Using the PayPal security key |
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Who doesn’t want a more secure PayPal? Recently they started offering these security key devices to customers. You can sign up for one by visiting paypal.com/securitykey.
Took a week or so for our business account security key to arrive.
After visiting PayPal and entering in the serial number on the back of the new security key, you’ll be presented with a new second step after entering in your login/password. You need to push a button on the security key and then enter the generated six digit code into the PayPal form.
Business PayPal customers can get one key at no charge while other PayPal users need to pay $5 USD. I attached ours to my keychain, so that’s prime mind share real estate for PayPal. Smart move.
PayPal should really be giving these away for free to all users. After all, if they feel their system’s security is such that a key is recommended, then it should be given to everyone.
Comment by Aaron B. Hockley — March 12, 2007 @ 6:26 am PST
You make a fair point Aaron. I don’t think at $5 including shipping they are turning any kind of profit on the devices, however, which would be more insulting. They probably should have given them away to all PayPal customers that have been with them at least a year regardless if they were business members or not.
Also a lot of banks are increasing their security methods, so it isn’t just PayPal.
Comment by TDavid — March 12, 2007 @ 6:39 am PST
I’m curious though. How does it work if you don’t physically have the key? For example, my wife and I have a joint paypal account. If we only get one key, what if she wants to login and I want to login and one of us is in one place and the other is in another place? Is there a way around it and what is it if there is?
Comment by thatedeguy — March 14, 2007 @ 1:19 pm PST
thatedeguy - it looks like you can have multiple security keys for the same account (you just need to authorize each one) and there also appears to be an option if you don’t have the key and still need to access the account. Haven’t tried either actually, but the options do exist.
Comment by TDavid — March 14, 2007 @ 1:31 pm PST
thatdateguy - I’ve got mine, and I love it. Just for reference, when you sign in, if you don’t enter the code along with your password, it will give you an option for ‘Forgot my key’ and ‘Lost my key’. Either way, you have to enter your ID, password, one of those visual codes (with the jumbled numbers/letters), and then they call whatever phone number you have on file with a PIN number, which you enter, and get a temporary password. Then, if you chose ‘Lost’, they’ll help you order a new one.
Works on eBay also, which is cool.
Comment by Anonymous Jerk — March 15, 2007 @ 5:41 am PST
[…] STEP 1. In Skype navigate to TOOLS->Send Money… The screen you’ll see is shown at the top of this post. When you click “get started” you need to login but for those with PayPal security keys it does not ask for your six digit security key. Wonder if they’ll fix this in the final release version? […]
Pingback by Up to five step process sending money via PayPal with Skype 3.2 beta » Make You Go Hmm — March 30, 2007 @ 7:37 am PST
[…] if it offered some sort of number challenge that could only be generated from the USB key like the PayPal security key. I wanted to like and use ID Vault but in its current condition I would have been better donating […]
Pingback by Former badboy hacker Mitnick now pitching subpar security product » Make You Go Hmm — June 6, 2007 @ 4:20 pm PST
This sounds like a great tool to prevent someone logging in and stealing your hard earned money. I didn’t even know it existed. I think the $5 fee is a small investment for peace of mind.
Comment by Stassie King — October 17, 2007 @ 9:53 pm PST