LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Airtel Malawi Plc, a leading provider of mobile telecommunications services in
Malawi on Monday, May 20, 2024 unveiled the removal of the One Time Password (OTP) on their flagship “MyAirtel” Mobile App and introduced two innovative security measures that have been integrated into the app.
Airtel Malawi Managing Director, Charles Kamoto revealed the news during the meeting with the Parliamentary Committee on Media, Information and Communications Technology when addressing concerns regarding fraud last week.
“We have now removed the One Time Password (OTP) and introduced an SMS verification feature which
will send a free auto-generated message to the user’s mobile number to authenticate ownership before
logging into the app, thereby adding an extra layer of security. We have also introduced biometric facial
or fingerprint recognition which will be prompted for customers with phones of this capability,” stated
Kamoto.
“We are proud to be the first network to introduce these security enhancements in Malawi. This
technology ensures that only authorized users can access the app, effectively preventing unauthorized
attempts and access from fraudsters,” he further added.
Kamoto emphasized that these features address the rising fraud incidents associated with customers
releasing One-Time Passwords (OTPs) to fraudsters, providing a more secure solution where potential
victims are not targeted for the OTP.
“The enhanced security on the mobile app coincides with the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority’s (MACRA’s) recent announcement of phasing out of physical scratch cards in favour of digital recharges in the market, ” adds Kamoto.
My Airtel App is available for download on both Google Play Store and Apple/iOS App store.