• What is Account Guard?
• What is a Spoof Web Site?
• What are the features associated with Account Guard?
• How can I tell the difference between a verified eBay or PayPal site and a spoof site?
• I am a current eBay Toolbar user. Do I need to update my toolbar software to use Account Guard?
• How does eBay Toolbar detect spoof sites?
• Will eBay Toolbar be able to detect all spoof sites?
• How do I report a spoof site, and what happens when I report it?
• How does eBay prevent false accusations, or "false positives", of a legitimate site as a spoof?
• Why doesn't Account Guard know when I'm on an eBay certified site??
• Is eBay Toolbar "spyware"?
• Does it cost anything to use eBay Toolbar with Account Guard?
• Do I need to be signed in to eBay Toolbar to use Account Guard?
• What else is eBay doing to protect me against spoof emails and Web sites?
• eBay Toolbar alerts me every time I enter my eBay password into a non-eBay site. Why is this happening?
• Does eBay Toolbar with Account Guard also recognize fake PayPal web sites?
• How does eBay Toolbar block my password from spoof sites?
• I have a pop up blocker. Does the eBay Password Protection warning still work?
• Do the Account Guard features work when I hide the toolbar?
• Does Account Guard identify web sites that fake the identity of another company?
• I've installed the toolbar on Internet Explorer but I can't get it to work.

If you can't find an answer to your question here, Ask eBay.

Q.	What is Account Guard?
A.	Account Guard is a new eBay Toolbar feature that enables you to protect your eBay account information by warning you when you are on a potentially fraudulent (spoof) Web site. The Account Guard feature also enables you to report a spoof Web site. Once a site has been verified by eBay to be fraudulent, that information will automatically be distributed to all other eBay Toolbar users, warning them about the spoof Web site.
Q.	What is a Spoof Web Site?
A.	Spoof web sites fake the appearance of popular web sites or companies in an attempt to commit identity theft. These Web sites are also referred to as "Phishing" or "Fake", and they commonly ask Internet users for sensitive personally identifiable information such as passwords, social security numbers and bank account information. For more information on spoof visit the eBay Security Center.
Q.	What are the features associated with Account Guard?
A.	There are three key features associated with Account Guard: Site Indicator - Verified Site and Potential Spoof Site: Located prominently on the toolbar, this feature displays a distinct visual indication when you are on a verified eBay or PayPal Web site, and alerts you when you are on a potential spoof Web site. The Site Indicator turns GREEN if you are on a verified eBay or PayPal Web site; RED if you are on a potential spoof site; and GREY if you are visiting an unidentified Web site. Note: this will be the most frequent indication when you are not on eBay or PayPal. eBay Password Protection: This feature warns you when you are entering your eBay password into a an unverified site even if it looks like eBay or PayPal site. The eBay Password Protection function will block the password from being submitted to the Web site - displaying an educational message about password protection - unless you affirm that you want to proceed in entering the password into the site. Report a Spoof Site. If you suspect that you are on a fake eBay or PayPal site, eBay Toolbar enables you to report the site to eBay so that eBay can take action. As soon as the report has been verified - and we confirm that the site is fraudulent - all eBay Toolbar users will benefit from having the most current information automatically uploaded to their toolbar.
Q.	How can I tell the difference between a verified eBay or PayPal site and a spoof site?
A.	The Site Indicator in eBay Toolbar turns red and displays the warning: "Account Guard: Potential Spoof Site".
Q.	I am a current eBay Toolbar user. Do I need to update my toolbar software to use Account Guard?
A.	Yes. eBay will prompt existing eBay Toolbar users at login to download the most current version of eBay Toolbar that includes Account Guard as soon as it is available. If you do not have eBay Toolbar, you can download it for free.
Q.	How does eBay Toolbar detect spoof sites?
A.	eBay Toolbar detects and verifies spoof sites through a combination of technology and reports from the eBay Community. With the tremendous volume of spoof reports, eBay Toolbar leverages the vigilance of our community to enable all eBay Toolbar users to protect themselves.
Q.	Will eBay Toolbar be able to detect all spoof sites?
A.	Like any security protection both on and offline, this is not a foolproof detection tool for all spoof sites. This is, however, a giant step forward in eBay's efforts to provide its community with the tools they need to protect their account information and protect themselves from Spoof Web sites. In addition, eBay Toolbar's ability to detect spoof sites increases with the amount of people that download and use it. As more people download eBay Toolbar and report spoof sites to eBay, the entire eBay Community will receive increased protection from fraudulent sites.
Q.	How do I report a spoof site, and what happens when I report it?
A.	You can report a spoof site by clicking the Account Guard icon and selecting Report this as a Suspicious Site from the drop down menu. This will automatically submit the site to eBay for our review. If eBay confirms that the reported site is a spoof site, all eBay Toolbar users will be updated to prevent other users from being deceived by that spoof site.
