While you may be aware of the email and fraudulent website phishing scams that occur, there is another way criminals work to deceive people and gain sensitive information. This method is called smishing, which is a combination of SMS text messages and phishing.
As your top choice for cybersecurity services in Pittsburgh, CMIT Solutions has provided some insight and tips on smishing and how you can keep your data safe.
How Smishing Works
Phishing scams are used to trick people into providing personal information such as financial information. SMS, “short message service” is a form of text messaging that comes with paid cell phone service, with a limited maximum number of characters allowed per message sent.
When the two are combined, they become smishing, where criminals initiate a phishing scam via SMS messages. This type of scam can be presented in a wide range of formats where scammers pose as long-lost friends, tech support representatives, financial institutions, or government workers.
A Smishing message can contain suspicious links that lead to websites that:
- Steal your information
- Steal your phone numbers
- Provide the option to download an app similar to malware which can collect personal information
With this information, the criminal can open lines of credit, credit cards, and commit a variety of identity theft crimes in your name and can also gain access to your online banking accounts if you’ve given up this information.
Ways You Can Protect Yourself from Smishing
While it may not be possible to block all smishing messages from your phone, there are ways you can identify the scams and prevent providing your personal data to scammers. These methods include:
Ask yourself: Do you know the sender?
If you do not know the person sending the message, be sure to avoid clicking on any links or calling any numbers that are included in the message. These links could lead to malicious websites that can steal your information or convince you to download malware to your device. Another precaution you can take is to look up the correct contact information for the company or bank that is messaging you and verify if they are the ones contacting you.
Do Not Respond to the Message
If the message seems suspicious, it is crucial to ignore the message and to block the message. Even if the message states “text back STOP to stop receiving these messages” or some other version of this message, it is recommended that you don’t text back at all.
Avoid Downloading Any Applications via Text Message
In some cases, a smishing message may ask you to download an app to your mobile phone through a link they have provided. As we mentioned before, this is a tactic they may be used to steal your information via a malicious app. It is recommended that apps only be downloaded from a trusted app store.
Mobile Device Management Services Pittsburgh
Your mobile device and the devices used by your employees contain personal information such as banking information, phone numbers, company data, and more, making mobile device security a critical part of protecting your data. Pittsburgh business owners can rest assured that their mobile information is safe by utilizing CMIT Solution’s Mobile Device Management.
CMIT Solutions can evaluate your mobile management needs, implement a mobile device management plan, and keep you updated with a monthly technology review to ensure your employees has the tools to be effective in safe mobile device practices.