SMS threats are a type of cyber-attack that uses text messages to trick users into revealing personal information or installing malware. These attacks are becoming increasingly common, as more and more people rely on their phones for communication and information.
There are several different ways that SMS threats can be carried out. One common method is to send a text message that appears to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or credit card company. The message may contain a link that, when clicked, will take the user to a fake website that looks like the real website. Once the user enters their personal information on the fake website, it is stolen by the attacker.
There are five types of threats: Spamming, