STIR/SHAKEN is a technology designed to reduce fraudulent robocalls and illegal phone number spoofing. STIR stands for Secure Telephony Identity Revisited. SHAKEN stands for Secure Handling of Asserted information using tokens. Spam and illegal robocalls are a significant problem many communications companies are struggling to deal with as they try to protect the privacy of their customers. In 2019, phone calls were the most common way scammers got in contact with their victims.
What specifically is STIR?
STIR is a working group within the IETF which has developed a set of Stir Shaken protocols used to create a digital signature for a call. The signed Stir Shaken sip header call includes information about the calling party and allows for verification of the signature by the terminating provider.
What specifically is SHAKEN?
SHAKEN are the standards for how STIR is to be deployed by service providers within their networks.
How does it help you?
When people can’t trust that callers are who they claim to be, they stop answering even legitimate calls. Authentication built right into our solutions with no extra effort needed on your part can help ensure that you feel more comfortable about saying hello instead of dismissing the call. You should not notice any functional change to their caller ID displays, other than the ability to better trust the data they see.
How does STIR/SHAKEN implementation stop illegal robocalls?
STIR/SHAKEN uses public key cryptography and digital certificates to authenticate phone calls, similar to the way that e-commerce websites secure their traffic. Originating carriers digitally sign their calls, and terminating carriers check to see that the signatures are authentic before completing the call. The Federal Trade Commission has been working to educate the public about these unwanted calls, but with mixed success. Thus Stir/Shaken has come to live.
What are Attestations?
Think of attestation levels as scores for a telephone call. They range from Good [A], Fair[B] and Poor[C]. There are three levels of verification, or “attestation”, possible in the STIR protocol for Stir/Shaken attestation. Based on these levels you can choose what calls you want to receive.
[A] – Full Attestation
Means the service provider knows the customer and has the right to use the telephone number they are calling from.
[B] – Partial Attestation
Means the service provider knows the customer but not the source of the telephone number they are calling from.
[C] – Gateway Attestation
Means the service provider has originated the call into the network but can’t authenticate the call source.
How much does Stir/Shaken cost?
It is Free!!!!
Fireline Communications does not charge for Stir / Shaken, it is already included in your service.
03/25/2022
