Today, your phone is more than just a communication device—it's a gateway to insights into your personal world. Unfortunately, it's also a target for cybercriminals. One of the sneakiest tactics they use to infiltrate your life is through phishing links sent via text messages, also known as smishing (SMS phishing or Single Message Service phishing). Clicking on these links can lead to serious privacy breaches, malware downloads, and even identity theft.
Here’s why you should never click on links from unknown numbers and why you should always verify links from what appear to be familiar sources:
1. Cybercriminals Are Crafty
Even if a message looks like it's from your bank, favorite online store, government agency, or a well-known service, it could be a carefully designed scam. Criminals mimic legitimate businesses with incredible accuracy, so taking extra steps before clicking is crucial. Check out the image example below…that is from a text message received today!
2. One Click Could Compromise Everything
A single tap on a suspicious link could allow malware to infiltrate your phone, accessing your contacts, messages, passwords, and even banking apps. Once compromised, recovering your digital life can be an excruciating task. Any message that asks you to reply Y to a text message and then copy a link is a SERIOUS RED FLAG!
3. Verification Is Key
Before clicking, better yet, DO NOT CLICK! Take a moment to verify the source. If it’s from a company or a person you recognize, contact them directly using their official website or known contact number. If it is, in fact, urgent or important, they’ll have no issue confirming the message. In the image example above, you can see that if you click details…that text message is NOT from USPS (the post office) but from an email text from a Russian domain (.ru). You can always verify a domain's origin by visiting the Internet Country Domains List.
4. Know the Red Flags
Messages with urgent language like “Your account is locked!” or “Act now to avoid charges!” or “Your Package is delayed” are common phishing tactics. They pressure you to act quickly, bypassing your usual caution. Pause, verify, and never rush into clicking. Think before you click.
5. Enable Security Features
Most phones have built-in tools to help identify spam and phishing attempts. Ensure your device has up-to-date security settings, and consider using a reputable security app to safeguard your data further.
Update Your Phone Settings:
For iPhone: There are several privacy settings from Apple Support to Block, Filter, and Report Messages on the iPhone. For example, if you have an iPhone, you can block a number by going into Settings > Phones > Silence Unknown Callers.
You can also “delete and report spam” when deleting text messages.
For Android phones: If you have an Android device, Google says you can block a number by following these simple steps:
Open your Phone app.
Tap More. Call history.
Tap a call from the number you want to block.
Tap Block/report spam.
The digital landscape is constantly changing, and being vigilant about the links you click can be the difference between safeguarding your privacy or falling prey to malicious schemes. Always verify, and when in doubt, don’t click!
Again, when in doubt, don’t click!
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