A vulnerability is a weakness in your computer system that hackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access or steal data.
Your responsibility:
You need to:
- Know about security weaknesses that could affect your business
- Have a plan to fix vulnerabilities when you find them
- Keep all systems updated regularly
Outdated software is the most common source of vulnerabilities. The older your software, the more time hackers have had to find ways to break in.
Why this matters:
Staying informed about security threats protects your business from attacks. Check security websites regularly for updates about new vulnerabilities.
For example:
Windows 7 is no longer supported by Microsoft. This means:
- No more security updates are released
- Known vulnerabilities won't be fixed
- Your system becomes increasingly unsafe
Important: If you process payments on a computer running Windows 7 or older, you cannot be PCI compliant. You must upgrade to a supported operating system to protect customer data.