FBI Warns iPhone Android Users of Smishing

FBI warns iPhone Android users: beware of smishing! Learn what smishing is and how it works here.

Preface

Recently, FBI warns iPhone Android users that they should beware of smishing. According to multiple sources on the web, the FBI has issued a warning to multiple states across the U.S. that scammers have registered tens of thousands of domains online to fuel smishing scams.

What is Smishing and How Does It Work? Why is the FBI Warns iPhone Android Users of Concern?

Smishing is phishing over SMS messages, hence the name: SM(S) + (Ph)ishing. Phishing is an attack vector where a nefarious party impersonates a fake application or website with the goal of tricking a user into believing that he or she has reached the original website.

Once the trust is gained, attackers exploit it by stealing credentials and cookies or performing other malicious tasks of interest to an attacker. The result of smishing can be devastating – depending on the app or the website in use, smishing can be used to steal credentials, online banking passwords, banking details, or identity documents or infect computers with malware. Thus, smishing is a real attack vector posing a danger to millions of people.

According to multiple sources on the web, FBI warns iPhone Android users: don’t fall victim to smishing!

How to Protect Yourself From Smishing?

You can protect yourself from smishing by being mindful of security and privacy advice:

• Be mindful of urgent alerts delivered over SMS messages: smishing often plays into the “rushing” factor, hence people receiving alerts about “suspected malicious activity on a website that they use.” The website that you use is, most likely, a phishing website.
• Be mindful of offers that are too good to be true: if something sounds fishy, it most likely is. Refuse to believe offers of monetary gain for close to no effort, claiming millions in lottery money by visiting links (these links often lead to phishing pages), and the like.
• Be mindful of impersonation attempts: if you receive an SMS, be mindful of the FBI warns iPhone Android users advice: be 200% sure that the person you’re talking to is the person you think it is. Attackers play mind games and play into your emotions – don’t fall victim to them.

Aside from these factors, protecting yourself from smishing is quite easy for those who follow basic cyber security advice. Those who follow it will know that the usage of data breach search engines in such a scenario constitutes great advice as well: not only will data breach search engines like BreachDirectory.com let you know if your data has been exposed in a data breach, but they will also keep you aware of any incidents involving your email address if you opt to subscribe to data breach notifications.

Those developing applications can also make use of the BreachDirectory API: the BreachDirectory.com API will let anyone implement the data inside of BreachDirectory into their own applications or systems to assist their use case. In other words, the BreachDirectory API will enable you to obtain information from data breaches in a JSON format after you ask for data using a link. Give the BreachDirectory API a try today and stay safe.

Summary

FBI warns iPhone Android users of smishing: smishing is phishing “served” through SMS messages. Those SMS messages often include urgent alerts, impersonation attempts, or offers that sound too good to be true. Beware of those – and make good use of data breach search engines or their API solutions in the process to protect yourself further.

FAQ

What’s the FBI Warns iPhone Android Users About?

The FBI warns iPhone Android users is related to smishing which is phishing served through SMS messages.

How to Stay Safe from Smishing According to the FBI Warns iPhone Android Users?

To stay safe from smishing, beware of SMS messages that include urgent alerts, impersonation attempts, or offers that sound too good to be true.

Why Should I Use the BreachDirectory.com API?

The BreachDirectory.com API will let anyone implement the data inside of BreachDirectory into their own applications or systems to assist their use case. Stay safe and give it a try today!

How Can I Be Informed About Data Breaches Concerning My Account?

To be informed about data breaches concerning your account and your safety, make sure to register for data breach notifications using BreachDirectory.com.