Smishing is a form of phishing that uses mobile phones as the attack platform. It is a social engineering attack that relies on exploiting human trust rather than technical exploits. Smishing attacks use short message service or SMS, more commonly known as text messages, to deceive victims into giving sensitive information to a disguised attacker. The term "smishing" combines "SMS" (short message services, better known as texting) and "phishing". Smishing can be assisted by malware or fraud websites and can occur on many mobile text messaging platforms, including non-SMS channels like data-based mobile messaging apps.
Smishing attacks often involve sending bogus text messages that appear to come from a legitimate source, such as a bank or a social media site. The messages usually have a sense of urgency and request the recipient to click on a link or reply with personal information. Once the victim clicks on the link, they may be directed to a spoofed webpage that looks like a legitimate website, where they are asked to enter their personal information.
To defend against smishing, it is important to be cautious of any unsolicited text messages, especially those that request personal information or contain suspicious links. It is also recommended to verify the authenticity of the message by contacting the organization directly through a trusted phone number or website.
