From the course: Cybersecurity Awareness: Phishing Attacks

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SMS phishing: A text-based attack

SMS phishing: A text-based attack

From the course: Cybersecurity Awareness: Phishing Attacks

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SMS phishing: A text-based attack

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- We've all received those unexpected texts from unknown numbers. Sometimes it's about a package you didn't order. Sometimes it's an urgent message from your bank alerting you of suspicious activity. Other times, it's simply a text like, 'Hey, is this Sloan?', when your name is Olivia. At first glance, they may seem like a harmless mistake or maybe an urgent message to act upon, but under further inspection, something feels kind of off. SMS phishing attacks, also known as smishing attacks, are phishing attempts that occur via text message. Like other attacks we've covered, a scammer sends a text hoping to lure in a victim. The target might respond, click on a link or follow instructions in the message. This can lead to various outcomes, malware installation, theft of personal information, or even a long-term scam, like the pig butchering scheme we talked about earlier. For example, in 2023, the United Parcel Service, or UPS, in Canada confirmed a data breach where attackers gained…

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