7 ms·

There's already work underway to authenticate the actual source phone number of a caller: https://transnexus.com/whitepapers/stir-and-shaken-overview/ https://t

There's already work underway to authenticate the actual source phone number of a caller: https://transnexus.com/whitepapers/stir-and-shaken-overview/ https://transnexus.com/whitepapers/stir-and-shaken-overview/ And to make sure the source is set to a value that the caller is allowed to possess. The problem isn't spoofing of numbers--because the utility is quite high for legitimate uses, like PBXes and after-hours doctor return calls for two examples--but the ability to spoof any number, not just numbers a caller is permitted to use.

Wowfunhappy 7y ago
I suppose it depends on whether a partial restriction is actually effective. As useful as those examples may be, I am very much okay with cutting them off if it means we can greatly cut down on spam calls. People will adapt.
- saidajigumi 7y ago
  Unsurprisingly, that was one of the many iOS 13 features announced by Apple at WWDC this year: the ability to silence all calls from unknown numbers, sending them directly to voicemail. I'm sure someone running the beta has investigated and published the full details of the feature beyond the sound bite announcement. E.g. is it possible to _categorically_ block these calls, not even sending to voicemail? I wouldn't use such a feature, but some people might. FWIW, I recently took the measure of setting my default ringtone to a "silent" sound file, and setting vibration to "none". Then I reenabled those settings manually for known-IRL contacts. A hassle to do, but absolutely necessary given the uptick in phone spam.
  - kencausey 7y ago
    I'm not that familiar with IOS, but 'Do Not Disturb' mode has been standard on Android for a while and includes a mode where there is only an audio notification if the number calling is one that is in my contact list. I'm surprised if IOS does not have something similar.
    - donarb 7y ago
      With Apple's Do Not Disturb, callers in different groups (Contacts, Favorites or a specific group) can ring through if you allow it.
    - saidajigumi 7y ago
      iOS has "Do Not Disturb", but it has a broad silencing effect across notifications in general. It's too big a hammer for just shutting down spam callers.
    - fossuser 7y ago
      It also blocks all notifications making it not a suitable way to do this.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - inetknght 7y ago
    > * silence all calls from unknown numbers, sending them directly to voicemail* How about not sending them to voicemail? I have literally _never_ used voicemail. I _will_ never use voicemail specifically because it has _always_ been riddled with spam. I even demanded T-mobile to disable my voicemail account. Not even six months later I started getting that annoying little icon on my phone again.
    - saidajigumi 7y ago
      For contrast, I very rarely get spam voicemail. The overwhelming majority of robocallers drop without leaving a message. And for many people, myself included, that's the only way to screen legit but previously unknown callers.
      - ghaff 7y ago
        I suspect that a lot of people in the "Just don't answer the phone camp" don't have elderly parents, children, run a business, etc. that sort of prohibit you from taking the attitude that you won't respond to anyone other than a known contact.
  - fossuser 7y ago
    That one line in WWDC was a huge deal to me, but it was unclear if unknown meant not in contacts or a literal “unknown” caller ID. If it’s that latter it’s pretty useless. I really hope it’s a contact based whitelist.
    - briandear 7y ago
      Not in contacts.
      - fossuser 7y ago
        Yes! That’d be amazing, do you work at Apple or are you using the beta (or both)? I haven’t seen anyone write about this yet.
mikeash 7y ago
I don’t see the utility being very high. PBXs? Surely you can get a block of numbers you’re allowed to have and use those. After hours doctor return calls? Route the call through the physical office, or just call from a different number. A system that’s overrun with spam is as useless as having no system at all. We got close to that with email in the late 90s and we’re getting close with phones today. Requiring some minor, inconsequential changes to how a few people use the system should be easily acceptable.
- PenguinCoder 7y ago
  I have a PBX (Asterisk) I setup as my main/primary/only personal number. That number is given out to anyone who needs it. The beauty of this is, no one has my personal cell (or other) numbers. This makes it very easy for me to block any spam numbers. In fact, I inject the FCC telemarketer spam caller list into the system blacklist. I also have it setup that the caller needs to 'press 1' to reach a human. It's not exactly hard to setup, but is certainly not for non-technical folks. However this system has given me the control over my phone number, callers, and spammers.
  - zyberzero 7y ago
    I've been looking in to doing so myself; but then the hassle (for me) is all test based communication. How can you keep your personal cell number a secret, while having access to texts? (I need to give my phone number to a number of companies so that they can text me)
- RandomInteger4 7y ago
  Better yet, why not just scrap the whole system and implement IP addresses and security certificates for the phone system. We seemed to have already solved pretty much every analogous situation there that the phone system is dealing with.

