Aussie Optus eases eavesdropping

AUSTRALIAN MOBILE phone carrier Optus is struggling with a major problem on its network. The problem is allowing customers to unintentionally eavesdrop on other people's conversations. The implications for privacy are obviously serious, and the company is struggling to get on top of the problem.

Many have called Optus to complain about the problem, but they have met with a mixed response. The popular Broadband Whirlpool forum has been inundated with users reporting similar problems.

User B3nji reported being told, after trying to explain the problem “Ben our network is fine thanks for calling Optus.” Not exactly stellar customer service.

Many have complained that Optus did not initially take their claims seriously, but Optus now claims to be working to isolate the problem. One user on the forum, Aethrunknown, reported the following conversation with Optus tech support: "The tech asked me to call her mobile number. I rang the customer care number, and was told there is insufficient credit for the call, then whammo (it) starts to ring like I have made a call, the first call is someone checking their credit balance, they hang up. My phone starts to ring someone else again, this time it is a conversation, the receiver answers with much delight and begins to talk to the person making the call. The tech chick freaks out and says ‘Wow, what a serious issue we have here, I have never seen/heard anything like this before'. They were (also) unable to log the call."

The telco is the second largest in the country. They now claim that they are investigating and working towards isolating the problem, which is in stark contrast to initial reports on the Whirlpool site. Telstra, the formerly government owned telco, will be rubbing its hands with glee. µ