Ofcom has today announced new rules that will make the UK a world leader in protecting people from the malicious use of mobile networks.
We are closing a technical loophole that could pose a risk to mobile users’ privacy and security, by banning the leasing of special types of phone numbers known as ‘Global Titles’.
Criminals can use Global Titles to intercept and divert calls and messages, and get their hands on information held by mobile networks. This could, for example, enable them to intercept security codes sent by banks to a customer via SMS message. In extreme cases they can be exploited by criminals and other harmful actors to track the physical location of individuals anywhere in the world.
Global Titles are used by mobile networks to send and receive signalling messages, helping to make sure a call or SMS gets to the intended recipient. They are used quietly in the background of the billions of calls and texts made worldwide and are never seen by individuals sending or receiving a call or message.
These Global Titles are sometimes leased out by mobile networks – largely to legitimate businesses who use them to offer mobile services. However, they can fall into the wrong hands.
You can read more about our proposals via Ofcom’s News Centre.