Latest news with #SS7
TechCrunch
5 days ago
- TechCrunch
A surveillance vendor was caught exploiting a new SS7 attack to track people's phone locations
Security researchers say they have caught a surveillance company in the Middle East exploiting a new attack capable of tricking phone operators into disclosing a cell subscriber's location. The attack relies on bypassing security protections that carriers have put in place to protect intruders from accessing SS7, or Signaling System 7, a private set of protocols used by the global phone carriers to route subscribers' calls and text messages around the world. SS7 also allows the carriers to request information about which cell tower a subscriber's phone is connected to, typically used for accurately billing customers when they call or text someone from overseas, for example. Researchers at Enea, a cybersecurity company that provides protections for phone carriers, said this week that they have observed the unnamed surveillance vendor exploiting the new bypass attack as far back as late 2024 to obtain the locations of people's phones without their knowledge. Enea VP of Technology Cathal Mc Daid, who co-authored the blog post, told TechCrunch that the company observed the surveillance vendor target 'just a few subscribers' and that the attack did not work against all phone carriers. Mc Daid said that the bypass attack allows the surveillance vendor to locate an individual to the nearest cell tower, which in urban or densely populated areas could be narrowed to a few hundred meters. Enea notified the phone operator it observed the exploit being used in, but declined to name the surveillance vendor, except to note it was based in the Middle East. Mc Daid told TechCrunch that the attack was part of an increasing trend in malicious operators using these kinds of exploits to obtain a person's location, warning that the vendors behind their use 'would not be discovering and using them if they were not successful somewhere.' 'We anticipate that more will be found and used,' Mc Daid said. Surveillance vendors, which can include spyware makers and providers of bulk internet traffic, are private companies that typically work exclusively for government customers to conduct intelligence-gathering operations against individuals. Governments often claim to use spyware and other exploitative technologies against serious criminals, but the tools have also been used to target members of civil society, including journalists and activists. In the past, surveillance vendors have gained access to SS7 by way of a local phone operator, a misused leased 'global title,' or through a government connection. But due to the nature of these attacks happening at the cell network level, there is little that phone subscribers can do to defend against exploitation. Rather, defending against these attacks rests largely on the telecom companies. In recent years, phone companies have installed firewalls and other cybersecurity protections to defend against SS7 attacks, but the patchwork nature of the global cell network means that not all carriers are as protected as others, including in the United States. According to a letter sent to Sen. Ron Wyden's office last year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said as far back as 2017 that several countries, notably China, Iran, Israel, and Russia, have used vulnerabilities in SS7 to 'exploit U.S. subscribers.' Saudi Arabia has also been found abusing flaws in SS7 to conduct surveillance of its citizens in the United States.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Short Message Service Firewall Strategic Business Report 2025: Market to Grow by $1.5 Billion by 2030 - Demand for SMS Firewalls Surges in High Mobile Penetration Markets
This report provides comprehensive insights into market trends, drivers, and global tariff impacts. The growing demand for SMS firewalls is driven by increased messaging fraud, regulatory compliance needs, and the transition to 5G networks. Key regions include the U.S., China, and emerging markets in Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Discover detailed market analysis, competitive insights, and actionable strategies to leverage new revenue opportunities and navigate evolving threats in the SMS firewall landscape. Short Message Service Firewall Market Dublin, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Short Message Service Firewall - Global Strategic Business Report" has been added to global market for Short Message Service Firewall was valued at US$3.0 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$4.5 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2024 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions. Short Message Service (SMS) firewalls have become an indispensable component in telecom security infrastructure, protecting mobile networks against a rising tide of messaging fraud and unauthorized traffic. As SMS remains a widely used communication protocol - especially for one-time passwords (OTPs), banking alerts, and promotional services - its misuse has surged through techniques like SMS spoofing, flooding, smishing (SMS phishing), and gray-route messaging. The Growth In The SMS Firewall Market Is Driven By Several Factors That Reflect Messaging Commercialization, Threat Complexity, And Evolving Regulatory EnvironmentsA key driver of market expansion is the exponential growth of A2P messaging, particularly from banking, retail, healthcare, and government sectors, all of which depend on reliable, secure SMS delivery for customer engagement and transactional services. The proliferation of gray routes - unregulated, often illegitimate paths used to bypass official termination fees - is prompting mobile operators to deploy SMS firewalls to regain control over monetization and ensure fair usage of their infrastructure. The rising sophistication of fraud techniques, including AI-generated smishing attacks and multi-vector spoofing, has elevated the urgency for intelligent, behavior-aware filtering systems. Additionally, the global transition to 5G networks and IoT device proliferation increases the surface area for attacks, making cross-protocol security (including SS7 and Diameter) a strategic necessity. Regulatory mandates across regions - from data sovereignty in the EU to anti-spam laws in Asia-Pacific - are driving compliance investments in robust firewall systems that log, monitor, and filter sensitive message flows. Furthermore, telecoms are increasingly leveraging SMS firewalls as part of a broader revenue assurance and analytics strategy, using data insights to improve customer trust, campaign effectiveness, and network efficiency. Managed security services and cloud-based deployment options are expanding accessibility to smaller operators and MVNOs, further accelerating adoption. These interlinked drivers - spanning security, monetization, regulatory compliance, and competitive differentiation - are collectively shaping the robust and expanding trajectory of the SMS firewall Are Advanced Technologies Reshaping SMS Firewall