Kuala Lumpur (VNA)𒈔 - Fake base transceiver station (BTS) devices, which mimic legitimate telecommunications towers to spread fraudulent SMS messages, pose a growing threat to Malaysia’s national security.

The emergence of fake BTS scams showed how cybercriminals were becoming increasingly bold in exploiting weaknesses in communication networks, Research Nexus UiTM deputy director for cyber technologies Associate Professor Dr Mohamad Yusof Darus was quoted by New Sunday Times as saying. The implications extend far beyond individual victims, posing significant risks to national communication security, he continued. Fake BTS devices trick nearby mobile phones by transmitting stronger signals than real telecommunications towers, Yusof said, adding that these messages, he added, often carried urgent instructions or malicious links designed to pressure victims into clicking them, downloading malware or revealing sensitive details, such as one-time passwords. Fake BTS devices were often concealed in vehicles, allowing syndicates to move across locations and making detection more difficult. He said warning signs for users include sudden switches to 2G, abnormally strong or unstable signals and unsolicited messages demanding immediate action. Fake BTS scams exploit both technological weaknesses in older mobile networks and human vulnerabilities. He called people to be vigilant and urged network operators to accelerate the transition to more secure 4G or 5G networks. In addition, it is necessary to promote end-to-end encrypted messaging platforms and strengthen anomalous signal detection systems, he added./.