Smishing: an insidious cyberthreat

Smishing is the fusion of the terms "SMS" and "phishing", a method of digital fraud in which fraudulent text messages are used to deceive users. Disguised as official communications, these messages often come from a supposedly reliable source - a bank, a public service - seeking to obtain personal or financial information, or incite actions compromising digital security. This type of cybercrime is growing in scale with the increasing popularity of smartphones, so it's essential to understand how it works, its objectives, and how to prevent it.

Understanding smishing: what is it?

Smishing is a variant of phishing scams, but the messages are sent by SMS instead of e-mail. They usually evoke a sense of urgency or an enticing promise: bank alerts mentioning suspicious activity that prompt you to click on a link to secure your account; messages promising lottery prizes or refunds; notifications of undelivered packages with a link to arrange a new delivery; messages appearing to come from an administration asking you to follow a link to verify your personal information. These links often redirect to a copy of a legitimate site with the aim of harvesting the user's login details, passwords and financial data.

The reality of smishing: increasingly sophisticated techniques

Cyber attackers are adapting their methods to make smishing more credible. They incorporate technologies such as caller ID spoofing and e-mail address spoofing, making their messages difficult to detect. For example, caller ID spoofing enables them to send SMS messages using a number that resembles that of an institution, such as a bank, to reinforce the illusion of a legitimate message. Shortened links are often used to disguise the real destination, encouraging users to click without suspecting any fraudulent activity. Some smishing messages also contain personalized information, such as the victim's name, to appear more credible. These techniques make the messages highly persuasive, and victims often feel a sense of urgency to respond, for fear of losing money or taking a risk.

The consequences of smishing: what kind of threat does it pose?

The impacts of smishing can be varied and significant, for both individuals and businesses. Common risks include

• Theft of personal and financial data: information obtained from fake links enables cybercriminals to steal personal and banking identifiers.
• Account hacking: with sensitive information in hand, fraudsters can gain direct access to bank or personal accounts, and cause financial losses.
• Malware distribution: some smishing links download malware directly onto the user's phone, further exposing the information stored on the device.
• Identity theft: with the stolen data, fraudsters can easily assume the victim's identity to commit other offenses, such as taking out loans or opening accounts in their name.

Identifying smishing: warning signs of SMS fraud

To spot a smishing SMS, here are the most common warning signs:

• Urgency: most smishing messages create a sense of urgency (e.g. "immediate action required").
• Offers too good to be true: scams often present tempting rewards, discounts or prizes, with a link to redeem them.
• Requesting sensitive information: messages asking for personal information, such as account numbers or passwords, are almost always suspect.
• Unusual numbers or links: Unusual numbers or links to unknown sites are important indicators.

How can I protect myself against smishing?

Protection against smishing is based on vigilance, with a few simple, practical steps:

• Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited SMS messages: if in doubt, contact the institution that is supposed to have sent the message directly.
• Never share sensitive data by SMS: financial institutions and government agencies never ask for sensitive information by SMS.
• Use security tools: some operators and smartphones offer anti-spam filters to detect and block fraudulent SMS messages.
• Check suspicious messages with the source: if in doubt, call the institution's customer service department to confirm the authenticity of the message.
• Inform those around you: sharing knowledge about smishing with those close to you can help reduce the effectiveness of cyber attacks.

The role of institutions and telecom providers in the fight against smishing

Institutions and telecoms providers play a key role in the fight against smishing by implementing protective measures for users. For example:

• Awareness campaigns: some banks and companies regularly remind customers of the risks associated with smishing.
• Reporting fraudulent numbers: many operators allow you to report fraudulent numbers to prevent future attacks.
• Development of filtering technologies: spam filters and artificial intelligence algorithms are constantly being improved to detect suspicious messages and block them automatically.

Today, with the surge in smartphone use, smishing has become a major threat worldwide. Deceptive techniques are continually evolving, making vigilance and user education more crucial than ever. By staying informed about smishing tactics and best practices, users can not only protect themselves, but also help reduce the impact of this cyber threat.

Example of a fraudulent SMS