PC-based POS systems are vulnerable to Dexter type viruses, ShopKeep’s POS system remains unaffected.

Indie retailers have a lot on their to-do-lists. Worrying about their POS security shouldn’t be on their list. But before you cross it off, find out if your POS software of choice is protecting you how it should. Is it cloud based? This helps you. Is it PC-based? This makes you more vulnerable. Identify all the security measures your POS company is providing you, then identify if you feel secure with their attempts. If you don’t…  switch.

Contributed by Jason Richelson, CEO and Founder of ShopKeep POS. Still confused or need a POS system that works for your store? Check out ShopKeep POS, an affordable iPad POS that lets you ring up sales, manage inventory, get robust reporting, access data remotely via your smart phone, and more  – all for $49/mo. Give our friendly POS Specialists a call to learn more about how a robust inventory management system can help you grow your business at 800-820-9814.