SMS phishing is where an SMS (Instant Message) is received to a cell phone pretending to be something/someone that they are not. The unsuspecting cell phone user will respond to a fake SMS whereupon they visit a URL, malware is inadvertently downloaded and a Trojan installed on the cellphone without the user knowing. Phishing is all about extracting useful information so in the case of SMiShing, the Trojan harvests the data areas of the cellphone and transmits them at the earliest opportunity to the person who created the Trojan. SMS phishing is also known as SMiShing.
SMS phishing attempts occur when cell phone users find themselves to be recipients of messages thanking them for a purchases they never made. In order to terminate the bogus purchase, and avoid a monthly or daily fee, consumers are directed to a phishing website. Unknowing consumers go directly to the website, allowing hackers to access personal cell phone information. SMS phishing is becoming increasingly prevalent on social website networks such as Facebook.SMS Phishing is a way to perform an identity theft as the malware inadvertently downloaded will send out all the information found on the cellphone. This might include stored credit card details, names & addresses and maybe other data stored on the phone such as password details of email accounts which themselves once opened may make online bank and other accounts vulnerable.The malware can then cover its tracks by wiping the phone clean, including all call records, and causing it to repeatedly reboot or other similar odd behavior that renders the phone unusable making the original phishing attack go by unnoticed.Viruses and phishing scams are far reaching to all types of digital devices. Wise consumers will choose their products according to available product security software and data recovery technologies.
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