Hi Bitdefender Team and Fellow Security Enthusiasts,
I’d like to suggest an important improvement for Bitdefender Mobile Security (Android) regarding USSD-based forwarding scams that are becoming increasingly widespread — especially in countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Middle East, and beyond.
📌
The Problem
Fraudsters are targeting users with messages (via SMS, WhatsApp, or links) that trick them into dialing malicious USSD codes like:
21<number>#
401<number>
67<number>#
61<number>#
62<number>#
These codes activate call or SMS forwarding, allowing attackers to intercept banking OTPs, calls, and messages. Once triggered, the victim may never realize their calls or SMS are being forwarded — until it’s too late.
Sadly, such patterns aren’t currently detected by anti-phishing or call-blocking engines.
🔒
Suggested Feature
Could Bitdefender Mobile Security introduce:
- A pattern-matching engine to detect and block dialing of known suspicious forwarding codes?
- Or, at least, a warning prompt when these codes are about to be dialed?
- Or a custom rule system for users to define “dangerous number patterns” to be monitored or blocked?
This feature could be optional, so legitimate users using forwarding for business or roaming purposes aren’t impacted.
🌍
Why It Matters
- These attacks are on the rise globally 🌐
- Financial fraud through OTP interception is now common 🏦
- Most mobile users (especially elderly or non-tech-savvy ones) won’t realize what these codes do ☠️
Bitdefender is a global leader in mobile security — and this small enhancement could help prevent huge damage for thousands of users.
Looking forward to hearing from @Alexandru _BD and @agozob , and the rest of the awesome community.
Do you think this is technically feasible?
Thanks for your time and for all your incredible work!
—
AlFifi_Defender 🇸🇦