Capabilities?The SMS firewall landscape is undergoing rapid transformation with the integration of advanced analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML). Traditional rule-based filters are being replaced or augmented with adaptive models capable of identifying novel threats in real time. These AI-powered firewalls can learn from historical attack patterns and network behavior to dynamically adjust thresholds, reduce false positives, and identify zero-day exploits. Cloud-based deployment models are also gaining traction, offering scalability, centralized policy management, and quicker threat intelligence updates across global networks. Furthermore, next-gen firewalls incorporate advanced A2P (Application-to-Person) messaging analytics to detect gray-route usage, ensuring messaging traffic is properly monetized and not circumventing established termination agreements. Integration with SS7 and Diameter signaling firewalls provides holistic signaling and messaging protection, especially important for mobile operators transitioning to 5G, where inter-network vulnerabilities can be exploited. Real-time reporting dashboards, API integration for fraud investigation, and automated alert systems are also standard features in modern platforms. These innovations have allowed operators to transition from passive defense to proactive threat hunting, turning SMS firewalls into a core element of a broader network security Is The Demand For SMS Firewalls Gaining Strategic Urgency?The demand for SMS firewall solutions is growing rapidly across telecom operators, especially in markets with high mobile penetration and unregulated messaging ecosystems. Emerging economies in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa are experiencing a significant surge in A2P messaging volumes, driven by mobile banking, healthcare alerts, government notifications, and e-commerce. However, these same markets often face higher exposure to SMS fraud and traffic leakage due to lax enforcement and a high concentration of gray-route traffic. Operators in these regions are actively deploying SMS firewalls not just for fraud prevention, but for revenue recovery - capturing lost income from bypassed routes and unauthorized bulk traffic. Meanwhile, in developed markets like North America and Europe, the focus is increasingly on compliance with privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), user experience optimization, and defense against targeted phishing attacks. Enterprises, including banks, OTT platforms, and logistics firms, are also pressuring operators to ensure secure and authenticated SMS delivery. With the global rollout of 5G and increased interconnectivity between IoT devices, telecoms are reevaluating legacy SMS infrastructure and investing in future-proof firewall solutions. The expansion of Rich Communication Services (RCS) also adds complexity, requiring messaging firewalls to adapt to evolving formats and threat vectors. As messaging remains a critical digital touchpoint, demand is intensifying from both strategic (revenue and compliance) and tactical (security and performance) Scope Report Features: Comprehensive Market Data: Independent analysis of annual sales and market forecasts in US$ Million from 2024 to 2030. In-Depth Regional Analysis: Detailed insights into key markets, including the U.S., China, Japan, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. Company Profiles: Coverage of players such as AdaptiveMobile Security, AMD Telecom S.A., Anam Technologies Ltd., BICS SA, Cellusys and more. Complimentary Updates: Receive free report updates for one year to keep you informed of the latest market developments. Key Insights: Market Growth: Understand the significant growth trajectory of the Platform Component segment, which is expected to reach US$2.7 Billion by 2030 with a CAGR of a 5.7%. The Services Component segment is also set to grow at 9.5% CAGR over the analysis period. Regional Analysis: Gain insights into the U.S. market, valued at $813.7 Million in 2024, and China, forecasted to grow at an impressive 11.0% CAGR to reach $937.9 Million by 2030. Discover growth trends in other key regions, including Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific. Segments Component (Platform, Services) SMS Type (Application-to-Person Messages, Person-to-Application Messages) Deployment (On-Premise, Cloud) SMS Traffic (National SMS Traffic, International SMS Traffic) Tariff Impact Analysis: Key Insights for 2025What's Included in This Edition: Tariff-adjusted market forecasts by region and segment Analysis of cost and supply chain implications by sourcing and trade exposure Strategic insights into geographic shifts Buyers receive a free July 2025 update with: Finalized tariff impacts and new trade agreement effects Updated projections reflecting global sourcing and cost shifts Expanded country-specific coverage across the industry Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 465 Forecast Period 2024 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $3 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $4.5 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.2% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: MARKET OVERVIEW Influencer Market Insights World Market Trajectories Impact of COVID-19 and a Looming Global Recession Short Message Service Firewall - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2025 (E) Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2025 (E) MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Growing Threat of SMS-Based Cyber Attacks Spurs Demand for Advanced Firewall Solutions Rapid Growth in A2P Messaging Traffic Expands the Use Case for SMS Firewalls Regulatory Mandates Around Data Privacy and Telecom Compliance Drive Firewall Adoption AI-Powered Detection Algorithms Enhance SMS Filtering Capabilities Proliferation of Mobile Banking and OTP-Based Authentication Accelerates Demand Migration to 5G Networks Strengthens the Business Case for SMS Firewall Upgrades Increased Scrutiny on Telecom Fraud Drives Investment in Messaging Security Demand for Real-Time Traffic Monitoring Tools Expands Operator Adoption Emergence of Cloud-Based Messaging Platforms Necessitates Scalable Firewall Solutions Cross-Border SMS Traffic Growth Highlights Need for Global Firewall Integration Operator Revenue Protection Strategies Propel Implementation of SMS Firewalls Vendor Consolidation and API Standardization Streamline Deployment of Firewall Systems Surge in Mobile Marketing Campaigns Raises Firewall Infrastructure Requirements FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS AdaptiveMobile Security AMD Telecom S.A. Anam Technologies Ltd. BICS SA Cellusys Comviva Technologies Ltd. HAUD Systems Ltd. Infobip Ltd. Mahindra Comviva Mobileum Inc. Monty Mobile NetNumber, Inc. Openmind Networks Route Mobile Ltd. SAP SE Sinch AB Syniverse Technologies LLC Tango Telecom Ltd. Twilio Inc. Tyntec GmbH For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Short Message Service Firewall Market CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
