Committed to connecting the world

Girls in ICT

Digital Financial Services Security Clinic - Tanzania

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
The International Telecommunication Union organised an online Digital Financial Services Security Clinic jointly with the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) from 11 to 12 July 2022 from 10h00 to 13h00 ​East African Time (EAT).

The main objectives of the DFS Security Clinic are to share the findings and recommendations from the FIGI Security Infrastructure and Trust working group for regulators and DFS providers with regards to addressing security challenges for digital financ​e.

The event provided insights into security best practices for SIM swaps, mobile payment applications operating on USSD, STK and Android, methodology for testing security of mobile payment applications and addressing infrastructure vulnerabilities such as SS7. The participants of the event:

Target audience: The security clinic is intended for IT security professionals, security auditors and policymakers from the telecom/ICT regulator and Central Bank/Financial Regulator.

Watch recordings here:




Programme



Day 1: 11 July 2022 (10:00 - 13:00)

​10:00 - 10:15
(EAT)
Welcome Remarks

​10:15 - 11:30
(EAT)
​DFS security vulnerabilities: USSD, STK and Android platform vulnerabilities

This session introduced the ITU DFS security lab and highlighted the vulnerabilities to USSD and STK and Android based applications. Threats like Man in the middle attacks that could impact digital financial services and the SIM jacker vulnerability in SIM Cards were discussed. The session also provided and an overview of the security tests that can be undertaken in the DFS Security Lab at ITU. 
Related Reports: 
​11:30 - 11:45
(EAT)
​Coffee Break
​11:45 - 13:00
(EAT)
SIM and Infrastructure vulnerabilities: mitigation guidance for regulators vulnerabilities

Telecom infrastructure vulnerabilities such as SS7 can be exploited by an intruder to intercept calls and SMSs, bypass billing, steal money from mobile money accounts, or affect mobile network operations. This session focused on the summary of the key ITU DFS recommendations on DFS security especially in issues of SS7, SIM swaps, SIM recycling and SIM vulnerabilities like SIM jacker that could be used to compromise DFS. [Presentation​]

Related Report:  

Day 2: 12 July 2022​​​ (10:00 - 13:00)

​10:00 - 11:00
(EAT)
​DFS Security Assurance Framework

This session discussed the DFS security assurance framework that can be implemented by DFS providers to better manage the risks and mitigate their impact.
Related Reports:
​11:00 - 11:30
(EAT)
DFS security audit guideline

The session covered how a Regulator or DFS provider can assess compliance with the minimum-security controls using the DFS audit guideline.
Related Report:
​11:30 - 11:45
(EAT)
Coffee Break​
​11:45 - 13:00
(EAT)
​Participant Exercise: Implementing the DFS security assurance framework and security audit for DFS

This was a hands-on session that focused on initiating the process to implement the DFS security assurance framework. The stakeholders were involved in an exercise on the applying the DFS security assurance framework and the DFS audit guideline. [Presentation​]