5 Online Security Using PayPal

Sometimes home security begins online. Many millions use and rely on PayPal for convenient and secure ecommerce transactions. But is it safe? The short answer is “yes”. The longer answer is “it depends”.

PayPal has numerous redundant measures of protection in place to protect their user accounts. PayPal falls under many of the same rules and regulations as banks and retailers.  They don’t have a choice to be secure or not, they have to be.

But PayPal is just like everyone else, they are under constant attack.

Most security issues with PayPal aren’t actually with PayPal at all, but with its users.

1.    Don’t click links in emails that come from PayPal. The emails may not be from PayPal but from scammers trying to phish your information. Always directly log into PayPal to access your account.

2.    Don’t link your bank account to PayPal. If your PayPal account is compromised then the money stolen will be from your bank account opposed to your credit card account. There are many more layers of security in your credit card connected to PayPal.

3.    Keep your PC security updated. Your PC is a path to PayPal, your bank or any other online accounts you have. Many of those accounts are only as secure as your PC. Make sure you have updated anti-virus, firewall, spyware detection/removal etc.

4.    Use a trusted PC. I would never use anyone else’s computer to login to my bank or PayPal

5.    Use a trusted internet connection. Banking online or using PayPal from a free internet café invites trouble. Your best bet is a hard wired connection from home.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to Home Security Source discussing home security and identity theft on TBS Movie and a Makeover. Disclosures