smishing and phishing attacks

What Are Smishing and Phishing Attacks – Spot the Red Flags

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PUREVPNPrivacy & SecurityWhat Are Smishing and Phishing Attacks – Spot the Red Flags

Almost 82% of data breaches are caused by phishing attacks, with 36% delivered through SMS.

With many cyberattacks in the market in our digital life, no one outreaches the Phishing attacks.

smishing and phishing attacks

In this blog, we’ll discuss popular cyber attacks. This includes smishing and phishing attacks and how to detect and prevent them. 

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a form of cyberattack that commonly happens through email. However, it can also include different conversation channels, which include text messages and voice calls.

It aims to bait individuals into revealing sensitive information, consisting of login credentials, credit card numbers, or Social Security numbers.

Phishing attacks are often successful as they use social engineering strategies to force people into making errors. For instance, a phishing email can also appear to be from a valid corporation, like a bank or enterprise.

Phishing Type: Smishing

Smishing, short for “SMS phishing,” is a deceptive cyberattack that leverages text messages or SMS (Short Message Service) to trick individuals into exposing sensitive data or activities that compromise their security. 

Similar to email-based phishing attacks, smishing prey on the applications of text messages to manipulate victims.

How Phishing Attack Works

A common phishing attack involves several key points, each causing to misguide victims and compromising their safety:

The Attacker’s Email: Financial Transaction Alert!

The attacker sets up an email address that looks valid. This email may additionally incorporate versions or misspellings of business you are aware of, making it seem genuine.

The Deceptive Message: Click Here to Claim Your Reward!

The phishing email contains a message generated to misinform recipients. Attackers often impersonate corporations, like banks, government groups, social media systems, or popular online services.

The message is designed to create a sense of urgency, alarm, or excitement, prompting recipients to take immediate action without thinking or comparing the content material.

A Fraudulent Website: Your Password Has Expired!

Phishing emails include links that direct victims to fraudulent websites designed to imitate valid ones. These fake websites can be identical in appearance, making it difficult for sufferers to discern the difference.

The attackers use techniques to make the site look convincing, including copying emblems, format, and design factors from the actual web page.

How Smishing Attacks Work?

Smishing attackers use the same technique as phishing, but instead of email, they use SMS applications as a target to deceive you:

Impersonation: Your COVID-19 test results are in! Click for details

Smishing attackers mostly impersonate trusted entities, such as banks, authorities, corporations, or well-known manufacturers, making it seem like the message is from a valid supplier.

Urgent Messages: Your package is ready for delivery! Click to track it 

Smishing messages generally include urgent or alarming content, developing a feeling of urgency that activates sufferers to behave readily without thinking.

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How to Recognize Phishing and Smishing Attacks?

Phishing emails can be complicated to spot; however by knowing signs and following safety practices, you can easily identify potential phishing attempts:

Misspelled URLs or Domain Names

Check the URL in hyperlinks inside the email. Phishing emails and Smishing messages often comprise misspelled domains or versions of valid domains.

Hover your cursor over links (without clicking) to preview the real URL. If it does not look the same as the claimed sender, be careful.

Generic Greetings

Phishing

Phishing emails begin with usual or impersonal greetings like “Dear User” or “Hello Customer” instead of addressing you by name. Legitimate businesses commonly use your name for their communications.

Smishing 

Smishing messages frequently begin with greetings similar to phishing ones, like “Dear Customer” or “Hello User,” rather than addressing you by name. 

Unexpected Attachments

Avoid clicking email attachments or downloading documents from unknown or unexpected resources. Malicious attachments can comprise malware.

Unusual Sender Addresses

Phishing

Carefully look at the sender’s email address. Phishers can also use addresses that resemble a trustable entity, however, with mild changes or misspellings.

Smishing

Be cautious of text messages from unknown senders, specifically when they claim to be from reliable institutions like banks, authorities, companies, or popular manufacturers. If in doubt, verify the sender’s identification.

Urgent Action Required: Their famous Phrase

Phishing

Be careful of emails that create a sense of urgency or make threats. Phishing emails often claim your account is compromised, your payment failed, or your data may be deleted, so you act without delay.

Phishers use urgency to pressure you into making urgent, thoughtless decisions.

Smishing

Smishing messages often create a sense of urgency, insisting that you should make immediate decisions. They might also claim your account is compromised, a package deal is delayed, or you have gained a prize. Attackers use urgency to strain you into making hasty decisions.

Spelling and Grammar Errors

Phishing emails and Smishing messages may additionally contain spelling errors, typos, or grammatical errors like “Your Netflicks/Amazone/Apple ID needs to be reactivated”. 

Legitimate groups generally proofread their communications.

Requests for Sensitive Information

Be suspicious if an email or message asks for sensitive info like passwords, Social Security numbers, credit card information, or PINs. Legitimate entities don’t request such records via email.

Verify the Authenticity

Phishing

Before providing any response to an email, confirm its authenticity. Use legit sensitive information from the organization’s website or customer support to confirm the email’s legitimacy.

Smishing

Always verify the message’s authenticity. Contact the supposed sender through reliable channels, like their legal site or customer service, to confirm the use of sensitive information supplied in the suspicious message.

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How to Prevent Phishing Attacks

Here’s how you can avoid falling into victim to phishing attacks:

Be careful of unsolicited requests

Never provide your personal data in response to an unsolicited request. If you consider the request legitimate, contact the organization directly through their authentic website or phone number.

Use safety software program

Protect your laptop and cellular devices by using security software. Set the software program to update automatically so that you are always protected.

Use anti-phishing add-ons

Nowadays, most browsers allow you to download add-ons that spot the symptoms of a malicious site or warn you about phishing attacks. 

They are normally free, so there’s no reason not to install one on every enterprise system.

Be wary of clicking on links in emails or textual content messages, mainly if they’re from unknown or suspicious resources. Instead, immediately go to the website with a search engine.

Verify the authenticity of messages

If you get hold of a message that appears to be from a valid supply, such as a bank or a transport service, verify the message by contacting the supplier via their legitimate website or phone number.

Use unsolicited mail filters

Use email unsolicited email filters to remove phishing emails from your inbox. But scammers are increasingly trying to outsmart junk mail filters, so use extra layers of safety for protection.

How to Prevent Smishing Attacks

Learn how to prevent smishing attacks using the key points:

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

2FA provides a further layer of safety to your accounts by sending a code through a phone number, identity number, or other questions to verify the sender’s identity. 

Be Wary of Unsolicited Messages

Be careful while receiving unsolicited messages. Not only click on suspicious hyperlinks, and don’t even reply to the message. Engaging with the attacker can, in addition, compromise your safety.

Verify the Source

If you receive a message that seems to be from a legitimate source, such as a financial institution or a delivery provider, verify the message by contacting the supplier directly through their professional website or contact.

Install Security Software

Equip your mobile phone with reputable antivirus and anti-malware cybersecurity software or a VPN like PureVPN, as they can help detect and block Smishing attempts.

Report Suspected Smishing Messages

If you receive a suspicious Smishing message, record it on your mobile phone and forward it to the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) at the link or to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Best Ways to Avoid Smishing and Phishing Attacks

You can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) provider like PureVPN to protect yourself from cyber attacks like phishing and smishing. Here are a few advantages of using a VPN for phishing and smishing:

Spoof your location

A VPN can help spoof your identity, making it seem like you’re somewhere else. If you get a scam message or phishing email based on your spoofed location, it is easier to detect it as a scam.

Encrypt your data

A VPN encrypts your data with 256-bit AES encryption, making it more challenging for cyber criminals to intercept and steal your private information through phishing and smishing attacks.

Block malicious websites

A reliable VPN tool will save you from visiting phishing and smishing websites and defend you from viruses.

Protect your IP address

VPN guarantees a reliable Internet connection, making it harder for cybercriminals to discover your IP address and send fake messages or emails.

Been Phished or Smished? Here’s What to Do Next

If you’ve been attacked through a phishing or smishing attack, here’s what you can do to avoid further damage:

  • Disconnect your device from the net. This will save you from further harm to your device and information.
  • Change your passwords immediately, mainly if you have clicked on a hyperlink or provided personal info.
  • Backup your files in case your data is erased during a phishing assault. Protect sensitive records and files, as well as valuable files like family pictures and other irreplaceable content.
  • If the attack appears to be from a legitimate source, such as a financial institution or a transport provider, contact the enterprise via its professional site or smartphone number.
  • Use an anti-malware software program to scan your gadget for malware and remove any threats.
  • Adjust your email safety settings to make certain that similar messages are blocked.
  • Set up a fraud alert to your financial service to block credit cards and defend yourself from identity robbery.
author

Marrium Akhtar

date

October 12, 2024

time

3 weeks ago

Marrium is a dedicated digital Marketer and an SEO enthusiast who is skilled in cracking SEO codes. Other than work, she loves to stream, eat, and repeat.

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