EntranceHow to protect yourself from unwanted paid subscriptions on your phone? How to get rid of extra paid subscriptions - advice to subscribers of Megafon, MTS, Beeline and Tele2 Paid subscriptions pop up when you turn on the mobile Internet.
Built-in active technology Protect responsible for Internet security. Protect can block a malicious site, check the downloaded file for viruses, protect against password theft, and warn you that entering a bank card number on a page can be dangerous.
Mobile subscription protection
Protects against accidental subscriptions to paid mobile services
What is the danger
Signing up for a paid service for your phone is very simple: sometimes you just need to click one button on the site. Web pages with paid subscriptions usually offer what is often searched on the Internet: movies, music, or weather forecast. You can click on the "View", "Listen" or "Download" button and not notice that this service is paid. Often this is the fault of the supplier, who makes such a message invisible.
How protection works
If you open a page with a paid subscription in Yandex.Browser, you will immediately see a warning.
If subscribing to paid jokes or something similar is not included in your plans, just click the "Leave the page" button. And in cases where a subscription is really necessary, you can proceed to payment.
How to disable
If you do not want Protect to warn you about pages with paid subscriptions, go to your browser settings and find the "Personal data" block. Disable the "Turn on protection from malicious sites and programs" option and restart your browser.
Today paid subscriptions are very controversial mobile service. On the one hand, this convenient way delivery of legal content and payment for information services. However " back side medals", widely exploited by unscrupulous webmasters, creates a bad name. After all, to register a mobile subscription, you no longer need to send SMS or enter the received code on the site. It is enough just to go to the site belonging to the "premium category" with cell phone or USB modem. Read more about the new method of "relatively honest taking money from the population" - and protection against automatic paid subscriptions - read in today's issue of TechnoDrive!
How to cancel a paid subscription?
Judging by the reviews of experts from antivirus companies, in order to turn an ordinary site into a “premium” one, with access by subscription, it is enough for an unscrupulous webmaster to place special links received from the content provider and force the browser to automatically use them via javascript.
"Invisible clicks" on these links - allegedly made by the user - send requests to the gateways of some cellular companies. If the operator "recognizes" the user as his client, he subscribes, according to the request, and sends the content provider information about the success of this operation (along with subsequent commission fees).
Mobile subscriptions "hide" behind the microfont
“If a partner uses a link or API button for other than the stated purposes, he can embed it anywhere,” notes the company's analyst Doctor Web Pavel Shalin. - Such fraud does not depend on operating system or other device settings, it is enough to use the Internet via cellular connection.
From this we can conclude that only an IP address and a timestamp are required (that is, even javascript in the browser is not needed, the request to the operator is completely formed by the website engine).
But there is also a positive side to this! It is likely that when using a proxy server, the partner site will not be able to do anything, since, obviously, the proxy IP address will not be in the list of active mobile connections at the operators. Another thing is that for a fast proxy, which also supports SSL, you will have to pay money.
Let's get back to the mobile Ostap Benders. They often disguise the subscribe button as a play button in a media player or advertising banner. And Federal Law No. 229-FZ, requiring the cost of additional services before their activation, they perform "for show" - reporting the fact of subscription in microfont at the bottom of the page.
Of course, no one thinks about a microfont when they want to get access to the coveted music or clips. By the way, owners of USB modems should also be aware of this danger, who usually do not expect that actions on the screen desktop computer Can cancel your cell account. After all, a web page can be optimized for a regular monitor!
How to disable paid subscriptions on cellular?
“The most effective protection option is to disable subscriptions using the USSD command or in the subscriber's Personal Account,” said Pavel Shalin in an interview with TechnoDrive. - It is also worth noting that from the point of view of combating fraud, such "automatic subscription" links are no different from any other fraudulent sites and links, so our analysts constantly replenish their databases of deprecated sites. And then comes into play cloud service checking links before moving, built-in antivirus Dr. Web for Android- and the transition to such a link is blocked.
notice, that this approach works only if the malicious domain or hyperlink has already been blacklisted by the antivirus company. In addition, for iOS, the corresponding product from Dr. There is no Web, but for "apple" gadgets there is Kaspersky Safe Browser.
You can disable all paid services and subscriptions with a special command
Returning to operators, we note that the nuances of blocking paid mailings vary from company to company. For example, "Megaphone" offers the “Content Account” service, from which mobile subscriptions and other entertainment will be paid. If the content account is zero, this is similar to blocking "premium content". In addition, the operator recommends regularly checking the list of activated subscriptions using the USSD command *505#.
Important! Without any content account, with a special command USTBAN1 to number 5051, you can prohibit mobile subscriptions from MegaFon partners for a period of 3 months. It is noteworthy that the operator himself reminds the subscriber when these 3 months end, or rather, indicates in advance that the blocking can again be extended free of charge.
A similar content account is offered to subscribers and Beeline, refused to directly block paid subscriptions back in 2014.
Quote: “You can connect an additional balance to pay for infotainment services of Providers using short numbers. In the absence of funds for additional balance service cannot be connected. Connect an additional account through the Personal Account or by calling 07226 (free of charge).
In other words, if you do not connect an additional account on Beeline, then nothing will be debited.
And here is the company MTS, for example, to unsubscribe from mailing lists, it offers the USSD command *111*919# (you need to select the "Unsubscribe from all mailing lists" item).
And when requesting MTS technical support, we were told, we quote, that in order to prohibit sending and receiving paid SMS / MMS from short numbers, as well as calls to paid short numbers, must be connected free service Content Ban.
A pleasant exception in this list is the virtual operator Yota, which states that it doesn't work at all with paid internet subscriptions. This was announced by the moderator of the official group "Iota" V social network VKontakte, responding to a request from TechnoDrive. According to him, now the company does not work with content providers at all - "so paid subscriptions will not bother you."
From company " Tele 2» Technodrive received the following information: «In order to avoid writing off funds for content, we recommend that you activate the "Content personal account" service. The service is connected free of charge and has no subscription fee. When this service is activated, a separate account is allocated to pay for various content, to which you need to specifically replenish the balance. In other words, if the "Content personal account" is zero, then payment for the content will not be made. You can apply for opening a content personal account at Tele2 customer service centers. Also, "Content personal account" can be connected using *160# combination.
UPD: Fresh information on how to disable paid subscriptions for Tele2: viewing all issued paid services: *153#, entertainment content: *189#.
Cancellation of "random" subscriptions on the Internet: *931#, disable sim-menu (entertainment content): *152*8#
Theoretically, any hacked site can issue a paid subscription
However, in addition to a separate content account (with a zero balance, of course), USSD content blocking - and reliable antivirus and/or a special browser - TechnoDrive experts recommend paying close attention to the sites you visit.
On the other hand, even the most respected site can be hacked - and then you can pick up anything from it. There were examples! Even highly-rated online publications were hacked, and writing about innovations: ((
Important: Remember to check your Personal Area(or at least keep track of the score)! This is boring, but very profitable if, for example, a “left” subscription for 30 rubles a day is “added” to you!
UPD: Don't miss the latest TechnoDrive post titled « »
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How to turn off mobile subscriptions on numbers Russian operators, devoted to a whole site. Therefore, now I would like to talk about how to set a ban on mobile subscriptions and thus protect yourself and your wallet from unnecessary spending. But before we move on to the most important thing, namely, how to block subscriptions on Megafon, Beeline, Tele2 or MTS, let me say a few words about what mobile subscriptions are and where they come from.
What are mobile subscriptions?
Mobile Subscriptions is an infotainment service provided by telecom operators or their partners (content providers).
The essence of the service- in providing the subscriber with access to the content of interest to him for a set fee. Therefore, mobile subscriptions are also called content subscriptions. The content is most often information (exchange rates, weather forecast), various multimedia files (video, music, ringtones, e-books etc.), as well as services (for example, a dating service).
How is the subscription connected?
It is well known that no service can be provided to a subscriber without his consent. But when it comes to mobile subscriptions, this rule is not always followed. Thus, there are three possible ways to connect mobile subscriptions:
- The subscriber himself activated the subscription.
That is, voluntarily connected the service. For example, I chose a subscription through an online catalog or SIM menu; dialed a command on the phone, sent an SMS or called the number indicated in the advertisement. - The subscription is connected at the initiative of the operator.
From the "bounties" of their own, operators like to add to favorable rates a couple of additional paid services. The first time the service is provided free of charge (usually within 2 weeks). Of course, then unnecessary options can be disabled. But if the subscriber suddenly forgets to do this, the service will be considered extended and will be provided for a fee. - The subscriber activated the subscription by accident.
As a rule, the accidental connection of a mobile subscription occurs while surfing the Internet. There are many fraudulent sites on the Internet, where the user is tricked into giving his phone number in order to subsequently activate the subscription. It is also possible to connect a content subscription in one click - when the user clicks on some seemingly innocent link.
So, we found out how subscriptions are connected, now it's time to find out how to protect yourself from them and set a ban on mobile subscriptions to MTS, Beeline, Megafon and Tele2.
How to block subscriptions?
Blocking mobile subscriptions in any of the ways mentioned below does not cancel existing active subscriptions. Therefore, before setting a ban on the connection of content services, check the availability of connected subscriptions and refuse them. If you do not know how to do this, then here is a list of articles that will help you:
You can block the ability to connect subscriptions (regardless of your telecom operator) in two ways - create a separate account for paying for content services or prohibit calls and sending SMS to short paid numbers from your phone. Each of these methods has its positive and negative sides, so let's look at each of the options in more detail.
- Creating a separate account for paying for content services.
The federal law "On Communications" obliges mobile operators create separate personal accounts to pay for the services of content providers. Is it true, cellular companies are free to do so only at the request of the subscriber. Here is a verbatim quote:Article 44, paragraph 5.
If the telecom operator engages other persons in the provision of content services, with the exception of communication services provided through a single portal of state and municipal services, the telecom operator, based on the subscriber's request, is obliged to create a separate personal account intended only for paying for these communication services within the funds available on the specified account.Thus, any subscriber can apply to the operator's office and write an application for opening a content account. After creating such an account, the operator is not entitled to deduct money for content services from the subscriber's main account. Therefore, in order to exclude any possibility of accidentally connecting a mobile subscription, it is enough to keep the balance of the content account at zero - the service cannot be connected if there are not enough funds to pay for it.
Pros:
- 100% protection against accidental connection of mobile subscriptions with a zero account balance.Minuses:
- To open an account, you must personally come to the operator's office.And here Tele2 subscribers can open a content account without leaving home! All you need to do is dial the USSD command ✶ 160 # on your phone. After sending the request, the operator will create an additional account for the subscriber, the funds from which will be spent only to pay for the services of content providers.
- Block the function of sending SMS and calls to short numbers.
True, only Megafon and MTS subscribers will be able to block subscriptions to content in this way. We are talking about the services "Stop Content" (on Megafon) and (on MTS). But on Beeline and Tele2 similar services not provided."Stop content" and "Content ban" set a ban on calls, sending SMS and USSD commands for paid short numbers. At the same time, their action does not apply to numbers belonging to the operator itself, as well as free numbers various services (for example, Sberbank number 900 or numbers starting with "8-800").
Pros:
- You can connect without leaving your home by dialing a special combination on your phone.
— The service does not apply to useful service numbers.Minuses:
— The service is valid only in the home region. Therefore, if the subscriber is traveling in Russia or abroad, there is a possibility of accidentally activating a mobile subscription.
Activate the "Content Ban" service on MTS and you can block the ability to connect mobile subscriptions with a simple USSD command ✶ 984 # or by calling the MTS contact center 0890. In the future, the service can also be disabled by the command ✶ 985 # .
Activate "Stop Content" on Megaphone you can use the command ✶ 105 ✶ 801 # or in the "Personal Account" ( lk.megafon.ru). If necessary, you can refuse the "Stop Content" option using the USSD combination ✶ 526 ✶ 0 # or with the help of a Megafon contact center specialist by phone 8-800-550-05-00.
At the end of November 2016, Russian subscribers of the largest mobile operators again began to complain about paid services and subscriptions that are connected by mistake, but cost the user a few extra rubles a day. The editors of the site figured out how to disable unnecessary services and prevent them from reconnecting.
Russian subscribers of mobile operators regularly pay attention to subscriptions and paid services that appear, for example, after visiting certain sites that impose such services.
In November 2016 Georgy Lobushkin, director of strategic communications at Mail.Ru Group told on his Facebook page that he discovered that his grandmother, who uses the services of Beeline, had extra subscriptions that cost her 6 rubles a day or 180 rubles a month. In the support chat, he was told that similar services are connected by the "click method on the Internet".
A few days later, Ivan Kalyuzhny, head of social media at Alfa-Bank, shared a similar story - he discovered his mother, an MTS subscriber, has several subscriptions totaling 27 rubles a day or more than 800 rubles a month.
