Latest news with #STIR
Hans India
6 days ago
- Science
- Hans India
Exploring science beyond boundaries
Manipal : The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) hosted the international symposium 'Rasayan 21: Science Beyond Boundary – Invention, Discovery, Innovation and Society', bringing together over 200 eminent scientists and thought leaders from across the globe. Jointly organised with Chirantan Rasayan Sanstha (CRS), the two-day symposium focuses on interdisciplinary research addressing critical challenges in climate, energy, health, and sustainability. The event was inaugurated by MAHE Vice Chancellor Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh, VSM (Retd.). The symposium received special addresses from prominent figures, including a remote message from Prof. Ehud Keinan, President of IUPAC, who urged scientists to transcend disciplinary and national boundaries for global good. Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, also sent a message affirming India's commitment to integrating science, technology, and innovation through STIR (Science, Technology, Innovation and Research) missions. A major highlight was the CRS Awards ceremony honouring 36 researchers from academia, R&D institutions, and industry. Prof. J.B. Joshi (Chancellor, ICT Mumbai) received the CRS Lifetime Achievement Award, while Prof. Ramgopal Rao (Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani) was honoured with the CRS Leadership Award. Key attendees included Prof. Vudhichai Parasuk, President of the Thailand Chemical Society; Prof. Sajan D. George, Director of Manipal Institute of Applied Physics; and Prof. Braja Gopal Bag, President of CRS.
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TNS Half Year 2025 Robocall Report: Bad Actors Exploiting Non-IP Networks of Smaller Carriers
SIM boxing and other evolving tactics exploit non-IP traffic RESTON, Va., July 29, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New data, released today in the Transaction Network Services (TNS) 2025 Half Year Robocall Investigation Report, reveals that bad actors are increasingly able to exploit vulnerabilities within smaller carrier networks that have not fully migrated from legacy to all-IP networks. Eighty-four percent of all call traffic between top US telecom providers (Verizon, UScellular, T-Mobile, Lumen, Comcast, Charter and AT&T) was signed and verified with STIR/SHAKEN protocols in the first half of 2025 – affirming that tier-1 carriers are maintaining a high success rate protecting their subscribers from unwanted robocalls. But only 21% of calls were signed when originating from non tier-1 carriers. "Tier-1 operators are delivering consistently high levels of signed call traffic following their migration to SIP networks and STIR/SHAKEN implementation," said Seth Walton, TNS' General Manager of Communications Market. "However, our Report data underscores that until more smaller carriers migrate their networks for SIP-to-SIP connectivity, bad actors have a path into launching robocall campaigns. Regulators, policymakers and industry leaders must continue to advance efforts and cost-feasible technologies to facilitate this network migration." The latest iteration of TNS' Robocall Investigation Report also includes several new robocall insights and trends for telecom industry stakeholders to prepare for the remainder of the year: Tier-1 Operators Face Challenges with Invalid Attestation Ninety-four percent of call traffic between top carriers was signed with "A-level" attestation. That's good news, as it demonstrates that these operators have established SIP-to-SIP connections between originating and terminating parties, making it more difficult for robocall bad actors to infiltrate tier-1 networks. However, authentication challenges are emerging as invalid attestation is occurring more frequently whereby spam calls are being delivered with improperly signed A attestation. Therefore, while some carriers may be signing traffic successfully, further call verification is needed to validate calls and eliminate openings for bad actors. Smaller Carriers' Delayed IP Migration Forces FCC Action Smaller carriers that were able to sign calls maintained strong attestation levels as well: 93% of call traffic that was signed by non–tier-1 carriers included "A-level" attestation. However, with many smaller carriers struggling to migrate fully to IP networks and Tier-1 carriers' signed traffic stagnation, bad actors are still able to hide unwanted call traffic. In response, the Federal Communications Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that will mandate and facilitate stronger call authentication frameworks for non-IP networks. Top Robocall Scams in the First Half of the Year One of the most prevalent robocall scams in the first half of the year was an IRS back taxes scam, where bad actors spoofed legitimate IRS numbers to impersonate the agency, claiming the victims owed taxes and threatening them with arrest or prison time due to the alleged tax debts. SIM boxing (also known as interconnect bypass fraud) has historically been associated with fraudsters seeking to exploit price disparities between local and international call rates. But now, bad actors are