Avoid a ‘smishing’ attack
Smishing is a form of phishing in which an attacker uses a text message to trick a recipient into clicking a link and sending private information or downloading malicious programs to a smartphone.
A common smishing attack may reference tracking a package or issues with an online account. Attackers use this type of message because it appeals to so many people.
To avoid a smishing attack:
- Opt out of receiving marketing texts.
- Do not click on links as they may point to a site hosting malware or a phony authentication page.
- Do not provide private information.
- When in doubt, verify texts such as package deliveries and online orders through a known website, not the link in the text.
- Be generally wary of unsolicited text messages.
- Block the sender or simply ignore the text.