Government ID, Smart Cards, Identification and Authentication

PayPal unveils new security feature

Monday, December 1, 2008

PayPal announced a new way for members to add more security to their PayPal accounts using mobile phones. Customers can now choose to receive a unique six-digit security code via text message to their mobile phones prior to logging in to their accounts.

The PayPal SMS Security Key adds another layer of security to PayPal accounts and uses the same security infrastructure as the PayPal Security Key, which generates a unique security code approximately every 30 seconds on a small electronic token. Members receive this code to their phones or tokens, and use the codes along with their usernames and passwords to sign in to their accounts.


This type of security is used as an additional means to protect consumers and reduce losses from online fraud such as phishing attacks.

Both the PayPal Security Key token and the SMS security codes are now available to customers in the U.S., Australia, Austria, Canada and Germany. PayPal does not charge for delivery of security codes to a mobile device; however, the mobile provider’s standard text messaging charges will apply. To use the service, customers need a mobile device and wireless service set up to receive SMS text messages. [end] 

PayPal is opening up a showroom in downtown New York that will demo in-store mobile payments through NFC and other channels, according to GigaOM.

PayPal, which has been reticent to adopt NFC payments due to a perceived “lack of traction,” has now added a “tap phone” option that enables customers to simply tap their phone at the point of sale to complete transactions. GigaOM notes that the feature does not represent a full commitment to NFC payments, but leaves the option open should the market lean toward that direction.

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PayPal is preparing to introduce a new payment card that can store information about multiple accounts, reports Bank Technology News.

The magnetic stripe card will only display the PayPal logo and won’t contain the holder’s name or account number. A tokenization process accesses account information through a code, negating the need for an account number. When used at point of sale, users will be able to choose which account they’d like to use to pay for the transaction.

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PayPal has revealed its plan to ‘re-imagine’ the way people shop by enabling payments anytime, anywhere with any device, according to the company’s blog.

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Office Depot has joined Home Depot as the second U.S. retailer to test PayPal’s point of sale payments solution, according to TG Daily.

Customers at select Office Depot stores can now make payments directly from their PayPal balance by simply punching in their mobile phone number and PayPal PIN. The solution requires only a software update at the point of sale for the merchant, and customers do not need to use a payment card, contactless fob or NFC-enabled phone to make a transaction.

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PayPal has begun testing new mobile payments software at five Home Depot stores in the U.S., according to American Banker.

PayPal’s system offers an alternative to NFC-based mobile payments solutions like Google Wallet, enabling consumers to make payments directly from their PayPal balance by simply punching in their phone number and PIN. Merchants also have a comparatively easier time adopting the system, as it only requires updated software rather than new point of sale equipment.

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PayPal has announced that it will launch its first-ever pilot of NFC retail payments in Sweden for the holidays, according to Mobile Payments Today.

The company has partnered with Swedish mobile banking and payments provider Accumulate to deliver PayPal Instore, a new mobile payments app for Apple and Android smart phones.

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