using SIM boxes to launch robocall spam campaigns from overseas by leveraging multiple SIM cards to conceal traffic within trusted networks. This attack is difficult for operators to identify and tag, as they trust traffic that originates in their own network. Other common robocall scams included fund recovery scams, Google Voice scams, solar power scams and precious metal investment scams. Americans More Proactively Reporting Robocall Activity Americans are taking a greater initiative to report scam calls. According to recent TNS survey data, 43% of respondents submitted a robocall complaint to their state's Attorney General, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or the Do Not Call Registry in the last 12 months. This represents a significant increase from 2023, when 28% of people submitted a robocall complaint. For access to the latest robocall data trends and insights on the top scams targeting Americans this year, download the TNS Half Year 2025 Robocall Investigation Report. About TNS: TNS, a market leader in call analytics and robocall mitigation, provides an end-to-end ecosystem for protecting, and restoring trust in, voice calls. TNS addresses the full needs of wireless and wireline operators globally with TNS Call Guardian® the industry-leading call analytics solution that protects subscribers from high risk and nuisance robocalls. In addition, its Enterprise Branded Calling solution is the core component of its Identity Analytics Suite that is taking the next step in enriching consumer engagement, making voice calling an integral part of an omnichannel customer experience program. TNS analyzes over one billion call events across more than 500 operators every single day, enabling carriers to identify more unwanted robocalls. For additional information visit: View source version on Contacts Company Contact: TNSClare Cockroft/Sarah Chapman703-814-8065pr@ Or Media Contact: Bluetext for TNSThomas Walter646-265-3144tns@
Web Release
23-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Web Release
Fresh Drinks To Cool Down, Power Up & Sip Mindfully This Season At STIR
Fresh Drinks To Cool Down, Power Up & Sip Mindfully This Season At STIR United Arab Emirates, Dubai –23rd June 2025 – There's something refreshingly cool brewing at STIR Specialty Coffee—and it's not just the vibe. The wellness-driven café has just unveiled a brand-new lineup of electrolyte coolers, iced teas, smoothies, and a vibrant matcha latte designed to fuel your summer, post-workout recovery, or simply your next hangout. Whether you're coming straight from the Gym or stopping by for a focused work sesh, STIR's new menu is packed with hydration, antioxidants, and feel-good ingredients that align with your lifestyle. The Dragonfruit Strawberry Matcha Latte, priced at AED 32, is an Instagram-ready powerhouse featuring ceremonial-grade matcha, swirled with dragonfruit and strawberry for a color-packed, antioxidant-rich delight. The CocoBloom smoothie is a blend of pineapple, mango, and coconut cream, served over ice for the ultimate tropical escape. This is priced at AED 38. Electrolyte Coolers Stay refreshed and recharged with STIR's new Electrolyte Coolers, priced at AED 25. Crafted using premium hydration blends—including Humantra Electrolyte sachets, used in-house by STIR—these drinks support hydration while keeping things light and fruity · Lychee Charge: A zesty lychee + passionfruit combo that sparks instant refreshment · Triple Berry Boost: Elderberry, blackberry, and blueberry unite for an antioxidant-rich burst · Crimson Cooler: A bold blend of berry, pomegranate & strawberry for a tart-sweet sip · Electrolime Cooler: Lime & mint come together in a citrusy, clean hydration hero Iced Teas Floral, fruity, and with a unique STIR twist—these iced teas priced at AED 25 are as calming as they are cool: · CinnaCool: Hibiscus tea and passionfruit with a smooth cinnamon kick · MangoMuse: Hibiscus tea mellowed with mango purée · Peach State: A trio of pear, peach tea, and mango purée—summer in a cup
Miami Herald
28-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
FCC seeks to stop robocalls passing through caller ID authentication in older technology
April 28 (UPI) -- The FCC wants to block robocalls from bypassing ID authentication tools in older non-Internet Protocol network technology. Mass recordings promoting or selling something are illegal unless the person gives permission to be contacted. But fraudsters have been able to pass through older non-IP technology and avoid digital fingerprints. These include cellphones and wired phones often transmitting small amounts of data infrequently. On Monday, Federal Communications Commission panelists by a 4-0 vote moved forward to make sure the digital IDs are not washed off of any part of the call path. They approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish criteria for evaluating whether frameworks meet the TRACED Act standards. Commissioners want providers to regularly certify their implementation and would give them two years to comply after adoption of the new rule. The agency is seeking comment on implementation of caller ID authentication solutions and is trying to determine if this "opens the door for further improvements