5 Things to Know About Smishing
Anyone who uses a smartphone has likely been the target of at least one smishing attack. Here are some things you should know about this serious problem with a funny name:
- What it is. Short for “SMS phishing,” smishing is an increasingly popular attack vector in which the user is deceived into downloading a virus or malware onto their mobile device. Essentially, it’s phishing for smartphones.
- It’s more effective than phishing. Why? Well, research consistently shows that in general, people are more trusting of and responsive to text messages than to email. Only 25% of emails are opened by recipients, while 82% of text messages are read within five minutes.
- COVID made the problem worse. In one brief period near the outset of the lockdown, smishing spiked 29%.
- It’s a security threat for businesses. Today, employees treat their personal devices as work tools, so personal smartphones often house sensitive corporate intellectual property. So if a smishing attack implants malware on your phone, attackers could glean all sorts of business data.
- You can be part of the solution. For starters, protect your phone with security software, and stick with approved apps. In addition, be extremely savvy about red-flag text messages. Often, smishing attacks seek to anger recipients so they will respond without thinking; for example, a smishing text might purport to be from an airline that’s canceling a flight, or a delivery service claiming your package cannot be delivered. Be especially wary of texts seeking network login information.
For more information contact Impress or schedule an assessment https://www.impresscomputers.com/aspirin/