Bangalore: While cellular phone operators across the world are going the whole hog focussing on customer acquisitions and easy subscriptions to SIM cards, telecom ``phreakers'' or hackers are having a field day. With the global GSM and wireless telecommunication markets booming, telecom frauds and hackings often resulted in service operators losing between two to 10 per cent of their revenues, according to the UK-based fraud management consultancy Praesidium Services Ltd managing partner Gary Bernstein. Seeking to address security needs of the growing GSM market in Asia, Praesidium is all set to offer its fraud management services in India and South East Asia. To this end, the company will specifically focus on India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia and is currently considering setting up base either in Bangalore or Singapore.Incidentally, Praesidium, set up in 1997, has worked with GSM operators across 36 countries in six continents offering fraud detection and complete network management/consultancy services.
Speaking to eFE on the fraud modus operandi, Bernstein said hackers were especially adept at hacking into wireless networks and switches and sometimes even capable of duplicating SIM cards for illegal use.
``With the GSM standard, fraud cannot be easily detected and when back-end infrastructure/logistics are not completely in place networks are especially vulnerable,'' he said. With the SIM card cost barriers coming down, fraud subscriptions and usage have been on a high across the world. While the analog networks saw hackers capture serial numbers of the phones for use, the GSM networks have boosted the illegal subscription and sale of handsets.
As part of its India specific focus, Praesidium has drawn up a unique introductory service to offer ``bureau facilities'' in the country. To this end, the company will use its in-house software product christened ``Trap'' for fraud detection services. In this remote consultancy model, the operator will only need to send his CDR (call detail record) of a one week period via mail as a zip file. The record will then be put through the Trap solution which will look for typical fraud patterns in the records.`` Once the analysis is done, the company can decide to go in for our complete consultancy service depending on the findings,'' Bernstein said. The company was currently in talks with five of the big players in India for this service, he added.
Trapping the fraud services
As part of its India specific focus, Praesidium has drawn up a unique introductory service to offer ``bureau facilities'' in the country. To this end, the company will use its in-house software product christened ``Trap'' for fraud detection services. In this remote consultancy model, the operator will only need to send his CDR (call detail record) of a one week period via mail as a zip file.
The record will then be put through the Trap solution which will look for typical fraud patterns in the records.`` Once the analysis is done, the company can decide to go in for our complete consultancy service depending on the findings,'' Bernstein said. The company was currently in talks with five of the big players in India for this service, he added.
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.