Peter Marshall <peterm@rwing.uucp> (06/11/91)
This article by NW's Wash. Bureau Chief was entitled "Long-Haul Carriers May Offer Toll-Fraud Monitoring: Services Would Help Shield Customers from Hackers." According to the NW article, the IXC's are considering offering such services, that would function "by monitoring network activity for suspicious traffic patterns and tipping off users before huge costs would be run up ...." The focus is on PBX users, who, says this article, "have been loathe to report toll fraud because they are embarassed ... or because they have entered into private settlements with carriers that cannot be disclosed." However, the article notes that Pacific Mutual Life Insurance had "asked the FCC to open a proceeding ... to establish guidelines that fairly distribute liability for toll fraud among users, long distance carriers and customer premises equipment manufacturers ..." The article also indicates MCI and AT&T had opposed Pacific Mutual's position and that the Petition for Rulemaking was also filed on behalf of the Securities Industry Assoc., VISA USA and the NY Clearinghouse Assoc.