STIR/SHAKEN: Implementation of a Robust Authentication Mechanism for Securing Public Health Communications

In a context where the security of public health communications is becoming crucial, this research presents an innovative implementation of the STIR/SHAKEN protocol to fight against the proliferation of fraudulent calls and medical misinformation. Faced with alarming statistics revealing about 20 billion spam calls in the first half of 2024, our study proposes a robust authentication solution based on an Asterisk architecture adapted to the medical sector. The adopted methodology is based on a rigorous digital certification process, allowing for the systematic verification of the authenticity of SIP calls. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the system, particularly through the distinction between authenticated (number 1001) and non-compliant (number 1024) calls, with systematic blocking of suspicious communications. Our approach stands out from existing solutions due to its specific adaptation to the challenges of public health and its ability to effectively protect sensitive medical communications. This contribution provides a concrete response to the security challenges of health communications, while paving the way for future improvements incorporating emerging technologies for even more robust protection of digital health systems.