![As a counter-measure, the ministry has implemented an "Alert Service of Web-relayed Messages" which indicates every Internet-sent text message by marking it with a sign "[Web-relayed]." (image: infocux Technologies/ Flickr)](http://koreabizwire.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/8518276978_44da4b573b_c.jpg)
As a counter-measure, the ministry has implemented an “Alert Service of Web-relayed Messages” which indicates every Internet-sent text message by marking it with a sign “[Web-relayed].” (image: infocux Technologies/ Flickr)
Web-relayed SMS have been exploited for illicit ends in smishing, spamming and abusive texting since messages could be sent with the sender number arbitrarily made up unlike mobile text messaging which fabricating sender identification is restricted.
As a counter-measure, the ministry has implemented an “Alert Service of Web-relayed Messages” which indicates every Internet-sent text message by marking it with a sign “[Web-relayed].” The service has been launched since October last year as a trial version, and by July 21 of this year, it began in earnest as it was employed by all of telecommunications service providers and implemented not only on short message services, but also on all multimedia messaging services (MMS) as well.
Upon providing the alert service, the ministry will also provide for free “Prevention of Piracy of Numbers in Web-based Smishing” service. Users who do not use Internet SMS can be protected from the illegal use of their numbers in Web sent text messages by subscribing to the service.
The service could be subscribed by calling the call center of the affiliated mobile carrier, or contacting the Internet customer center.
Companies or organizations that use web-relayed SMS can be protected by registering for the “Prevention of False Representation in Web-based Smishing” service in official anti-phishing website (www.anti-phishing.or.kr), operated by the Korea Internet and Security Agency.
By J. H. Kim (jhkim@koreabizwire.com)
