PayPal security a lot poorer than banks

alanwsg

Uxb wrote: »

Are there any emergency ways in like Gmail do with one time use only emergency codes just in case your mobile is lost/broken/unavailable or simply there there is no signal where you are.

Yes, you can install the Symantec VIP App and register it with paypal as a "security token" - doesn't need a mobile signal but obviously doesn't work if your phone is broken.

mgdavid

Uxb wrote: »

Are there any emergency ways in like Gmail do with one time use only emergency codes just in case your mobile is lost/broken/unavailable or simply there there is no signal where you are.

or you can use a suitable tablet, or 3g/4g dongle in a laptop, and connect from pretty well anywhere; or use a satellite phone if it's that important. Connectivity is the responsibility of the end-user.

nidO

Uxb wrote: »

Are there any emergency ways in like Gmail do with one time use only emergency codes just in case your mobile is lost/broken/unavailable or simply there there is no signal where you are.

If you don't have your phone or security token at all, PayPal doesn't offer one-time backup codes as Gmail does but will instead ask you to answer the two security questions you have setup on your account.

jimjames

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Why would a hacker go to the trouble of doing this?

I think this is the key question that needs answering - or was it the third party that has hacked the account?

I think it proves a certain level of security that the "hacker" couldnt setup a new payee and even if just messing about were only able to send to existing one.

zerog

usefulmale wrote: »

Paypal is not a bank. Why would you expect it to have bank-level security?

Paypal is a bank in the EU, which the UK is currently a member of.

Unless you run an ebay business or something, I don't understand why anyone who says they are "computer-literate" would leave a genuine card linked to paypal for any amount of time

If I am taking a break from ebay buying or using paypal, I usually close my account completely and then reopen it again in 6 months time when I need it

Uxb

Most people have better/more important things to do with their lives than endlessly add and remove credit cards/bank details from Paypal.

They don't just "take a break from buying from ebay". They buy stuff here and there week in week out - and one week it might come from amazon, another day from ebay/paypal, another day from an standalone online retailer that they may pay with paypal or with a credit card.

I myself have no idea when I will next use ebay/paypal. I might need something tomorrow or next week that can only be found via an ebay seller - then again it might be not till next month.