AH: Michael, What other steps has PayPal taken to address these kinds of problems or to offer public guidance or assistance in relation to them?
MB: PayPal recently launched an interactive microsite that allows consumers to find out ways to protect themselves online. Consumers can go to https://www.paypal-promo.com/safety/ to participate in a “secret agent” training game and learn more about how to stay safe. We’ve also created a safety calculator, where consumers answer a series of questions to find out how safe (or exposed) their personal information may be online.
AH: In my case, I know that I have friends and family that absolutely refuse to shop online because they fear problems like identity theft and other forms of e-commerce crime. What would you say to them this holiday season to encourage them to shop online for the first time?
MB: It’s interesting – a lot of people share this fear, but the truth is that more ID theft and fraud happens offline than online. The Internet can be a safe way to shop and do business, as long as you follow safe online behaviors. The best piece of advice for consumers who are venturing onto the Web is to use common sense. Like I said earlier, if something doesn’t feel right or it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
AH: Given your expertise in the area, will problems like identity theft in your opinion ever be completely “solved” by mere technological developments or vigilant company policies?
MB: It’s impossible to predict the future. Online fraud is a classic arms race: we have to continually stay one step ahead, because the criminals keep getting smarter. I do think that the only way we’re going to effectively stomp out online crime is to have a unified effort among consumers, the private sector, and governments around the world – this includes both law enforcement and policymakers. The only way to really stop online criminals is to have common standards around the world about how we prosecute them.
Taking Security Seriously
I want to thank Michael Barrett for taking the time to offer these insights and suggestions to About.com's readers. As always, the key is a combination of education and vigilance—things like taking eBay basics seriously and understanding what habits and choices fall into the category of mistakes that savvy users know to avoid.After all, shopping on eBay is always fun, but it's most fun when you know that you've done what you can to keep yourself, your data, and your identity safe.
