Giants alliance against phishing

The worldwide internet auction giant eBay and the biggest online payment processor PayPal are starting "a collaborative effort with Google’s webmail service Gmail to better protect consumers against fraudulent e-mails and phishing attacks. Starting today, eBay and PayPal customers with Gmail accounts will have a safer e-mail experience because they will receive fewer fake e-mails claiming to be sent by eBay and PayPal."

Google is stated to be able to prevent the delivery of fraudulent eBay and PayPal messages into Gmail users’ inboxes by means of DomainKeys and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) e-mail authentication technology. Thus users of Gmail, eBay and PayPal across the globe will be secured.

With DomainKeys technology spam and phishing protections are supplemented with an additional security layer as it enables Internet service providers to ascertain if messages are true and decide if they should be delivered to a customer’s inbox. Hence this cooperation is directed to decrease consumers’ risk of being victimized by phishing attacks through the reduction of fraudulent e-mail consumers receive.

“Industry cooperation represents a pivotal part of stamping out phishing and other e-mail scams,” said Dave Cullinane, chief information security officer at eBay. “Google’s commitment to this battle will undoubtedly encourage others to join in the fight to keep consumers safe online.”