Smishing in Cyber Security is the Newest Scam! Here’s What to do to Identify & Protect Yourself
By Ankita Tripathy
04 November, 2024
Job & Career
Have you received an SMS advising you to download some file or software or click some link?
Be alert and keep your senses open. You can be the next victim of Smishing. On breaking the term, you get SMS and Phishing.
Yes, it is a phishing attack through SMS. The entire world is slowly entering into the grip of such malicious intent. These states will tell you better:
- According to a smishing report, around 75% of organizations faced smishing attacks in 2023.
- In 2021, smishing attacks expanded by over 700%
- Only 23% of users know about Smishing and what it possesses.
These data testify that Smishing evolves as a grave concern for individuals working independently and organizations.
Are you a digital nomad deeply concerned about these attacks? A few minutes invested in reading the article can do wonders for you.
This article discusses what is Smishing in cyber security. It also sheds light on their identification and protection mechanisms.
What is Smishing in Cyber security?
So, what is Smishing in cyber security?
As per definition, Smishing, as a term, combines SMS (short message services or texting) and phishing.
It is a form of social engineering that malicious elements may use to trick an individual into revealing pirated information. However, the attack is executed with the help of text messages.
Also, in many cases, the perpetrator poses as an authorized person who may ask you for sensitive information.
Also, they may approach you as government officials, tech support staff, workers in a bank, or other financial institutions.
This way, they establish a sense of trust to divulge highly sensitive data and make people victims.
Yes, smishing attacks have become quite common nowadays. However, let’s dive deeper into the concept to gain insights.
How Does it Work?
Knowing the process or mechanism is one of the key elements in topics like: what is Smishing in cyber security?
In this section, we will understand the mechanism of SMS phishing. Most smishing attacks work like email phishing.
Here, psychological tactics collude with technological manipulation to do the trick of deceiving the victim.
The following steps outline a general process of Smishing.
1. Target Selection
Cybercriminals select their targets. The selection can be random using a list of phone numbers and specific individual targets based on obtained data. They have actually procured them from previous breaches and other sources.
2. Creating the Message
The attackers prepare deceptive text messages. It invokes specific emotions or reactions like fear or curiosity. The message is dipped with the mischief of a call to action.
3. Message Delivery
The attackers use spoofing tools and SMS gateways to send smishing messages to the selected targets.
4. Interaction
Upon receiving the messages, the malicious elements prompt the victims to act. This could be clicking on a link, replying with personal information, and calling one specified phone number.
5. Data Collection or Malware Development
Several outcomes can take place if you become a victim. They might unknowingly download malicious software onto their device.
6. Using Stolen Information
With the extracted information, the attackers can use it for harmful purposes like selling the data in the black market.
This is the reason you must have the protection measure (we will discuss it later), just as a cyber security auditor protects the network in offices against cyber attacks.
Types of Smishing Attacks
We told you that we would be identifying the different types of Smishing attacks; we are doing it here. This is, without doubt, one of the inalienable aspects of the title, “What is smishing in cyber security?” If you like working independently, you must know about the different types of phishing attacks. So, let’s get started.
Prize And Lottery Scams
The attackers inform you that you have won prizes in sweepstakes and lottery. To claim your prize money, you have to pay a small fee.
Moreover, they would ask you to click on the malicious link. However, their ultimate objective is to steal sensitive information or money.
Account Verification Scam
Here, the victim receives a text message where the cheaters claim to be a representative of a reputed company like a Bank or shipping carrier.
The messages warn users about unauthorized activities and ask them to verify the details of their accounts and click a link. When the user clicks the link, these online dacoits steal valuable information.
While you are traveling a lot all the time, you may not be aware of and read these SMS minutely and understand the pattern.
Just like professionals in an organization engage in cyber security monitoring, you have to be highly aware of these attacks.
Other than these, some other types of smishing attacks include tech support scams, tax scams, service cancellations, and malicious app download scams.
Smishing Examples: What Can It Look Like?
Carrying out our discussion, we would like to give you some instances to help you identify smishing scams.
Early Access Apple iPhone 12 Scam- Confirming order and gift Smishing
In September 2020, a smishing campaign put bait before people. Anyone who provides credit card information will get a free iPhone 12.
The scheme uses order confirmation premises where text message claims a package delivery was sent to incorrect addresses.
The in-text URL sent the target to a phishing tool that poses as an Apple Chatbot. The tool usually urges the victim through a process to claim a fee for the iPhone 12 as a part of an early access trial program.
But in this instance, an individual is asked for credit card info to cover petting shipping fees.
Bank Scams And Personal Delivery Scams
You will get SMSs from the so-called Bank saying:
“Dear Customer, we have found unusual activity on your phone account. Please click the link to verify your transactions (the link has to be malicious).
Apart from bank scams, you will also have malicious elements trying to scam you as a Delivery company.”
“Hello, this is (name of courier service). We have attempted to deliver your package today. But unfortunately, it has failed. Please schedule your redelivery in this link.”
Finally, they wait for your one mistake.
Smishing Vs Phishing: Know the Difference
Fishing is the most common cyber security issue for most individuals. But Smishing is a little idea.
Even you may find people becoming more aware and trying to seek information like what is vishing in cyber security. What is the difference between Smishing and vishing? We are drawing a comparison between smishing scams and phishing attacks.
Phishing is a broad term for cyberattack, which uses social engineering to trick the victim into paying ransom money.
Here, the malicious elements trigger an individual to hand over sensitive information and download malware.
Vishing and Phishing are two forms of cybersecurity attacks that hackers can use on the victims.
The main difference between the different forms and types of phishing attacks is the medium used to carry out the attacks.
However, in Smishing, the hackers attack their victims using text SMS or text messages.
Another form of cybercrime that you need to be aware of is vishing. It involves using phones and voice messages to trick people.
Here the malicious individual asks to share personal or sensitive data like bank account, credit card details, and OTP.
Can You Prevent Smishing? What do Experts Say
There is nothing more effective than drawing awareness of phishing and smishing scams. Besides knowing what a smishing scam is, you must also gather awareness in terms like Smishing and vishing.
Especially for those who travel and work alone, knowing about the nitty-gritty of phishing is mandatory to keep yourself safe and secure.
Different individuals and most organizations must ensure that all the employees and executives are well aware of the issues. Here are some of the things you can do to prevent smishing attacks.
1. Refrain from clicking on the links embedded inside the text message.
2. Check the number that sends a message skiing for information. If it looks questionable, it can be a possible smishing attack.
3. Do not keep your banking or credit card information on your phone.
4. Anything that pushes and triggers you to act quickly, do not pay heed to these attempts of FOMO. You have to resist them.
5. If you cannot understand who is texting you, it is better not to reply to this message or click anything inside it.
6. You must report smishing attempts to the Federal Communications Commission to help you in such a situation.
7. Finally, you must refrain from requests to change or update account information via text message.
Been a Smishing Victim? Here’s What You Should Do Next!
By this time, you have understood what smishing attacks are and how they wreak havoc.
However, to ward off such attacks, you need to take refuge in a combination of technological, organizational, and individual actions to make things happen for you.
First is SMS filtering.
Many smartphones and carriers provide SMS filtering options that help identify and block suspicious texts.
You can also use Multifactor Authentication MFA. It acts as an additional protective layer. Finally, you can make use of different anti-phishing tools.
Some security applications for mobile devices can help you pinpoint phishing links in text messages. These tools can prevent users from accessing malicious sites.
Hence, you need to ensure that you are well aware and prepared to escape such malicious attacks.
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