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I bid on something on Ebay for the first time in years this week and although I didn't win and make it to the infuriating checkout process, I was still amazed a

I bid on something on Ebay for the first time in years this week and although I didn't win and make it to the infuriating checkout process, I was still amazed at how frequently I had resupply my user name and password. When you go back to a site like Ebay you realize how far some other parts of the web have come in promoting user-friendliness and how much some sites are being left behind.

saurik 15y ago
It must be kept in mind that some parts of the web are subject to much more fraud than other parts.
- bittermang 15y ago
  But I actually think it's the volume by which eBay asks for your username and password, that opens them up to fraud. It should be a security gateway that prompts the user to get ready for some secure transactions. But it is asked for so many times that it becomes an afterthought, "Oh, eBay is asking for my password again." It asks when you want to view My eBay. It asks when you want to save an item for later. It asks when you place a bid. It asks again when you check out after winning. Then you get a phishing email, you click a link, it asks for your password. Users give it up without a second thought because they're so used to providing it. Conversely, Amazon, another site which is very good at separating you from your money, only asks when money is on the line. I can add to Wish Lists without logging in again. I can rate things without logging in again. I can write reviews without logging in again. The only time Amazon asks for my password is when I'm placing an order, or making changes under My Account. And they even have an express lane setup for making orders with PayPhrase, that doesn't ask for my login again, just a PIN.
  - nitrogen 15y ago
    On eBay, a bid is considered a contract to purchase, so it's probably a good idea to verify your identity before bidding.
    - bittermang 15y ago
      As they should. But not when I just want to watch an item, or see the items I'm watching.
- cpeterso 15y ago
  I had a co-worker that worked on an eBay system called "Dark Side". It would monitor user behavior for seemingly innocuous behavior (pre-crime?) and predict which users may "turn to the dark side".
  - jgmmo 15y ago
    Ebay has harnessed the power of Precogs?

saurik 15y ago

It must be kept in mind that some parts of the web are subject to much more fraud than other parts.

bittermang 15y ago
But I actually think it's the volume by which eBay asks for your username and password, that opens them up to fraud. It should be a security gateway that prompts the user to get ready for some secure transactions. But it is asked for so many times that it becomes an afterthought, "Oh, eBay is asking for my password again." It asks when you want to view My eBay. It asks when you want to save an item for later. It asks when you place a bid. It asks again when you check out after winning. Then you get a phishing email, you click a link, it asks for your password. Users give it up without a second thought because they're so used to providing it. Conversely, Amazon, another site which is very good at separating you from your money, only asks when money is on the line. I can add to Wish Lists without logging in again. I can rate things without logging in again. I can write reviews without logging in again. The only time Amazon asks for my password is when I'm placing an order, or making changes under My Account. And they even have an express lane setup for making orders with PayPhrase, that doesn't ask for my login again, just a PIN.
- nitrogen 15y ago
  On eBay, a bid is considered a contract to purchase, so it's probably a good idea to verify your identity before bidding.
  - bittermang 15y ago
    As they should. But not when I just want to watch an item, or see the items I'm watching.
cpeterso 15y ago
I had a co-worker that worked on an eBay system called "Dark Side". It would monitor user behavior for seemingly innocuous behavior (pre-crime?) and predict which users may "turn to the dark side".
- jgmmo 15y ago
  Ebay has harnessed the power of Precogs?