Mobile users can get relief from spam texts

Gulveen Aulakh

gulveen.aulakh@livemint.com

Tanla Platforms Ltd is in talks with more Indian telecom operators to offer its anti-phishing solution on text messages, which it claims will reduce the growing number of spam, smishing and phishing cases that plague millions of mobile phones every day. affect users.

One of the telcos is already using a solution called Wisely ATP on its network, Chief Executive Officer Uday Reddy said in an interview. He did not name the company.

Reddy said the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is testing the platform for its efficacy. “It will be deployed as part of the core network of telecom service providers, through which the AI/ML engine can monitor all messages while complying with data protection and privacy regulations,” he said.

He added that the API of the solution will be opened up for various apps to build their own solutions. “We have tied up with 230-240 million users of Truecaller. If someone is cheating Truecaller users in India, our platform will alert them. , where 3 out of 10 people are attacked by phishing every month.

Telecom regulator, TRAI has been stressing on reducing the growing cases of spam and phishing adversely affecting mobile phone users through unsolicited communications. Last week, it issued directions to telcos to re-verify the SMS headers under which commercial SMS messages were being sent, as the regulator’s existing system was being circumvented to deliver spam messages.

TRAI also ordered telecom companies not to allow commercial calls and texts using regular mobile numbers.

While these rules are some of the strictest in the world, fraudsters have become more sophisticated and are devising new ways to trick consumers. One of the popular methods is sending users alert messages warning of electricity bill default and disconnection, followed by a link to make the required payment. Yet another is pretending to be a credit card company or bank, and asking users to verify their KYC (Know Your Customer) details to ensure continuity of services.

Nitin Singhal, managing director of Cinch India, a cloud communications firm, said while the companies have anti-phishing and firewall technical capabilities, which are provided to many telcos globally, it is not offering it in India because of domestic regulations. Telecom already had capabilities. ,

SP Kochhar, Director General, Cellular Operators Association, said, “TRAI’s directive to prevent misuse of headers and message templates and unauthorized propagation using telecom resources is a positive step in the interest of consumers and protect them from receiving unsolicited communications.” can be stopped.” of India, representing telcos Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea.

“Telecom service providers are already working with the regulator on this aspect, and we hope to be able to provide as much support as possible to help in this regard,” he said.

Tanla K Reddy said the regulatory sandbox that will expire this week will allow telcos to know the origin of spam or phished messages and where they have been sent, after enabling them with information to financial regulators, banks can be shared with. , law enforcement agencies, among others, to prevent this.

“The platform has been integrated with various partners including WhatsApp, which will be notified if spam or phishing attempts are detected through them. The proof of concept has also been shared with three banks – HDFC, ICICI Bank and Kotak,” he said.

Banks can provide approved message templates or whitelist which the system will not block but it will block any rejected messages containing banks name or template using blockchain, hence curbing phishing attempts from non-telco end Could