Skip to main content

NETELLER - Privacy and security design flaw

Yesterday, colleague of mine brought to my notice about a payment system called NETELLER and it's merchant API named NETELLER Direct API V4.

This NETELLER Direct API V4, helps the merchant to collect amount from users. It's simple--same just like early Authorize.net, along with the required amount you collect the user's id and password and post them to their API URL and they'll send you back with success or error codes in XML format.

The major problem with these types of system is security and privacy--you lose both as you're forced to type your username and password in alien web page. If I remember right, this is was the case with Authorize.net and they changed their design to something like PayPal. The PayPal design is somewhat better as you never type or forced to type your username and password in other alien web pages.

The alien merchant web page uses NETELLER Direct API V4 is forced to get user's NETELLER account and password. I'm much sure that the alien website will obviously store such info--but what if they tried to access user's NETELLER account?

The funniest part of this NETELLER design is that they call it more secure and in their security page they advice "Never share your NETELLER Password or Secure ID with anyone. You will never be asked to disclose your password or Secure ID by a NETELLER representative or anyone affiliated with NETELLER."

Beware of NETTELLER!--until they fix their design flaw.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Zac Brown Band rocks...

When I was doing UG, my super-senior friend Ronald introduced me to MLTR and I was totally taken away by the music then. About 15-years later, I'm feeling same ecstasy when listening to Zac Brown Band 's Whatever It Is and Highway 20 Ride . The voice and music are amazingly cool.

HRM systems diagnostic checklists

For last couple of days, I have tried to get overall idea about appraisal system in other companies and materials about appraisals. While checking, I came across an interesting checklist and warning indicators : Your organization is more than likely in trouble if any of the following holds true: chronic industrial relations problems no means of resolving employee grievances increasing / erratic employee turnover increasing number of customer complaints no pride in the organization inter-group conflicts no career paths for ambitious talented employees dissatisfaction with pay and conditions unclear job roles no clear performance measures quality is unimportant bad product service / delivery records poor recruitment standards / practices no management development programs no induction training for new employees critical skill shortages inter-departmental conflict you do not know if any of the above are applicable you ignore any of the above