I got this message logging in to eBay from my laptop today.
My first reaction was, oh no, is it now going to be
a hassle to list stuff
on eBay from my laptop,
which I do a lot?
Dear Julia L. Wilkinson:
We would like to tell you about a new security initiative. To
help protect the Community against
fraudulent access to our members� accounts, eBay has
started noting which computers members
typically use to conduct their buying and selling activity.
Sometime this summer, eBay will begin checking to ensure
you are logging
in from the same machine you have successfully used
previously, whether it is a home or
business computer. If you attempt to list an item from
a different computer � for example, from a PC
you are borrowing in a hotel or library � eBay will
ask you to confirm your identity.
The best way to confirm your identity is to choose
an automated phone call � either now, or in
2 minutes -- that eBay will make to the number you
have registered with us. The phone call will
provide you with a PIN number to use to complete
the confirmation process. This allows the system
to confirm it is really you logging in to list items.
If this is not possible, we will provide alternatives
such as confirming through
Live Chat or receiving a call to a new number.
These alternate methods will require you to
provide more information (such as your secret
question answer).
Most sellers will need to confirm their identity
infrequently. By making sure you have a current
phone number and a secret question and answer
on file with eBay, you can help ensure this
authentication process goes quickly and smoothly.
Have a cell phone? Registering it could save you time
If you carry a mobile phone, we encourage you to add
this number as a secondary phone number in your
registration details, so that we can reach you when
you are away from your business or residence where
you normally use your trusted computer. Your
secondary number will not be shared with other
members and will be treated in accordance with
our Privacy Policy.
Please take a minute to
[link to update your contact information]
Note: The PayPal Security Key provides additional
protection for your account.
Order and activate the Security Key on your eBay
account if you would like an alternative
way to confirm your identity.
Sincerely,
eBay Trust and Safety Department
Actually, reading this makes me feel a bit better about this. I typically only operate on two PCs within the same home, so I wasn't sure if this would be relevant to me or not, but now that I see how they're implementing it, I'm not too worried.
ReplyDeleteThe call sounds like a click-to-call procedure, which I'm fine with. I thought it would just be some random call, with an unfamiliar number that I likely wouldn't answer. It's also great to see that there will be alternatives.
That e-mail you received made me go from worrying about this a little to, as someone who's had their account hacked once, feeling pretty good about it. Thumbs up!