Smishing, a blend of the words “SMS” and “phishing,” is a deceptive technique where fraudsters use SMS text messaging to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information or performing malicious actions.
Smishing messages often appear to be legitimate and may contain enticing offers, urgent requests, or alarming notifications, leading the recipient to unwittingly disclose personal data or download harmful content.
When it comes to digital threats, it’s essential to stay one step ahead. Enter the dynamic duo of cybersecurity: smishing and phishing.
Think of smishing as the younger sibling of phishing. While phishing includes broader fraud tactics, like sending deceptive emails and fake phone calls, smishing occurs via text messages.
Both tactics can lead to devastating consequences, from identity theft to financial loss. But by staying vigilant and arming yourself with knowledge, you can confidently protect yourself and your organization from these bad actors.
Fraudsters can impersonate organizations, like your bank, online retailer, delivery services, or government agencies, to gain trust and manipulate you into offering up confidential information. These texts often mimic the branding and communication style, and upon first glance, may pass as authentic brand communications.
Smishing messages may leverage creating an emotional response, or a sense of urgency or fear, to prompt immediate action. Whether a smishing text threatens account suspension or includes an enticing limited-time offer, generating urgency & fear tries to elicit a hasty response to avoid getting recognized.
Smishing messages can include malicious links or attachments designed to infect recipients with malware, or direct victims to phishing websites that harvest your sensitive data. Clicking on links or downloading files from bad actors can expose you and your organization to significant privacy risks—which is why you should never open a file from someone you don’t know!
Now that we’ve demystified smishing, let’s explore some proactive measures to protect yourself and your organization:
Stay informed about common smishing techniques, warning signs, and best practices for safe behavior. Make sure your employees are regularly educated about potential risks and promote a cybersecurity-conscious workforce.
Exercise caution when receiving unsolicited text messages, especially those from unknown senders or suspicious sources. Scrutinize text messages for signs of irregular grammar, spelling errors, or requests for personal information. If something feels off, trust your instincts and proceed with caution.
If you receive a text message that seems urgent or suspicious, don’t rush to click the link or take action. Instead, verify the information by directly contacting the “sending” organization through verified contact channels. Don’t text the potential smishing number back.
Implement robust security measures like keeping your devices and software fully updated, use reliable antivirus tools, and use threat detection solutions to identify and block smishing attempts.
If you get a fishy text on work channels, report it to your organization’s IT department and your carrier. Sharing this with colleagues raises awareness, flags current scams, and helps your entire organization protect itself from smishing attacks.
The information provided in this glossary definition does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice, nor does it necessarily represent Bandwidth's products or business practices. This page is for general informational purposes only.
