What Is Ussd? In Addition To How Secure Ussd Is?
While globe is worried well-nigh cyber securities for diverse online transaction especially banking, how secure banking based on USSD is in addition to what's vulnerabilities inwards USSD based communications are?
Usually known equally Quick code or featured code, USSD stands for Unstructured suplimentry service data are the especial also in addition to fro messages bases on mobile service provider server in addition to user device/mobile telephone equally clients.
USSD is protocol used past times GSM mobile service to communicate mobile alongside service providers reckoner based on predefined ready of codes in addition to message length is upto 182 character.
Just similar SMS it tin endure used to telephone commutation information but speciality of USSD lies inwards creating session which allows user to communicate for a menstruation of fourth dimension until connecter remains open.
How USSD is used?
USSD is basically force based in addition to force based services.
Mobile initiated USSD code
Many Service provider let user to dial USSD code to deliver their service information in addition to credit information to the user based on their request.
Server initiated USSD
Push based USSD are initially sent past times network, most of the fourth dimension to notify user well-nigh to a greater extent than or less urgency or precisely for promotional purpose.
Structure of USSD
- USSD are structured equally this
- Start alongside asterisk *
- String of codes/messages
- Multiple segments/codes separated past times asterisk again
- Code or string of USSD is terminated past times Hash grapheme [ # ]
Security alongside USSD
Recently inwards Republic of Republic of India where most of economic scheme is derived alongside cash had went through demonetization which pushed users out at that spot to opt for digital transaction in addition to most of users which don’t convey smartphone for their transaction are given selection to utilization banking/transaction only past times USSD only past times dialing *99# from their basic mobile phones even.
On to a greater extent than or less other hand, nosotros encounter lots of safety been deployed inwards mesh banking in addition to online transaction gateway, this ascension the interrogation how these USSD based transactions are secure?
According to Research instance written report Security Perspectives For USSD Versus SMS In Conducting Mobile Transactions: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Case Study Of Tanzania safety of USSD is same in addition to to a greater extent than than SMS, dissimilar SMS, USSD communication/data is non stored either user cease or SMSC. Data is encrypted betwixt user device to BST all the same afterwards Base station, these information transmitted inwards evidently text to the ease of the nodes. All the safety machinery is applied on USSD equally of that GSM implies on other services which been proven to a greater extent than stronger. More well-nigh security inwards mobile banking reference you lot tin become through newspaper published past times Department of reckoner scientific discipline inwards University of cap town.
USSD is handled past times protocol called MAP (Mobile Application Part), It creates, sends in addition to receives session ID in addition to contend to destroy is in ane lawsuit the operate is been done.
Types of Services provided past times USSD
USSD are used these days from service provider based generic information sharing to social media access similar Facebook in addition to Twitter.
Few pop services based on USSD are
Service provider based services
- Balance check/credit information: USSD are used past times service provider alongside quick code past times which user tin rapidly know well-nigh updated credit information on their mobile service provider.
- Voice chat : similar to a higher house services, this tin endure used if service provider allows, in addition to are useful especially when VoIP devices are non available.
- Advertisement : Using force based mechanism, service render tin advertise their promotional offers.
Third political party services
- Social media : Social media tin endure used alongside telephone without mesh precisely past times using their especial USSD code. For example, Airtel provided such services to utilization facebook/twitter precisely past times dialing *325# in addition to access facebook for most of the uses.
- Banking : As stated earlier, USSD tin endure used to transfer money, cheque available residuum inwards concern human relationship in addition to have coin using USSD.
Conclusion on USSD
USSD are beingness used all of us past times diverse means, its protected past times WAP/MAP protocol past times GSM service provider in addition to their ain safety mechanism. Beyond the usage of traditional service provider based communication, USSD in addition to its session based advantages are beingness used past times diverse other agency like, baking, social media, existent fourth dimension chat in addition to service based information pulling from service provider.
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