What is Smishing?
Smishing exploits the trust people place in text messages and the limited security awareness around SMS compared to email. Common smishing tactics include fake delivery notifications requiring address confirmation, bank fraud alerts with urgent verification links, prize winnings requiring personal information, IRS or government agency communications, COVID-19 exposure notifications, and two-factor authentication code requests from attackers. The urgency and legitimacy suggested by SMS format increases success rates. Smishing messages often spoof sender names to appear from legitimate organizations. Links lead to phishing sites designed for mobile devices, credential harvesting pages, or malware downloads. Some campaigns request replies with sensitive information or calls to fraudulent support numbers.
Business Impact
Smishing enables attackers to reach mobile users who may be less vigilant than at desktop computers, bypass email security controls entirely, impersonate organizations without technical spoofing requirements, and target users in contexts where they’re distracted or hurried. Organizations face brand impersonation through fake SMS, customer victimization and associated trust damage, difficulty controlling SMS communications about their brand, and challenges educating users about SMS-based threats. Financial institutions and delivery services experience the highest levels of smishing impersonation.
Allure Security's Approach
Monitoring for domains and phone numbers used in smishing campaigns, detecting websites designed for mobile phishing, and understanding smishing tactics targeting your industry enables comprehensive protection extending beyond email-based threats.