Beware of the PayPal hackers
A couple of days ago, someone used a hacked PayPal account to make a purchase at my site.
Fortunately, both PayPal and I reacted quickly, PayPal by locking the hacker out of the account, and I reacted by telling PayPal I wanted the payment refunded. The hacker didn't gain anything, and the account owner's money was returned.
But having their account hacked is an extremely stressful thing for anyone to have to deal with, so here are a few tips on keeping your payment processor accounts safe.
Fortunately, both PayPal and I reacted quickly, PayPal by locking the hacker out of the account, and I reacted by telling PayPal I wanted the payment refunded. The hacker didn't gain anything, and the account owner's money was returned.
But having their account hacked is an extremely stressful thing for anyone to have to deal with, so here are a few tips on keeping your payment processor accounts safe.
- Don't share your password with anyone.
- If you can choose your own password, make it something easy for you to remember (so you don't have to write it down), but difficult for anyone else to guess.
- Make sure your anti-virus and security software is up to date to protect you against keylogger scripts that can send your password to a hacker.
- Change your password frequently.
- Ignore any email that tells you to click a link in the email to log in to your account. It doesn't matter how genuine they look, they are ALWAYS sent by people trying to gain access to your account.
- If you think someone may have obtained your password, change it IMMEDIATELY. Hackers act very quickly when they have access to your accounts.
- If you can, avoid accessing your accounts from shared computers. (If you can't access the internet from home, but you have a laptop, take it with you to the internet cafe rather than using their computers.)
13 people like it
Comments (18)
David Decredico
16
Top Digital Reviews
Great page. A must read for affiliate marketers.
Philippe Moisan
16
Tutorial videos, sci-fi writer
I have bookmarked this page
Lee Hardy
7
Web Designer
@Andy-lol those where the days! I still remember connecting to BBS with a 300 baud coupling modem.Mind you that was when a floppy disk drive was the size of my kitchen table.Thanks for the blast from the past!!
Louise Venison
7
TE owner, affiliate marketer
Wow, Andy, that's going back a bit! I was never involved back in the BBS days, although I know my brother was. It all went over my head a bit.
And I know what you mean about changing your password at PayPal. But at least it makes it extremely difficult (hopefully impossible) for a hacker to get in your account, change your password and lock you out.
Veit Johnson
9
Internet Cash Coach
Forgot to say, I like your blog regarding traffic exchanges and I enjoy using your website. I have been into computer communications since the early 1980's and operated a BBS for a number of years until the internet took hold. I used Joe Beckers Breadboard System. It was some great times.
Regards, Andy
Veit Johnson
9
Internet Cash Coach
I just went to change my password. They do not make it easy. Have to provide my credit card number and my bank account number. Now I have to go look those up before I can make the change. No time to do it right now.
Lee Hardy
7
Web Designer
Go0d information! thanks
Aurelio Martuscelli
7
PRO Blogger & TE Owner
Good tips, Louise
Tks for your information
Silver Teede
6
SEO Specialist
Thanks for sharing Louise.Useful info from you as always :)
Matt Ryan
2
The best and safest way to log into any and all of your accounts is with roboform hands down. You can check it out free at matthewjryan.com/protectyourself
Louise Venison
7
TE owner, affiliate marketer
Is what true, cashfromchaos?
cashfromchaos
2
Its that true?
Karen L.
10
Personal Development
Having your account tampered with can cause so many problems. Always make sure you see https:// before login, and never click on links asking you to update your PayPal account. If you receive any emails of that nature, go directly to PayPal by typing in the address, even if you're certain the email request is legitimate.
Beyond Eleven
15
Fresh Money Making Ideas
We need to aware of this problem every day.
Von Myers
5
Internet & Marketing
thanks for information on this, it is very troubling when this happens.
Paula van Dun
16
Retired
You can help keeping paypal safe by forwarding all suspicious emails to spoof@paypal.com
Shaishav Sood
7
Affiliate, Blogger
Good information louise but there are other tips like
- bookmark your paypal website (makes less chances of landing on a phishing site) and
- never copy paste your password for opening your account....
Ginny Williams
8
Affiliate and Network Marketing
Sorry for your trouble and thanks for sharing this info.