Telstra customers might see a discount in malicious rip-off texts after the telco turned on a "advanced" filter designed to dam suspicious SMS messages earlier than they arrive on their gadgets.
In a letter to prospects, outgoing CEO Andrew Penn stated Telstra was prompted to make use of the know-how after prospects reported an explosion of rip-off texts through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The filter might be robotically utilized to Telstra customers, who've the flexibility to opt-out if requested.
"If a SMS message appears suspicious, we'll block it earlier than it reaches you," Mr Penn wrote.
"Automated machine scanning picks out suspicious content material comparable to malicious hyperlinks and combines this with different patterns and traits just like the time, sender, the variety of messages despatched and the recipient.
"Telstra takes its privateness obligations significantly.
"We all know there is a fantastic steadiness between defending our prospects and making certain their privateness.
"Whereas the know-how is studying, it would flag a possible suspicious message asking if it's a rip-off.
"To keep away from blocking one thing reputable, the brand new message format could also be reviewed by our specialists to establish if the message is a rip-off, however the particulars of the recipients will stay masked."
Mr Penn pledged reputable messages will nonetheless get via and that Telstra won't block business messages from banks and different giant companies, authorities departments and emergency alerts.
"Whereas we're assured our SMS rip-off filter will block a major quantity of rip-off textual content messages, it is not fool-proof and criminals evolve and discover new methods to rip-off us so we have all obtained to proceed to be alert to suspicious messages – even those which may slip via," Mr Penn stated.
"The potential underneath the bonnet is advanced and evolving (it needs to be to proceed to assist outsmart scammers) however in easy phrases we're making use of information of what rip-off textual content messages seem like to dam them on the community stage."
Scamwatch's most up-to-date report discovered that in 2021 Australians reported a report $211 million misplaced to scams through the top of the Delta pressure of COVID-19.
Cellphone-based scams – comparable to rip-off textual content messages – accounted for 31 per cent of the losses from a staggering 113,000 studies.
Telstra customers who don't want any SMS messages despatched to you being blocked, you'll be able to decide out by sending an SMS to 0438 214 682 with the phrases "FILTER OFF".
Scams to be careful for