Wowfunhappy 7y ago

I suppose it depends on whether a partial restriction is actually effective. As useful as those examples may be, I am very much okay with cutting them off if it means we can greatly cut down on spam calls. People will adapt.

saidajigumi 7y ago
Unsurprisingly, that was one of the many iOS 13 features announced by Apple at WWDC this year: the ability to silence all calls from unknown numbers, sending them directly to voicemail. I'm sure someone running the beta has investigated and published the full details of the feature beyond the sound bite announcement. E.g. is it possible to _categorically_ block these calls, not even sending to voicemail? I wouldn't use such a feature, but some people might. FWIW, I recently took the measure of setting my default ringtone to a "silent" sound file, and setting vibration to "none". Then I reenabled those settings manually for known-IRL contacts. A hassle to do, but absolutely necessary given the uptick in phone spam.
- kencausey 7y ago
  I'm not that familiar with IOS, but 'Do Not Disturb' mode has been standard on Android for a while and includes a mode where there is only an audio notification if the number calling is one that is in my contact list. I'm surprised if IOS does not have something similar.
  - donarb 7y ago
    With Apple's Do Not Disturb, callers in different groups (Contacts, Favorites or a specific group) can ring through if you allow it.
  - saidajigumi 7y ago
    iOS has "Do Not Disturb", but it has a broad silencing effect across notifications in general. It's too big a hammer for just shutting down spam callers.
  - fossuser 7y ago
    It also blocks all notifications making it not a suitable way to do this.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- inetknght 7y ago
  > * silence all calls from unknown numbers, sending them directly to voicemail* How about not sending them to voicemail? I have literally _never_ used voicemail. I _will_ never use voicemail specifically because it has _always_ been riddled with spam. I even demanded T-mobile to disable my voicemail account. Not even six months later I started getting that annoying little icon on my phone again.
  - saidajigumi 7y ago
    For contrast, I very rarely get spam voicemail. The overwhelming majority of robocallers drop without leaving a message. And for many people, myself included, that's the only way to screen legit but previously unknown callers.
    - ghaff 7y ago
      I suspect that a lot of people in the "Just don't answer the phone camp" don't have elderly parents, children, run a business, etc. that sort of prohibit you from taking the attitude that you won't respond to anyone other than a known contact.
- fossuser 7y ago
  That one line in WWDC was a huge deal to me, but it was unclear if unknown meant not in contacts or a literal “unknown” caller ID. If it’s that latter it’s pretty useless. I really hope it’s a contact based whitelist.
  - briandear 7y ago
    Not in contacts.
    - fossuser 7y ago
      Yes! That’d be amazing, do you work at Apple or are you using the beta (or both)? I haven’t seen anyone write about this yet.

mikeash 7y ago

I don’t see the utility being very high. PBXs? Surely you can get a block of numbers you’re allowed to have and use those. After hours doctor return calls? Route the call through the physical office, or just call from a different number. A system that’s overrun with spam is as useless as having no system at all. We got close to that with email in the late 90s and we’re getting close with phones today. Requiring some minor, inconsequential changes to how a few people use the system should be easily acceptable.

PenguinCoder 7y ago
I have a PBX (Asterisk) I setup as my main/primary/only personal number. That number is given out to anyone who needs it. The beauty of this is, no one has my personal cell (or other) numbers. This makes it very easy for me to block any spam numbers. In fact, I inject the FCC telemarketer spam caller list into the system blacklist. I also have it setup that the caller needs to 'press 1' to reach a human. It's not exactly hard to setup, but is certainly not for non-technical folks. However this system has given me the control over my phone number, callers, and spammers.
- zyberzero 7y ago
  I've been looking in to doing so myself; but then the hassle (for me) is all test based communication. How can you keep your personal cell number a secret, while having access to texts? (I need to give my phone number to a number of companies so that they can text me)
RandomInteger4 7y ago
Better yet, why not just scrap the whole system and implement IP addresses and security certificates for the phone system. We seemed to have already solved pretty much every analogous situation there that the phone system is dealing with.