CNET: Beware of SMS Phishing

An SMS message asking you to click on a link embedded inside is what maybe everyone has come across. It’s never safe to click such links as they are data privacy and safety hazards. They contain malicious links which can steal the user’s financial, private, and identity data. Dubbed smishing (SMS + phishing), they are sometimes in the form of clear click baits but they can be deceptively unsuspecting, for example, your COVID test results or shipping alerts. Message scams can be very dangerous as it’s a relatively new medium of fraud for scammers.

The frequency of smishing incidents and the consequent financial loss to the consumers has significantly increased recently. A spike has been seen in the attacks of particularly dangerous malware which can record audio/video, and track user location. Small amount of information shown in a text message, small size of a mobile phone, and the ease of masking identity make SMS a medium of choice for the modern scammer. Telecom services providers and SMS makes can do a better job by educating the public about smisihing and improving their filters.

Users can avoid falling victim to smishing by actively looking out for suspicious messages, not replying back to scam SMS, using official apps, and keeping private info. private.

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