Forum

Flash Cookies!!
 

This may be my latest problem. I use a lot of ebay and paypal accounts. However, up until the past couple of weeks, I haven't had many issues. Now, every time I log into an account, it becomes limited on the spot. Could this be the reason? My first limited account was a few days ago. It was a brand new Paypal account that I was opening for future use. When I signed back in to add the bank account, it was immediately limited. This was without any sales or activity. I thought this was weird but figured it was just Paypal being Paypal. Then, today I went to empty out two of my newer Paypal accounts. The first one told me that my account was compromised by a third party and that my account was limited. They told me to change my password, security questions, and verify my location. I did all of the above and it was still showing that my account was limited. I called the guy up Paypal for an explanation. I was asked if anyone else was using my account and if the ebay sales were actually mine and then the guy was quiet for like 3 minutes "reviewing his computer screens" he told me. Then he told me he was going to lift the limitation. I got my money out.

Then, I tried to empty another Paypal account later in the day and they immediately limited that account and I started adding tracking numbers. This time, the checklist included a social security number (which I cannot give for obvious reasons). I have not called yet.

Any ideas? Is there something else I'm missing that is new?

Are you typing paypal.com into your browser's address bar to access your accounts at all times?
It sounds like somebody is phishing for your info.

I use Firefox with a Flashblocker addon and whenever I log into my PP account, I always see a flash object in the bottom left corner. Maybe that's it?

Here's something interesting: Adobe - Flash Player : Settings Manager - Website Storage Settings panel

Ya, I'm signing directly into paypal from www.paypal.com.

I usually sign in with IE. Is this a problem? How do I tell if there are flash objects with IE?

Also, if I stopped using IE and started using Firefox, would this send up red flags at Paypal?

No, it would not flag you. It's best to use Firefox, anyway, as it seems to be better at cleaning cookies and such.
What I would recommend is that you have a separate Windows login account for each eBay/PP account you have. That way you wouldn't necessarily have to clear your cache, cookies and such each time, as they would only be used for that particular login.
Leaving the Flash Cookies is somewhat beneficial to you as it helps identify you, and may prevent the need for further verification of your account.

Alright, I ran tests on 3 different accounts today. All these accounts are in their first week of selling and were over 3 months old. All these accounts were accessed using a brand new separate windows login account and firefox.

The first account was limited as soon as I logged in. They said they detected unusual credit card activity...blah blah. I called in and the lady told me it was a mistake on their end and my limitation was immediately raised.

The second account was fine. I surfed around for awhile to give Paypal a chance to mess with me. No limitations resulted.

The third account was fine. I surfed around for awhile and invoiced people, etc. Right after I logged off I checked my email and I was JUST limited for "suspicious activity". So I signed back into Paypal. When I clicked on the limitation link, there was no checklist anywhere to remove the limitation. I called and was put on hold for a lengthy period of time and told they would have to get back with me.

So, I still have 2 out of 3 accounts running ok.

1 in limbo

Any suggestions on the one in Limbo?

Tracking via cookies and or IP address
 

I have been using ebay and paypal now for the past 3 years and I have been living in Thailand.I use a notebook and connect via wifi router with an ADSL line. I have never had any accounts linked via IP or cookies even though I use all the accounts from the same computer? And I have been a very bad boy as far as ebay (vero)is concerned. I have only recently started using firefox and clearing the cookies and personal data. Now does anyone have any idea why I have not had these accounts linked? Is it because I use an ADSL connection ? Is it because I am in Asia ? There must be something to this , as I hear from everyone else that if you use the same computer to log into different accounts you will be linked right away. I have had dozens of accounts and never had any linked ? Any explanation ?

Flash cookies & separate User Accounts
 

I use Firefox and it is set to delete all LSO's and Private data every time I close the application. Are LSO's Flash Cookies? Also, I have set up separate User Accounts on my Mac - one for each eBay/Paypal account that I am going to set up. If I make sure that I always navigate any eBay/PAYPAL account from their appropriate User Account should I not worry about cookies too much? If so, Separate User accounts seem like totally the way to go. They are easy to set up and access and I have named them the same name that I will use for my eBay/PAYPAL ID's. Now the only thing I have to remember is to get a new IP every time I go from one account to another - right?

jesseinkaron, It could be that eBay/PP is less restrictive in "smaller" foreign countries.

