PayPal to ban old internet browsers

[damian_steele]

PayPal, eBay's electronic payment service, plans to take the dramatic step of locking out people using older versions of Web browsers in order to stem phishing attacks.

PayPal said a "significant" group of people still use Microsoft's Internet Explorer 3, released in 1996, and IE 4, which debuted in 1997. Those browsers lack a phishing filter, which can block users from accessing a reported phishing Web site.

"In our view, letting users view the PayPal site on one of these browsers is equal to a car manufacturer allowing drivers to buy one of their vehicles without seatbelts," according to a paper released during the RSA security conference in San Francisco earlier this month.

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Is it up to PayPal to dictate what software a user has on their computer, or are they justified in trying to cut down on cyber-crime?

[mainlypostcards]

Is it up to PayPal to dictate what software a user has on their computer, or are they justified in trying to cut down on cyber-crime?

I think that is totally wrong. We can't all afford Microsoft's ways of upgrading every year or so.

[merlin]

had me worried then saying they gonna ban old browsers cos i come in that catagory

[cornishmaid1961]

They will be telling you that you can only use a computer bought
on greedbay next !!! LOL - Don't think 'freedom of choice' comes into their vocabulary over there any more does it?!

[TimeForYou]

This is a pathetic move to make us all spend more money on an overpriced accessory that we don't need!!!!!

[raindropsies]

I think it's just another step for feeby & poopal to rule the world, so I say get stuffed feeby and poopascooperpal and stop trying to take control of peoples decissions. (I cannot put the real words I am thinking, I will get banned)

[cvd]

Hi,

Supported browsers are free folks. If you have been told to pay money for them, you have been lied to bigtime!

Firefox, IE6, 7 and Opera are the mainstream supported browser by online payment sites. I put IE6 on my wife's Win98SE box for guess what... FREE!
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/...s/default.mspx

PayPal has openly said they support Opera and were going to give even older Safari browsers the boot (Mac people, you do have to pay for Safari - go FF or Opera)

As someone who has had to bailout clients boxes time and again from browser exploits, this is actually a very good move

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
http://www.opera.com/

Cheers!

[DaisyChain]

I agree with cvd, i see it as a good move, I would of thought most people if they still use explorer would be past IE 4 by now anyway

[dragonmist]

I upgraded to IE7 when I first heard about it.
Known Phishing sites are indicated by a pink strip at the top. You can also report Phishing Sites usung the toolbar. I have given up reporting scams to Banks as the majority of them ignore the information and don't even bother to reply.
Micrs**t usually takes 4 hours to act, and the site is marked by the pink strip.