[ad_1] Apple's messaging app features built-in protection from phishing and phishing scams. Phishing occurs when cybercriminals send someone an email that appears to be a legitimate message from a company the victim does business with. The message contains a message that urgently asks the target to do something or face dire consequences. The goal is to have the target hand over sensitive information such as PINs, passwords, and Social Security numbers, all to take control of the victim's financial accounts and steal the money in their personal accounts. Sometimes these phishing messages are sent via text messages in which case it is called “SMS phishing”. Most cybersecurity experts will tell you to never click on links in emails and texts you receive from senders unknown to you. Apple's iMessage platform automatically disables links in messages sent by unknown senders regardless of whether the message was sent via email or text. Examples of phishing messages that try to get you to respond by disabling Apple Link Protection. | Image credit-BeepingComputer To trick an iPhone user into replying to the text and disabling protection, many phishing messages will include a line like this: “Please reply with Y, then exit the text message, reopen the text message activation link, or copy the link to Safari to open.” Since many smartphone users have become familiar with the idea of verifying an appointment by just typing “yes” or the letter “Y,” attackers hope that the target will respond with a “Y” which, as we said, will turn off iMessage’s built-in phishing protection for that text. . Even if the target doesn't click on the now-enabled link, knowing that the target responded to the phishing message lets the attacker know that that target can be tricked into responding to a phony message. Many of the targets of these phishing attacks are older adults who may be more compelled to believe that the phishing text is legitimate and feel they must settle immediately to prevent them from receiving punishment. If the links to the message you receive are broken, or if it is from an unknown sender asking you to replay the text, you should not reply. Your best bet is to contact the company that allegedly sent the text message and then ask if they sent you a text message and what task they want you to do.Beware of “smishing” messages, which are fake texts that appear to come from a company you deal with
What to do if you receive a text message via SMS
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Don’t fall for this SMS trick that results in iPhone users losing their personal data and money
For example, let's say you are AT&T subscriber. You may receive an email that appears to be real AT&T Official letter. The message may indicate that your account is past due and if you do not make immediate payment, your wireless account will be suspended. To make a payment, the email may include a link that takes you to a page where you need to fill in your credit card number, expiration date, security code, and your address. Give up all this information and you may find strange charges on your card that have nothing to do with you. Of course, you will provide this information because who wants to turn off their wireless account.
But there is a way cybercriminals can disable this protection apple. The tech giant says that if a user responds to a phishing or phishing message or adds the sender to their contact list, Apple's protection that disables links in that message or email from an unknown sender will no longer work. This is why security experts have seen an increase in phishing attacks by attackers trying to make targets respond to their texts so that links in the text are enabled again.
BleepingComputer posted examples of phishing attacks with one text using a fake USPS shipping issue and the other a text about unpaid toll road fees. The first requires a full address in order for the package to be delivered. Who doesn't like receiving packages? The latter text threatens late fees and potential lawsuits if the fees are not paid. If the target of these messages responds to the texts, the links in each text they respond to are no longer protected as Apple will enable them. As a result, the recipient of an SMS phishing message may reveal some personal data by responding to one and then be manipulated into clicking on the link.
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| Genre | News & Magazines |
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| Update | January 13, 2025 |
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