The New PayPal Security Center

The first thing I did when I got on my computer a few days ago was check out the newly launched PayPal Security Center.  It's truly a thing of beauty.  It came live in the US early this week, and plans are for it to spread to much of the rest of the PayPal world in March.  There's now a link to it from the top of every page on the PayPal site, but you can also go to it directly at www.paypal.com/securitycenter.  I think it represents a huge leap forward in helping PayPal users stay safe online. 

The new layout and design is what you notice first.  It was based on extensive in-depth feedback from users, and I think it looks really smooth.  Beyond the appearance, though, the content has been completely re-worked and restructured, with the goal of making it easier for users to find answers to their questions with just a few clicks.  The project was able to consolidate a good number of pages spread confusingly across the PayPal site into a single integrated destination.  Having tried (and failed) to do this myself on other projects I know this is no easy task.

For instance, a new set of guides provides detailed tips and advice regarding high priority topics like Identity Theft, Phishing, Building Buyer Trust, and Managing Chargebacks.  The Report a Problem box, which appears on every page of the Security Center, makes it easy for users to alert PayPal about a spoof email or to file a transaction dispute.  Also, the center makes it easy to get the latest info on new initiatives like the Equifax Credit Alerts program, the PayPal Security Key, and the Virtual Debit Card.

This was an immense project, requiring the collaboration of nearly every part of the PayPal organization.  The project took more than two years of planning and development to become a reality.  Dozens of people contributed mightily to the effort, but kudos especially should go out to the two team leaders, Barry Grant and Dave Steer, for making it happen.

So go check it out and let us know what you think in the Chatter discussion forum.  Hopefully this will be a big step forward in the battle against the bad guys, and it'll help us get the word out to users about how they can keep themselves safe.  And that's good for every single one of us in the eBay and PayPal world.