Globe filtering system blocks close to 2 million scam/spam messages!
Globe Telecom has so far blocked almost 2 million spam and scam text messages following the implementation of an automated filtering functionality that keeps its customers from receiving such annoying and unwanted messages.
Such filtering mechanism, which prevents the transmittal of spam and scam messages to mobile devices, now covers more than 70% of the company's 2.1 million postpaid customers, said Joel Agustin, Globe Senior Vice President and Head of Service Management Division, Network Technical Group. The mobile operator operationalized the automated filtering mechanism last August as part of the telecommunication provider's efforts to rid its network of both spam and scam messages.
The volume of messages blocked by the network filtering system averages about 50,000/day, reaching a peak of more than 117,000 in early October when a large portion of the company's postpaid customers were integrated into the filtering system, Agustin said.
"The filtering system that we have put in place can be reconfigured to address the kind of spam and scam messages that goes through our network. While the filtering mechanism seems to be working well as a deterrent in the transmittal of spam and scam messages, our technical team continues to design and develop mechanisms that will substantially rid the network of such irritating messages," Agustin said. He noted that since Globe Telecom dominates the postpaid market in the country, its customers are the usual targets of text spammers and scammers.
Agustin emphasized that mobile numbers that are identified to be a constant source of spam and scam messages will be temporarily disconnected from service. So far, more than 1,600 numbers have been cut off from service for this reason. This means that voice, SMS and data services will not be available to these numbers. Service restoration for such numbers will only be undertaken if the users contest the move and show proof they are not text spammers, he added.
In June, Globe made it easier for customers to report such annoying messages. Specifically, the mobile operator has made available on a Globe web page a channel through which its customers can report text spams and text scams alike. Customers simply have to go to http://www.globe.com.ph/stopspam and provide all the details required. Numbers that are reported for the first time as the source of text spams are sent warnings. If the same numbers are reported for the second time due to text spams, these are immediately blocked from the network.
No comments: