"Stop. Think. Click." – these three words sum up OnguardOnline.gov, a new site to help you guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer and protect your personal information. Launched today by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), OnGuardOnline.gov features tools and education about protection from Viruses, Spyware, Phishing/Spoofing, Identity Theft and other threats to online safety. The site includes tips, articles, videos and quizzes to help you become computer savvy.

eBay and PayPal are proud to support the FTC's efforts in helping people stay safe online. We encourage all eBay and PayPal users to visit OnGuardOnline.gov and share the educational resources with family, friends and colleagues. As a reminder, we want to highlight the following 7 tips on online safety which you can find on the eBay Security & Resolution Center, the PayPal Identity Protection Resource Area, and OnGuardOnline.gov:

1. Protect your personal information. It's valuable. If you are shopping online, don't provide your personal or financial information through a company's Website until you have checked for indicators that the site is secure and feel comfortable with its privacy policy.
2. Protect yourself from phishing/spoofing emails and Web sites. If you are suspicious about an email that claims to be from eBay or PayPal, and requests payment or other account information, report it by forwarding the email to spoof@ebay.com or spoof@paypal.com.
3. Use anti-virus software and a firewall, and update both regularly.
4. Be sure to set up your operating system and Web browser software properly, and update them regularly.
5. Protect your passwords.
6. Back up important files.
7. Learn who to contact if something goes wrong online.

I have invited the staff members of the FTC to join me and other members of the Trust & Safety team to conduct an "On Guard, Online" workshop on Wednesday, October 19th at 11 a.m. PT. This workshop will provide eBay and PayPal members the opportunity to the security of online transactions, and to learn more about how you can stay safe online. I look forward to seeing you there.

Sincerely,

Dave Steer
Senior Manager, Trust and Safety, PayPal