TeleSign Battles Security Breaches with Dual-Authentication

As more security breaches occur, retailers and websites are looking for ways to prevent them with dual-authentication, and if they intend on using a mobile device, chances are they will be using TeleSign.

TeleSign is a Marina del Rey, Calif. company that uses mobile identity to give information to businesses, confirm identity and send secure messages. "(Dual authentication and mobile identity) is really safe," TeleSign chief executive Steve Jillings told Press:Here."The reality is (hackers) would have to have your mobile device in their hands as well as your user name and password coming from a trusted device."

Dual-authentication, or two-factor authentication, works by asking for a password and also sends a passcode to one's mobile phone, and the consumer needs both to access a site. Later, the site may only acquire a password if it recognizes a trusted device.

Jillings said that TeleSign's use of mobile identity, or one's identity tied up with a mobile phone number and device, has proven successful but people still haven't wholeheartedly embraced dual-authentication. "It's growing, but not to where it should be," he said. "From a consumer level, about a third understand what it means and two-thirds have turned it on."

TeleSign delivers mobile identity and dual-authentication throughout the world and 87 different languages. "We have intelligence on every single phone number in the world," Jillings said. "We know attributes about phone numbers that make them unique."

In short, if the phone number is associated with a temporary cellphone, it will likely be less trustworthy than someone's number associated with a six-year-old Verizon account. "The company can decide if we want to do business with that person," he said.

In the end, Jillings said that soon dual-authentication will be the norm, but until then, people have to at least lock their phones. "A little over 50 percent use a PIN lock on their phone," he said, "so about half don't."

Contact Us