In 2015, the founder of Liveinternet German Klimenko, who now holds the post of presidential adviser on the Internet, spoke about a similar situation. He explained that he used the services of MegaFon and complained about one of the news sites that redirects users to a page with a video. To view it, the subscriber unconsciously connects a subscription to himself - the terms of use are indicated in an unreadable font in the corner of the screen.
After the publication on the site, the operator’s representatives reported that they had recorded “the fact of unfair attraction of subscribers to the subscription”, fined the content partner who is engaged in connecting such subscriptions, and also returned the money to all subscribers and disconnected the existing subscriptions.
The editors of the site publish instructions for subscribers of the four largest Russian operators on how to calculate and disable unnecessary subscriptions and prevent their occurrence in the future.
"Megaphone"
How to detect and disable connected subscriptions
After connecting a paid subscription or service, the subscriber receives an SMS with information, which also contains a command that helps to refuse the service.
To view the connected paid services and subscriptions, you must enter your personal account on the site.
In addition, the personal account is also available in the mobile application.
If a user discovers that they accidentally subscribed to a service, they should call the support service at 8-800-550-05-00 and leave a complaint. The operator after such requests can return the money.
Subscribers of "MegaFon" in any salon of the operator can connect a perpetual content account for free. To do this, you need to have a passport with you. The operator also connects a ban on subscriptions to subscribers who have issued bank card"Megafon", tied to the main account.
Such an account can also be connected through the contact center by phone, but only for three months.
And in the mobile app.
If a user discovers that they accidentally signed up for a service, they should call the support service at 611 and leave a complaint. The operator after such requests can return the money.
How to protect yourself from connecting subscriptions in the future
To control costs, the subscriber can connect a separate personal account from which content costs will be debited.
You can apply for opening a content personal account at Tele2 customer service centers. For this operation, the owner of the SIM card must have a passport with him.
The operator's website contains commands for replenishing and checking an additional account.
It can happen to anyone - you think that you have one amount on your phone, but there is much less money in your account than you expected. Sometimes the balance of the phone tends to zero due to paid subscriptions that you once connected yourself, but then forgot about it. And sometimes you may not even know about the connected subscription - just go to some paid or fraudulent site and send an SMS to the number indicated on this site.
By law, operators simply do not have the right to restrict subscribers in choosing certain subscriptions, but we have prepared simple and helpful tips for subscribers of the North-Western branch of MegaFon on how to avoid unnecessary expenses:
1. Stand first check for connected subscriptions And if so, turn them off. To do this, dial the free command on your phone *505# and press the call key. In the return SMS you will receive information about active subscriptions and their cost, as well as how to unsubscribe from them.
2. If you want to connect any subscription via SMS, but are afraid for your wallet, take a free service as an assistant "Mobile price": send a message with the text "$" to the short SMS number you want to know about. Please note that SMS with the text "$" to all short numbers are not charged only on the territory of the North-Western Branch. If you are in roaming, then you will have to pay for such SMS according to the tariffs of the roaming operator.
3. Are you activating the service using a USSD request, but doubting its real cost? Then before connecting sendUSSD-request in this form: *107*SHORT NUMBER#, where instead of the words "SHORT NUMBER", of course, you must enter the number of the service you are going to connect. In response, you will receive a message about its price. The cost of a USSD request with the text "$" to any short numbers is also equal to zero, but only if you are in the territory of the NWF. Outside the branch you will find the corresponding roaming tariff.
4. Before connecting many paid services, you can check their real cost using free service Adviceofcharge. For example, you send an SMS to some paid number. Before debiting money from your account, the operator will automatically send you a message indicating the cost of paid content and ask you to confirm that you really want to use these services. Adviceofcharge does not apply in all cases, but only when you want to order a service provided by a third-party organization - the services of the telecom operator itself, as a rule, do not require additional verification.
5. If you want to control your expenses by 100% and be sure that money will not leak from you to scammers, create a free Content account. In this case, everything paid services third-party companies - mobile subscriptions to reference and entertainment services - will be paid only from this account, and it is impossible to go into negative territory on it (if there are not enough funds on the Content account, the paid subscription will simply not be connected). At the same time, you can still pay for the services provided by MegaFon itself using the main Personal Account.
To create a Content account, just send the USSD command *393*4*1# and press the call key. And here are a few useful commands to use this account: balance check - *393*1#, transfer of funds between accounts - *393*2#, information about the number of the Content account (so that it can be replenished) - *393*3#.
We hope that our tips will help you use only high-quality content and avoid unnecessary expenses!