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The telecom body is implementing new changes for SMS headers
The new SMS rules will make sure you don’t get messages with malicious apk links, web links that could direct you to a scam website.
Millions of mobile users in India might see their bank OTPs and delivery OTPs fail starting October 1, 2024 thanks to the changes ordered by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) earlier this year. The new changes were supposed to come into effect from September but the telecom body had to extend the deadline to whitelist business messages
One doesn’t need to explain the importance of these changes. After all, without OTPs you cannot authorise the payments or pick up your online delivery.
TRAI Orders New SMS Rule: Tough Times Ahead?
The telecom body has directed telcos to block any website URL, OTT links and APKs in SMSs that are not whitelisted. The new rule comes into effect starting from October 1 onwards, which looks to safeguard Indian mobile users.
The main details about these changes were first highlighted in a Economic Times report in August, which mentioned that the new TRAI spam regulations require the telcos to register companies that offer OTPs and vital information while blocking any SMS that you get with URLs and Android app APK files that can be a malware threat.
Many people have been caught napping with such SMSs in the country, who inadvertently click these links and enable hackers to access their devices and use data to steal money and other private information.
What Changes Can Mobile Users Expect
The telcos have to assign them a new message template which will be readable and that’s the only way these SMSs will pass through the stringent checks. The details also include URLs and phone numbers that are added in certain services, and if they are not whitelisted, these messages will be blocked by the network.
These headers are usually what you see at the top of an SMS like a subject line for banks, payment operators, and even the likes of Zomato or Uber. The messages will be read using a reliable technology to make sure no commercial message goes through which can be dangerous.
Since the deadline has already been extended a few times, we don’t expect TRAI to issue any more extensions for the changes, so expect some short-term issues as the telcos rush to implement the changes to avoid a major chaos.
