Telenet and BASE already blocked over 2 million suspicious text messages thanks to new platform
Telenet and BASE started recently using a new platform to protect its customers from "smishing", a form of phishing using text messages. Since then, already 2.4 million phishing messages have been detected and blocked.
To fight smishing more efficiently and better protect its customers, Telenet and BASE have recently started using a new platform capable of detecting and automatically blocking suspicious messages, so called “smishing”. The new platform is a self-learning platform which recognizes many patterns such as numbers sending a very high number of messages, or suspicious links being sent around.
The new anti-smishing system was launched after an intensive test period. The first results are very promising and show the platform works very efficiently. Since the implementation, 2.4 million suspicious messages were blocked, which comes down to 170,000 per day on average. The platform is therefore meeting expectations and majority of these kind of fraudulent text messages will not arrive at Telenet and BASE customers anymore.
The platform was developed with support from the government and in close collaboration. Telenet and BASE committed to half of the investment for development, implementation and running the operation. Additionally, it benefited from public funding, with the support of minister De Sutter and as part of the national recovery plan.
