Every ISP has them—network abusers—subscribers that never log off or share their user name and password with others, sapping the network's resources. Now, you can teach network abusers to be good dialup users, with a little help from IKANO.

by ISP-Planet Staff [May 7, 2002]

Salt-lake City-based private-label Internet service provider IKANO Communications recently released its fraud protection system for ISPs. IKANO developed the system to help ISP operators curb typical network abuses, like simultaneous login sessions and using dialup for an "always-on" connection.

IKANO's fraud protection system uses a profile of abusive behavior to determine which subscribers are exploiting their dialup services. The system monitors network behavior on a daily basis and creates list of subscribers who fit the profile of abusers. It automatically suspends the services of network abusers, so the next time abusive subscribers try to log in, they will receive an authentication error and be required to contact the call center to receive a new username and password.

Henry Smith, IKANO's chief executive officer, said the company's fraud protection system helps modify the behavior of ISP subscribers, saving its ISP clients thousands of dollars every month.

"Network abuse is an increasingly serious problem for Internet service providers," Smith said. "We developed the 'Fraud Protection System' to save our clients money and inform ISPs that there is a solution. By educating subscribers and modifying their behavior, we can curb this epidemic."

IKANO's fraud protection system detects three types of abusive behavior:

• Subscribers who share their username and password to others, creating simultaneous logins.
  
  
• Subscribers who use dial-up accounts as dedicated connections.
  
  
• Subscribers who spam the network, violating acceptable use policies and causing network congestion for other users.

IKANO provides private-label Internet services to more than 250 ISP clients. Since implementing its fraud protection system, Smith said that IKANO and its ISP clients have collectively saved nearly $300,000 per month.

"Network abuse is rampant among ISP subscribers, causing rising operating costs and eating away at profitability," Smith said. "At the end of the day, ISPs need to provide quality service to subscribers while maintaining profitability. Our 'Fraud Protection System' is a big step forward to ensure this happens."

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