{"id":230031,"date":"2017-09-21T12:57:44","date_gmt":"2017-09-21T10:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/?p=230031"},"modified":"2017-09-21T12:59:40","modified_gmt":"2017-09-21T10:59:40","slug":"absa-moving-away-from-sms-and-ussd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/security\/230031-absa-moving-away-from-sms-and-ussd.html","title":{"rendered":"Absa moving away from SMS and USSD"},"content":{"rendered":"

Absa has started rolling out SureCheck 2.0, its new transaction verification system, to clients who use its mobile app.<\/p>\n

“This helps to prevent SIM-swap fraud,” said Absa.<\/p>\n

This follows the bank recently informing clients it would\u00a0upgrade security for its online banking customers<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Where the bank used to send SureCheck requests to your phone using USSD, and SMS before that, it now uses its app to allow you to verify transactions.<\/p>\n

This is because USSD and SMS authentication systems are linked to your phone number, making them susceptible to fraudulent SIM swaps.<\/p>\n

Increased security<\/h3>\n

Absa is not the only bank shifting away from authentication mechanisms linked to cellphone numbers. In 2016,\u00a0FNB released an update for its smartphone app<\/strong><\/a> that replaced its SMS-based authentication system.<\/p>\n

This is despite South Africa\u2019s mobile operators rolling out systems which let banks check whether a SIM swap has recently taken place on a particular number before authorising a transaction.<\/p>\n

Evidence of this came to light recently when Absa and Vodacom were named in two court cases – one where a couple lost R1.3 million<\/strong><\/a>, and another where a man was defrauded of R250,000<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to Absa, clients will not need to re-register to use SureCheck 2.0 and it emphasised that none of their credentials will change.<\/p>\n

SureCheck is triggered when clients perform any of the following actions:<\/p>\n