The evolving system will block suspicious messages before they reach consumers’ devices and is already switched on. Staff have trialled the technology for the past three months.
Spam or malicious messages have been used to steal money, install malware to steal personal information, hack internet banking and infect personal contacts.
Machine scanning examines the messages and looks for suspicious content like malicious links, the time the messages are sent and who is sending them.
It then learns from what has been blocked across the network or reported as suspicious and continues to “learn” and keep updating what is a scam and what isn’t.
The feature also has protections built in so legitimate messages from businesses or government departments are not mistakenly blocked.
The technology will flag suspicious messages to Telstra specialists when the message’s intent is unclear, but Telstra says recipient details will be masked.
The telecommunications network has previously found scam texts are on the rise, with more than 11,000 malicious message reports to Android devices in 2021 compared to 50 reports in 2020.
However the system is not reported to be foolproof and the company is encouraging consumers to stay vigilant and report suspicious messages to www.scamwatch.gov.au
Information about common scams and malicious messages, as well as how to protect yourself, can also be found on the government-run scamwatch website.
The filter can be switched off by texting the words “FILTER OFF” to 0438 214 682 and turned back on by texting “FILTER ON” to the same number.
People do not need to do anything, such as calling or texting Telstra or clicking a link, to activate the filter.
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