How to Protect Yourself from Smartphone Phishing Attacks

Your Apple and Android smartphones have strong security measures built in them to help you prevent your device from getting hacked. When your hear of a friend or colleague getting hacked, it's because they clicked on a link in an email or from a text message that appeared on their smartphone. Because smartphones are so secure, criminals have to create sophisticated methods like phishing to get your personal information. Phishing, which is the process of tricking you into giving up information like your bank details or passwords is used by criminals because your smart devices are secure. They come in many forms and prey on your fears or use your own greed to get you to react to the messages that pop up on your devices. Don’t become a victim, here’s how you can protect yourself from cell phone phishing attacks.

Phishing attacks are socially engineered, which means criminals use your natural fears in order to get you to act quickly, and without caution. The messages you receive will urge you to hurriedly sign into your account or confirm details without checking the source. Many of the scams attempt to convince you to click on links and visit official looking websites. Once you follow through with these actions, the scammer has what they need to steal your money. The only defense against phishing scams is constant vigilance and education. With that in mind, here are some of the more common phishing attacks, and what you can do to protect yourself.

SMS-based phishing. Texting is one of the most popular methods of communication which makes text messaging a tempting target for many phishers. SMS phishing, known as “smishing” follows many of the typical phishing rules. When