Ameritech Cellular Services has joined several other carriers in deploying authentication technology to combat cloning fraud.
Concurrently, Bell Atlantic Nynex Mobile announced it has extended authentication fraud protection into its eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island markets.
Authentication is seamless to customers and Ameritech Cellular and other carriers equipped with the technology offer it for free.
Ameritech Cellular introduced CloneBuster, which will be implemented Oct. 31 in all the company’s markets, including Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri and Ohio, said spokeswoman Carol Waitse.
The technology for CloneBuster-not to be confused with Cellular One Chicago’s CloneBlock nor GTE Telecommunications Services’ Inc. CloneDetector-is “already inherent in the equipment,” said Waitse. Ameritech markets authentication-capable phones from Motorola Inc. and uses Lucent Technologies Inc.’s switches.
Waitse noted that activation of CloneBuster is not immediate because it takes time to override the network’s Personal Identification Number fraud protection system. Ameritech customers will continue to use PINs when roaming in markets not protected by authentication, said the company.
The company has had the capability to deploy authentication for some time, but wanted to thoroughly test the technology before implementing it, said Waitse.
Ameritech also plans to announce the implementation of a radio frequency fingerprinting system to help protect cellular customers whose phones are not equipped for authentication.
In May, AT&T Wireless Services Inc. installed authentication in its New York and Miami markets, Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems activated authentication in its Cellular One Chicago market and Bell Atlantic Nynex started authentication protection in New York and Northern New Jersey markets.
Bell Atlantic Nynex has since implemented authentication in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C./Baltimore and last week turned on authentication throughout New England.
In total, 300,000 Bell Atlantic Nynex subscribers are protected, said Maggie Rohr. This number includes users with authentication-capable phones who have been notified protection has been added and users who started service since authentication was introduced. Rohr noted many customers with authentication-capable phones have not yet been notified of the new fraud protection.
Authentication requires a network and the phones operating on it to carry a matching cryptographic algorithm. Each phone bears a unique encrypted key that is programmed only once. When a user initiates a call, the network challenges the phone to verify itself and the phone responds. The phone’s algorithm, electronic serial number-mobile identification number combination and the key all must match the network’s stored data.