Q.	How does eBay prevent false accusations, or "false positives", of a legitimate site as a spoof?
A.	We carefully review each reported spoof site before labeling it an eBay or PayPal spoof. Our review comprehensively examines the nature of information that is collected and the extent to which it identifies itself as eBay or PayPal. Because of eBay's review process, we do not foresee Account Guard impacting our extended community of partner sites or other non-eBay affiliated legitimate Web sites.
Q.	Why doesn't Account Guard know when I'm on an eBay certified site?
A.	Our goal with the launch of eBay Toolbar with Account Guard is to enable users to protect themselves against Web sites that fraudulently claim to be eBay or PayPal. As we evolve the Account Guard feature, we will consider other measures to assure the safety of the eBay Community, such as notification of approved third-party sites.
Q.	Is eBay Toolbar "spyware"?
A.	No, eBay Toolbar is not "spyware". Software that is downloaded onto your computer without your knowledge to collect personal information and record your Internet usage is "spyware". eBay Toolbar is only downloaded with your consent and does not collect any personal information. The only time eBay Toolbar sends information to eBay about your off-eBay Internet experiences is when you explicitly report potential spoof Web sites to us. We encourage all eBay Toolbar users to review the specific ways eBay uses and protects your personal information by reading eBay's Privacy Policy.
Q.	Does it cost anything to use eBay Toolbar with Account Guard?
A.	eBay Toolbar with Account Guard is free, available for anyone - both eBay Members and non-eBay Members - to download via the eBay Web site.
Q.	Do I need to be signed in to eBay Toolbar to use Account Guard?
A.	We recommend that users sign in to eBay Toolbar to make full use of Account Guard. Some of the Account Guard feature works even if the user is not signed into the toolbar, however users do need to be signed in for the eBay Password Protection feature to work properly.
Q.	What else is eBay doing to protect me against spoof emails and Web sites?
A.	eBay believes that spoof web sites are an emerging threat to the Internet as a whole. We have adopted a comprehensive three-prong strategy, which includes technology innovation, member education, and community vigilance to help protect our community from fraudulent Web sites and keep the Internet safe. eBay Toolbar with Account Guard is the latest in a line of efforts that eBay is undertaking to protect its members. We are constantly innovating technology to build a world-class safety platform, working with other companies through coalitions like the Information Technology Association of America to adopt best practices and best-of-breed technologies for online safety. eBay has also initiated a set of efforts aimed at providing vital education to the community on staying safe online. Among these is the comprehensive Spoof Email Protection Tutorial, which can be found on the new eBay Security Center. Finally, the vigilance of our own community is invaluable in our efforts to identify spoof sites and keep the community safe. Every day, community members discuss safety on our discussion boards and send us email, reporting spoof emails to spoof@ebay.com and spoof@paypal.com.
Q.	eBay Toolbar alerts me every time I enter my eBay password into a non-eBay site. Why is this happening?
A.	eBay, like most other companies, strongly encourages its users to choose unique passwords for all of the accounts (both on and offline) that they hold. The pop-up message warns you when you are about to enter your eBay password into a non-eBay site. You can disable this warning either in the eBay Toolbar preferences page, or on a site-by-site basis.
Q.	Does eBay Toolbar with Account Guard also recognize fake PayPal web sites?
A.	Yes. eBay Toolbar with Account Guard identifies both eBay and PayPal spoof sites.
Q.	How does eBay Toolbar block my password from spoof sites?
A.	Before a user submits a password into a Web site, Account Guard reviews the submission and scans for the user's eBay password. This is done instantly and locally (on the user's computer) and does not involve sending any information to eBay. If the Toolbar detects a password match, it displays a pop up indicating that the user is about to send an eBay password to a non-eBay verified site.
Q.	I have a pop up blocker. Does the eBay Password Protection warning still work?
A.	Yes, eBay Toolbar uses a different pop-up technology that enables it to display a warning even if your pop-up blocker is on.
Q.	Do the Account Guard features work when I hide the toolbar?
A.	Most Account Guard features will work even if you hide the toolbar, however you will not be able to view the Site Indicator, which tells you whether you are on a legitimate eBay or PayPal site, or a potential spoof site.
Q.	Does Account Guard identify web sites that fake the identity of another company?
A.	No. eBay Toolbar with Account Guard only identifies eBay and PayPal spoof web sites.
Q.	I've installed the toolbar on Internet Explorer but I can't get it to work.
A.	The "Enable third-party browser extensions" option must be checked in the browser's "Advanced" settings tab under "Internet options" in the Tools menu.