LG Uplus noted that it has introduced and is operating an 'AI malicious app analysis solution' within its customer damage prevention analysis system to intercept smishing crimes that alter malicious app addresses (URLs) and bypass access restriction measures of public institutions or telecom companies.
According to LG Uplus, since the solution was fully operational from last August until last month, it has detected more than 62,000 cases of URL alterations over the six-month period and was able to prevent the theft of customer personal information.
LG Uplus stated that if customers click on malicious URLs in smishing texts impersonating public institutions and install the apps, their personal and financial information on their mobile phones could be leaked.
To combat these smishing attacks, LG Uplus is operating a customer damage prevention analysis system in collaboration with the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA), Korean National Police Agency, and others to analyze smishing URLs and malicious apps and block access. The system extracts and reviews smishing URLs and malicious apps collected through customer reports or related agencies, making it impossible for customers to access the URLs even if they click on them.
However, as smishing crime organizations become aware of the blocking measures, they are increasingly using methods to shorten and convert malicious URLs to circumvent these actions, raising concerns about potential damage.
In response, LG Uplus introduced an AI solution early last year to neutralize 'URL alteration tricks' and has been using it for actual blocking measures since last August after further enhancement. The solution analyzes from the identity of the shortened or converted URLs to the final destination the URL reaches to block access to phishing sites or to detect the presence of malicious apps.
Going forward, LG Uplus plans to establish a text test bed (a system that collects and analyzes spam texts using virtual mobile phone numbers) within its customer damage prevention system to proactively block access to smishing texts and malicious URLs and to continue analyzing malicious apps as a part of its efforts to prevent customer damage.
Hong Kwan-hee, the Chief Information Security Officer/Chief Privacy Officer of LG Uplus, said, 'As attempts to bypass telecom responses to smishing are increasing, the need for additional countermeasures is growing,' adding, 'We will enhance LG Uplus's customer damage prevention analysis system to create an environment where customers can feel safe from the threat of livelihood fraud crimes.'