Protect | Securing Messaging for Mobile Operators
As operators open up more interconnection points, and support new interfaces for message submission
from applications, they are also giving fraudsters and spammers new opportunities for targeting
subscribers via the messaging service. New service concepts including m-commerce, mobile banking,
and e-wallets would be rendered unworkable if vital messaging bearer technologies become compromised.
Protect is an optional extension to Traffic Control, Openmind Networks’ multi-protocol message
router. Traffic Control uses functionality implemented in the Protect module to filter out a
range of undesirable messages that seek to attack or defraud subscribers or network infrastructure.
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Protect filters out undesirable messages that seek to attack or defraud subscribers or network
infrastructures, and underpins revenue assurance initiatives to prevent leakage. The system stops
spoofed and faked messages that are impossible to bill, ensuring that network bandwith is freed up
for revenue generating traffic. As many fraud threats originate outside of the home network,
operators can use Protect to intercept mobile terminating traffic entering the network via interconnect or roaming partners.
Key Features
100% Message Inspection
Protect can inspect application originated, on-net originated and off-net (Foreign SMSC) originated message traffic
Filtering
Full GSMA approved filtering including spam, spoofing, flooding and faking.
Configurable Rules Engine
The Protect module uses a combination of Filters, Rules and Execution Plans to identify security and spam
threats and to determine what steps to take. Filters, Rules and Execution Plans can all be created and
defined by an operator through a web interface.
Detailed Filter Creation Set-Up
The operator can define filters to select messages, for example Spam or Spoof messages that has been
previously detected on the operator’s network. Messages that match the filter criteria are then subject
to possible subsequent actions, for example, they can be blocked or quarantined, or they can trigger a
warning message to be sent to the originator.
Protect provides a two-stage mechanism to detect Spam messages:
- Spam Traps – they detect Spam activity and log a record of it in either the Candidate list or the
Active list. These lists are placeholders for storing copies of detected Spam activity
- Spam Filters - Subsequent messages that match the messages in the Candidate or Active list can then
be filtered out using specific Spam filters that use the messages in these lists.
Key Benefits
- Reduces churn. Subscribers are protected from spam, phishing and other virus attacks and as a result are much less likely to succumb to churn.
- Improves revenue assurance. Spoofed or faked messages that are impossible to bill are prevented from entering the network.
- Enables MMS revenue growth. MMS is susceptible to virus attacks and Protect is fully integrated with the Symantec anti-virus engine for blocking MMS traffic containing viruses.
- Guarantees network control. 100% of messages entering the network are examined and stops revenue leakage due to content providers bypassing normal channels.
- Delivers competitive differentiation. Mobile operators that can offer a spam, spoofing, flooding and faking free network have a compelling service differentiator to offer their subscribers and their competitor’s subscribers.
- Keyword removal feature protects children from objectionable and unsuitable material.
- Single platform which allows reduced operator expenditure and is adaptable to all future messaging needs.
- Protects roaming revenues by blocking winback messages from other operators to your roamers and minimises migration to competitor networks thus increasing subscriber retention rates.