Fight vs text scams: Globe starts blocking SMS with clickable links

Globe Telecom has started blocking text messages that contain website links to intensify efforts versus text scams.

Globe Telecom

Globe boosts efforts vs scammers

The telco announced this on Friday as the country continues its battle against the spiking cases of scams and spam messages. Globe said blocking SMS with clickable links covers messages from all networks.

Before implementing this measure, what we were doing was blocking access to malicious links in text messages to help protect customers. This time around, we're blocking the actual message. If the SMS has a link of any kind, we are not going to deliver it, period. This is necessary to protect our customers, said Globe Chief Information Security Officer Anton Bonifacio.

Bonifacio said Globe's move was necessary to protect its 92 million mobile subscribers and 66 million more using GCash. The official was hopeful the latest initiative could make "a major dent" in the problem.

The Globe executive also said this reflects the group's commitment to contributing to the Philippines' economic recovery "by ensuring that the accelerated digital adoption does not expose customers to worsening cyber threats."

The Ayala-led telco said it has been working closely with lawmakers towards the crafting and passage of a rational SIM Registration law, providing inputs that aim to ensure the credibility of the system.

On Wednesday, the Senate and the House of Representatives ratified the bicameral conference committee report.

Senator Grace Poe said lawmakers agreed to use the Senate version as a working draft, but with some reconciled provisions, including dropping the term "card" to cover all SIMs. The consolidated version of the bill will be forwarded to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for signing into law.

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