Two Simple PayPal Security Related Tips

Categories: Tech Tips

If you are using any of my WordPress shopping cart plugins (WP eStore or WP Simple Shopping Cart) then chances are that you have a PayPal account and making a bit of money selling your stuff online too. Next step is to keep your money safe so you don’t loose it from hacking related issues or get fooled by some scam email.

In this post I have shared two simple PayPal security related tips that you can start using and add that extra layer of security and sleep better at night. The first one is to add more protection around your PayPal account login.

Use The PayPal security key

The security key gives you an extra layer of security when you log in to your PayPal account. It creates random security codes to use along with your regular username and password.

It’s like a combination lock for your account – designed to let you in and keep others out – except that the combination always changes. It comes in 2 types, each with different advantages:

Security key: This is a small device, the size of a credit card that you carry with you. It creates a unique security code that you use to log in to your account.
Mobile phone security key: You can get temporary security codes on your mobile phone by text messages (also called SMS).

Basically you log into your PayPal account as you normally would. After you enter your username and password, you’ll be asked to enter a security code. Once you enter the security code from the hard token you are granted access to your account. So for anyone to be able to hack into your paypal account will have to hack your account password and also have the security token at the same time!

It cost $5 to order a security key (at the time of writing this post) and it is very simple to order and activate.

Ordering PayPal Security Key

Order your PayPal security key now from PayPal.

The second tip is on adding more security around the email communication between you and PayPal.

Use Email Identification

Ever wonder if that PayPal email is real? You can use PayPal’s Iconix email identification tool, which can reduce phishing by confirming whether or not an email is really from PayPal.

If you are using Gmail like myself then you can get visual verification of the authenticity of emails from PayPal and eBay by turning on the authentication icon from the Labs tab under settings. Doing so attaches an icon that looks like a key to emails from these verified senders. see screenshot below:

Gmail Secure Email Icon

Now, whenever you receive an email from PayPal you will immediately know if it was genuinely sent from PayPal or not… No more wasting time!

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#1 by Steve on November 23, 2011 - 3:10 am

I really glad to read your blog because I always found the current issues information for your blog.
This post is very much helpful for all the internet users, I think at present around 90% peoples are using PayPal for online transition and there many PayPal fraud cases also come out in last six months.
According to me every PayPal user need to read this post,

#2 by jogos de moda on October 20, 2011 - 11:02 am

Fantastic tips, really useful information for paypal users, I don’t understand why they don’t make it more visible for their costumers, I didn’t even knew this existed. Thanks.

#3 by Scott @Scott English Plumbing on September 20, 2011 - 11:52 pm

This is great! very useful, thanks a lot for sharing this wonderful post and keep it up!

#4 by Saveu on August 9, 2011 - 11:41 pm

All information that are stored online can be accessed by someone who is more expert on computers.So it is very important to know how to make sure of your financial account. Thanks for your tips. I will take note of the emails sent to me by paypal.

#5 by Vitamins on April 13, 2011 - 4:20 pm

Thank you for sharing. I never heard about security key, it’s very useful. I will try it.

#6 by Maciek on April 8, 2011 - 3:15 pm

I’ve always found paypal ppretty safe, as long as you know the person you are sending the money to, but it never hurts to be to careful and I think these added measures will help

#7 by Nicole Powel on March 14, 2011 - 9:48 am

hey

Incredibly great thanks to ya!
i have just enabled the authentication key in my Gmail account. Now as it is nearly a year from you so helpful article, It is under:
Labels>Settings>Labs>Authentication icon for verified Senders

Thanks!
The other thing is the PayPal security key. Is it something that will secure the process of transaction?
When I was setting up my PayPal account for my e-commerce platform, it asked me to issue a key on my site. It is kind of complicated.
Can you write more about the security of PayPal and its simplifications for the e-commerce platforms/

All the best
Nicole

#8 by Multi Upload on January 18, 2011 - 8:49 am

Hi,

Very good post.
Thanks for your tips for these extra layers of security.

Regards

#9 by John Gamings on January 3, 2011 - 11:23 am

The PayPal Security Key is defintely a MUSTHAVE. I know a guy who had his PayPal account hooked up to his bank account and someone hacked in and stole thousands. All could have been avoided if he had just gotten a security key. I get a text message whenever I try to log in with my code so nobody will ever be able to steal from my PayPal account unless they have my cell phone

#10 by Waterproof Socks on November 3, 2010 - 3:19 pm

Yes, you definitely can’t allow yourself to be fooled by the phishing emails. They are not hard to spot, though I find. Even the professional-looking ones that I’ve seen can be pegged once you take a closer inspection.

#11 by Facebook Application Analytics on November 1, 2010 - 11:14 am

I feel secure using paypal. I have on more than one occasion had someone hack into my account, and made purchases that I did not authorize. This didn’t bother me because Paypal gave me the money back.
.-= Facebook Application Analytics´s last blog ..IMPORTANT- Webtrends RSS Feeds Have Changed =-.

#12 by jogos de futebol on October 22, 2010 - 5:34 am

This WP plugin is the best, thanks for this post. I tried others but this is the best i ever used

#13 by Ivy on September 25, 2010 - 10:21 pm

Hi Dizi, No it will not charge you $5.00 when you generate a security key. I believe this is a one time fee.

#14 by dizi on September 25, 2010 - 11:12 am

Thanks for sharing these extra layers of security.Just a question for the paypal security device.It will cost me 5$ for the device or every time i will generate the security pass i will have to be charged the 5$?

#15 by Justin@Sierra Security on September 22, 2010 - 5:09 pm

#16 by blackberry curve silicone cases on September 10, 2010 - 5:48 am

I hardly ever write comments on blogs, but your article urged me to praise your blog. Thanks for the read, I will surely

favorite your site and check in occasionally. Cheers.

#17 by mario Oyunları on August 14, 2010 - 6:51 pm

Thanks for sharing these extra layers of securit

#18 by oyunlar on August 13, 2010 - 6:43 pm

#19 by skornik-security on March 22, 2010 - 6:46 am

Well now i can shop on-line at ease

#20 by Pamela on February 28, 2010 - 6:52 am

Hi Rahul,

Thanks for the article. I will feel better with the security card!

Pam
.-= Pamela´s last blog ..Today’s Earrings =-.

#21 by Sport Winkel on February 7, 2010 - 4:37 pm

#22 by admin on February 1, 2010 - 3:33 am

I don’t know of any other email client that does the PayPal’s Iconix identification right off the bat.

#23 by Bloggers Cafe on January 31, 2010 - 12:33 pm

Hi, thanks for this information, glad to read your posting here. I have question here, can PayPal’s Iconix email identification tool be used for other email service beside gmail?

Thanks
.-= Bloggers Cafe´s last blog ..Blogging can make you lose your check =-.

#24 by Ivy on January 17, 2010 - 6:43 pm

Panagiotis, This is a one time fee of $5.00 you do not have to pay $5.00 each time you generate a security key.
Ivy

#25 by Panagiotis on January 17, 2010 - 6:19 am

Regards
Panagiotis

#26 by seo specialist on December 17, 2009 - 8:56 am

Thanks for sharing this useful tips, those who use PayPal (me too) must use this extra security in order to avoid any problem. btw i like 2nd option,.

#27 by PC Security on November 28, 2009 - 12:30 am

Nice Article.
This sure will help people as PAypal is often targeted by fraudsters.
.-= PC Security´s last blog ..Avoid Ads, Clutter when Printing Webpages in Internet Explorer (IE) =-.