Why Cybercriminals Target Restaurants and How to Protect Yours

Running a restaurant today is a challenging undertaking. Some challenges, like crowded and highly competitive markets and shifting consumer demands, have always been relevant to restaurant owners. Now, as restaurants embrace new technologies, there’s another threat to consider: cybercrime.

Cybercriminals are a growing threat to virtually every industry. In 2020 alone, the FBI received 791,790 internet crime complaints, which is 300,000 more than the year prior. While most people may associate these incidents with industries like tech or banking, they affect everyone.

Why Restaurants Are Vulnerable to CyberattacksCybercriminals attack restaurants for the same reason they target companies in any other industry: money. You may handle hundreds or even thousands of customers’ credit cards every day, representing a significant payday for a successful cyberattack.

Cybercriminals once infected 1,025 Wendy’s point-of-sale systems to steal credit card data, resulting in a $3.4 million…