How Does Understanding STIR/SHAKEN Work?

Understanding STIR/SHAKEN is like having a special signature on your phone calls so people know they're real.

Imagine you get a call from a friend, but it says “Unknown Number.” You might think, Is this really my friend? Now imagine that friend has a special key that unlocks a little door on the phone. When they call, the door opens and shows their name, you know it’s them for sure!

That’s what STIR/SHAKEN does. It adds a signature to calls so your phone knows if the number is real or fake.

When someone makes a call, their phone uses a key to sign the call. This signature travels with the call all the way to your phone. Your phone checks the signature using another key, like a special lock. If it matches, you know the number is real, just like when your friend’s door opens and shows their name.

If there's no signature or it doesn’t match, your phone might show “Spam” or “Unknown Number,” helping you avoid tricky calls from strangers.