Brendaleigh, Right. It's best to keep track of IPs, as well as other information, in a spreadsheet. Do a search of the forum for "Excel", if you want more information.

Is it enough to just "switch" over to another user or is it necessary to completely log out of the one user acct prior to signing in to another user acct?

I did a clean install earlier this year and have never loaded adobe flash and I've done a search through the directories and using the search function for *.sol files and can't find any.

However when I've read the websites detailing about flash cookies they say things like Youtube use it and the videos won't run if you don't have it or refuse the cookies.

Have I missed something or is fine to run windows/iexplorer without it (meaning websites won't crash or refuse to run that are expecting it)?

brokebackebay, While it could be done, simply switching to a new user account won't change your IP. I think it would be best to change your IP, shut down or restart the computer, log into your other user account, check the IP and compare it to the previous one and then log into your eBay/PP account.

Barford, your web browser could have installed the Flash plugin when it was installed.

Hi Brenda,

Please advise how you have managed to set FireFox to delete all LSO's.

I have looked but I can't find any way to make that happen automatically.

Thanks

If one can get a different IP address some other way (like rebooting the router), is it really necessary to restart the computer when one wants to go to another User Account?

Firefox won't delete Flash LSOs. That's why Modee recommends using Obsession.
As long as you double check to make sure the IP has changed, you should be fine. I, personally, would reboot as an added precaution. That way you've cleared out the RAM, as well. After all, it only takes less than a minute.

So will deleting flash cookies raise red flags with paypal & ebay

and if not whats the best way to do it?

use one user account in windows for 1 ebay and paypal that is safe ways

That is a very, very good idea, thanks :spy:

This might not be good for you if they can really identify by what computer you use now so it would all be the same thing anyways so no need to make new windows user accounts...?

This is a good website to keep track and delete your cookies: Adobe - Flash Player : Settings Manager - Website Privacy Settings panel

but not sure if it would show your ebay cookies...someone check it out and let me know!

1) CCleaner CCleaner - Home
2) Better Privacy Firefox Add-on https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6623
3) ???
4) Profit

Absolutely the same thing , which happened to ALPHAVERSA, happened to me. As soon as my sales grew up in dramatically in four weeks, they asked me to give them copy of my ID, then change all of my passwords. Then, a week later i was suspended for a week and they told me that the item i am selling is Vero( i believe only , because i start selling a lot from it), even that there are plenty of sellers selling it, absolutely the same way i did. I am trying to get back on track now, but i am confused how to list the same item again without getting caught.

have you ever ridden tutorial they gave you ?? It requires you to answer few question. If you would read it Youd know that if somebody is still selling items which are vero means that ebay didnt spot him yet or didnt get call from vero member selected by the company who may not be sure about authenticity of an item or just simply didnt notice listing yet :P If your item has been removed means its vero and thats it .. if you will keep relisting you may soon loose an account. if you have good feedback next step they will block you for 30days etc... and then the will susp u . If you want to sell vero find a pattern or - the best option ...stop ! thats the easiest way to fu$# up everything including freeedom..

It is strange because, the way i was listing was no different from other competitors selling it. I think it was the quick increase of the volume i was selling, which alerted them. I am trying to cool it down now with some other stuff, but i will go for it again very soon. i've checked that the Manufacurer is not on the list of Vero program members. Does anybody knows how the Feebay bots read the Title and the description?

i have multiple computer user accounts and keep my cookies so ebay and PP will know and recognize the accounts i log in... good idea?

CCleaner is all you need

Has anyone seen what is inside an EB/PP .lso file and what info they are gathering? that would expain alot

[IMG]http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/4...ashcookies.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]

Here is my experience... Here are the cookies))))

what if dont install flash on my PC and access ebay and paypal ?

You will not receive the correct building pages. I suggest you to make a separate windows user profile.

Ok so I've read all of this info and i do not see any better way to avoid linkage then to use separate windows accounts (which is what your told to do in the stealth guide)

Then you won't have to worry bout no other crap except your ip.
Im a little confused about these stupid flash cookies and why they are different to normal cookies. But it doesn't matter as long as you are using different windows users .
Is that correct ?

