Controlling a mobile device in a telecommunications network

Abstract

A system is described to control a mobile telecommunication device within a telecommunications network,when the mobile device is suspected of being, or has been found to be, infected by malicious software or viruses causing it to behave maliciously or aggressively within the network. The telecommunications network is arranged to identify the telecommunication device and limit the communication between the mobile telecommunication device and the telecommunications network. This may mean limiting the bandwidth of the bearer between the mobile telecommunications device and the telecommunications network or may mean limiting the communications between the mobile telecommunications device and a specificlocation.In further embodiments the telecommunications network quarantines the identified device by either transferring an attachment of the mobile telecommunications device to a second network, or, maintaining a list of devices and adding the identified mobile telecommunications device to the list.

Description

Background technique [0001] The invention relates to a system arranged to control mobile telecommunication devices within a telecommunication network. [0002] The telecommunications network provides radio telecommunications to users of mobile devices, typically according to agreed and standardized radio protocols as will be known to those skilled in the art, such as GSM, UTMS and LTE. [0003] Mobile telecommunication devices are common and include mobile phones and especially smart phones, tablet devices and other handheld computing devices, handheld personal assistants and even communication devices housed in vehicles. All can provide users with telecommunications with each other and access to the Internet while moving around. [0004] Access to the Internet exposes the device to malware and malicious applications that may be accidentally or otherwise downloaded from the Internet onto the mobile device. Typically, and often due to their smaller size and memory capacity, m...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0006] The disadvantage of the described method is that the subsequent control of the phone is directed from within the mobile device itself after a malicious act has been detected

But if a mobile device is already infected with malware, there may not be real certainty that detection methods or subsequent control of device behavior can be trusted

In operation of the method, the infected mobile phone polices itself, but the telecommunications network to which the phone is attached cannot be sure that the mobile phone can be trusted

[0007] Other solutions include forcing detachment of the device, but this may simply cause the device to try to attach again, resulting in more signaling within the network and maintaining the attachment between the infected device and the network

Alternatively, the network may release any bearers the device may have, but this may cause the device to enter emergency mode, in which case it maintains a connection to the network

The network can direct or force the device into emergency mode, but this will depend on the device itself, which may not be trusted due to infection

Alternatively, the network can change the device's subscription, but this is onerous

[0008] The problem is to protect the network from attacks from mobile telecommunication devices infected with malware or malicious applications

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