Entire telecommunications networks are targeted
Worryingly, it is possible for hackers to target entire telecommunications networks rather than just individual users or devices. Fraud exploiting the signaling security protocols has been on the rise for many years and can have disastrous consequences for operators and end-users alike.
Today’s signaling interworking protocols were largely designed to function in the context of closed, private, secure environments, in which subscribers connected through an owned and managed Radio Access Network (RAN) or a closed community of telecommunications companies. In the modern communications ecosystem, where networks are open to a wider audience, and untrusted parties can gain access to them a lot easier, these protocols lack suitable security and authentication mechanisms, leaving networks vulnerable to attacks.
The consequences of signaling security fraud can be disastrous, negatively impacting revenue, service quality, and customer trust. To make matters worse, this type of fraud can spread easily from operator to operator, increasing the risks for the entire industry.