down the road," the agency said in a news release. For the last four years, the FCC has delayed the TRACED Act's deadline for carriers to implement an authentication framework for non-IP calls. "The STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication framework is a critical element -- long championed by the Commission -- for tracking, blocking, and warning customers about malicious robocalls," a news release said. The technology uses a caller ID system to verify whether calls on a provider's network are truly coming from the number on display. In 2021, major U.S. phone providers -- including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Comcast -- were ordered to implement STIR/SHAKEN technology to prevent rampant spam calls. STIR/SHAKEN are acronyms for the Secure Telephone Identity Revisited and Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using Tokens standards, with STIR representing the protocol and SHAKEN the framework for tracking robocalls. The FAA has been trying to crack down on robocallers. Unwanted calls dropped for the third straight year, according to data released by the Federal Trade Commission in November 2024. The 2024 edition of the Federal Trade Commission's Do Not Call Registry Data Book, first created in 2003, shows complaints down by more than half since 2021. They were 1.1 million illegal robocalls last year, down from 1.2 million the year before and 3.4 million in 2021. The registry allows Americans to add their information to a list, prohibiting them from being contacted by telemarketers. "In the years to come, it will be critical we continue this progress by confronting not only telemarketers but those firms who knowingly profit from scam calls," FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Sam Levine said in 2024. In December, the FCC proposed a $299.9 million fine for Roy Cox Jr. and Michael Aaron Jones, who robocalled more than 550 million people offering misleading vehicle warranty services. TheFCC directed companies to book the calls. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FCC seeks to stop robocalls passing through caller ID authentication in older technology
April 28 (UPI) -- The FCC wants to block robocalls from bypassing ID authentication tools in older non-Internet Protocol network technology. Mass recordings promoting or selling something are illegal unless the person gives permission to be contacted. But fraudsters have been able to pass through older non-IP technology and avoid digital fingerprints. These include cellphones and wired phones often transmitting small amounts of data infrequently. On Monday, Federal Communications Commission panelists by a 4-0 vote moved forward to make sure the digital IDs are not washed off of any part of the call path. They approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish criteria for evaluating whether frameworks meet the TRACED Act standards. Commissioners want providers to regularly certify their implementation and would give them two years to comply after adoption of the new rule. The agency is seeking comment on implementation of caller ID authentication solutions and is trying to determine if this "opens the door for further improvements down the road," the agency said in a news release. For the last four years, the FCC has delayed the TRACED Act's deadline for carriers to implement an authentication framework for non-IP calls. "The STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication framework is a critical element -- long championed by the Commission -- for tracking, blocking, and warning customers about malicious robocalls," a news release said. The technology uses a caller ID system to verify whether calls on a provider's network are truly coming from the number on display. In 2021, major U.S. phone providers -- including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Comcast -- were ordered to implement STIR/SHAKEN technology to prevent rampant spam calls. STIR/SHAKEN are acronyms for the Secure Telephone Identity Revisited and Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using Tokens standards, with STIR representing the protocol and SHAKEN the framework for tracking robocalls. The FAA has been trying to crack down on robocallers. Unwanted calls dropped for the third straight year, according to data released by the Federal Trade Commission in November 2024. The 2024 edition of the Federal Trade Commission's Do Not Call Registry Data Book, first created in 2003, shows complaints down by more than half since 2021. They were 1.1 million illegal robocalls last year, down from 1.2 million the year before and 3.4 million in 2021. The registry allows Americans to add their information to a list, prohibiting them from being contacted by telemarketers. "In the years to come, it will be critical we continue this progress by confronting not only telemarketers but those firms who knowingly profit from scam calls," FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Sam Levine said in 2024. In December, the FCC proposed a $299.9 million fine for Roy Cox Jr. and Michael Aaron Jones, who robocalled more than 550 million people offering misleading vehicle warranty services. TheFCC directed companies to book the calls.