Correct! Different accounts will help you to avoid ANY problems. Just be organized.
Look at the screen I've made on my previous post: you will see these flash objects.

the best thing to do is just to make a new Windows User account. Each Windows User account acts likes it own pc. They each have their own Flash Cookies and Cookies. If you are running stealth accounts you should have a separate windows user set up for each account. Use them solely for the purpose of checking eBay, printing labels etc. Do all the personal stuff on your own windows user.

Thank you for your update.

This is a little long but it's what pay pal sent me today
 

How we collect information about you

When you visit the PayPal website or use the PayPal Services or PayPal application, we collect information sent to us by your computer, mobile phone or other access device. This information may include your IP address, device information including but not limited to identifier, name and type, operating system, location, mobile network information and standard web log information, such as your browser type, traffic to and from our site and the pages you accessed on our website.

If you open an account or use the PayPal Services, we may collect the following types of information:
• Contact information - your name, address, phone, email, Skype ID and other similar information.
• Financial information - the full bank account numbers and/or credit card numbers that you link to your PayPal account or give us when you use the PayPal Services.
Before permitting you to use the PayPal Services, we may require you to provide additional information we can use to verify your identity or address or manage risk, such as your date of birth, social security number or other information. We may also obtain information about you from third parties such as credit bureaus and identity verification services.

When you use the PayPal Services, we collect information about your transactions and your other activities on our website, application or when using the PayPal Services and we may collect information about your computer or other access device for fraud prevention purposes.

You may choose to provide us with access to certain personal information stored by third parties such as social media sites (such as Facebook and Twitter). The information we have access to varies by site and is controlled by your privacy settings on that site and your authorization. By associating an account managed by a third party with your PayPal account and authorizing PayPal to have access to this information, you agree that PayPal may collect, store and use this information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

In order to help protect you from fraud and misuse of your personal information, we may collect information about your use and interaction with our website, application or the PayPal Services. For example, we may evaluate your computer, mobile phone or other access device to identify any malicious software or activity that may affect the availability of the PayPal Services.

Finally, we may collect additional information from or about you in other ways such as contacts with our customer support team or results when you respond to a survey and from interactions with members of the eBay Inc. corporate family, and from other companies.

How we use cookies

When you access our website or content or use our application or the PayPal Services, we or companies we work with, may place small data files called cookies or pixel tags on your computer or other device. We use these technologies to recognize you as a PayPal customer, customize the PayPal Services, content and advertising, measure promotional effectiveness, collect information about your computer or other access device to mitigate risk, help prevent fraud and promote trust and safety.

We use both session and persistent cookies when you access our website or content. Session cookies expire and no longer have any effect when you log out of your account or close your browser. Persistent cookies remain on your browser until you erase them or they expire.

We also use Local Shared Objects, commonly referred to as "Flash cookies", to help ensure that your account security is not compromised, to spot irregularities in behavior to help prevent fraud and to support our sites and services.

We encode our cookies so that only we can interpret the information stored in them. You are free to decline our cookies if your browser or browser add-on permits, but doing so may interfere with your use of our website. The help section of most browsers or browser add-ons provides instructions on blocking, deleting or disabling cookies.

You may encounter PayPal cookies or pixel tags on websites that we do not control. For example, if you view a web page created by a third party or use an application developed by a third party, there may be a cookie or pixel tag placed by the web page or application. Likewise, these third parties may place cookies or pixel tags that are not subject to our control and the PayPal Privacy Policy does not cover their use.

Vpn
 

Does anyone use VPN's ? Or does anyone have any input on using VPN's.
And does anyone know if your logged into ebay and the page is idle and then your VPN goes down will that compromise the ebay account?

Re: Paypal - Flash Objects - tracking of PayPal via flash objects
 

OMG this sticky is so outdated it should be removed from being a sticky. Just saying. Trying to add add ons to prevent flash cookies is worse than letting the cookies stay. Clearing cookies also. If your browser has all the cookies cleared, paypal and ebay wil see your broswer as being a new computer and will raise a red flag.

A sticky: Just get a new user account.
Am I wrong?

Re: Paypal - Flash Objects - tracking of PayPal via flash objects
 

Done .

Re: Paypal - Flash Objects - tracking of PayPal via flash objects
 

Good update and revival

Re: Paypal - Flash Objects - tracking of PayPal via flash objects
 

I think the solution is to set up different user accounts on your computer, since all cookies, java, flash and regular are put into folders segregated by user. Only access ebay or paypal using the user account you have selected on your computer.