[Paul K]

EL Reg

BT is trying yet again to crack down on rogue diallers by introducing new software that will stop computers from dialling premium rate numbers. It's commissioned a small UK-based independent software company to develop a system to prevent PCs from dialling expensive numbers.

Although BT won't reveal the name of the company, the UK phone giant says trials of the Modem Protection software in Northern Ireland have proved successful. Now it intends to make the software available for free to all of its punters by May - regardless of which ISP they use.

BT Modem Protection will block PCs from dialling costly premium rate or international numbers - even if rogue dialler software is installed on machines. Punters will also be warned if their modem begins to dial any number other than a list of approved numbers, such as those used by their ISP. Another idea BT has up its sleeve is to notify punters if it spots spikes in phone charges that could signify that they're the target of phone fraud.

Wonder how long before someone takes them to court for infringing their human rights to earn a living
__________________

Oh and there's more info Here

BT is introducing two initiatives to help beat rogue dialler scams, which can cost dial-up net users thousands.

From May, dial-up net users will be able to download free software to stop computers using numbers not on a user's "pre-approved list".

Inadvertently downloaded by surfers, rogue diallers are programs which hijack modems and dial up a premium rate number when users log on.

Thousands of UK dial-up users are believed to have been hit by the scam.

Some people have faced phone bills of up to £2,000.

BT's Modem Protection program will check numbers that are dialled by a computer and will block them if they have not been pre-approved, such as national and net service provider numbers.