Rakuten Viber Anti-Fraud Tool: Confronting Messaging Scams
Rakuten Viber has introduced security measures to counter the rise in fraudulent activity across messaging applications.
As one of the world's largest messaging apps, Rakuten Viber provides messaging and voice-over-IP services, whilst aiming to protect business communications from growing cybersecurity threats.
The platform has developed a verification system that uses encrypted one-time passwords as an alternative to SMS-based authentication. This launch is in response to the increasing sophistication of digital fraud attempts targeting messaging platforms.
Currently, messaging platforms are facing increased threats from automated scams, with data showing fraudulent texts in the US have reached more than 415 million messages per day - highlighting the scale of the challenge facing communication providers.
Unveiling an encrypted one-time password verification
The new verification system enables users to authenticate their identity through encrypted one-time passwords delivered via the Viber platform. Users can copy verification codes directly from chat windows without opening the full application to streamline the authentication process.
Additionally, the system offers businesses pre-defined delivery times for verification messages, providing greater control over authentication workflows. This approach is designed to reduce authentication costs compared to traditional SMS methods while maintaining security through encryption.
"As 60% of online customers now prioritise security and transparency in communications with businesses, it is imperative to redefine trust," comments Cristina Constandache, Chief Revenue Officer at Rakuten Viber.
The platform's security measures aim to protect both businesses and consumers from the rising threat of 'smishing' attempts, where fraudsters use messaging services to deceive users into revealing sensitive information.
Eurobank partner delivers SecurePlus
In collaboration with Eurobank, Rakuten Viber has also launched SecurePlus, a real-time verification system. The system is able to screen recipient numbers for potential fraud markers before transmitting sensitive information such as transaction details or financial statements.
"As a bank, security is paramount to us. Collaborating with Rakuten Viber to develop a product for enhancing the protection of sensitive information was truly rewarding for Eurobank," says Sokratis Kalamatianos, who heads Digital Solutions at Eurobank.
The SecurePlus system has applications beyond banking, with potential use cases in insurance, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors where protecting sensitive customer information is essential.
Likewise, Rakuten Viber's security infrastructure now includes SOC 2 Type II certification, an independent security audit standard that verifies data protection protocols. The certification process examines how organisations manage customer data across five trust categories: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy.
Confronting AI scam growth
The company maintains end-to-end encryption for private and group chats as well as private calls. This encryption ensures private messages are not stored on Viber's servers, while all connections use HTTPS security protocols.
Such a stark rise in AI use, particularly within the mobile industry, has enabled scammers to automate fraud attempts and create more sophisticated deception tactics. These often involve fraudulent websites designed to harvest personal and banking details.
Likewise, the messaging sector has seen an increase in automated attacks that exploit user trust in established communication platforms. This has inevitably driven demand for enhanced security features from both business users and consumers.
"Our new solutions reinforce our commitment to safeguarding every brand-user interaction while solidifying our role as a secure super app," says Cristina.
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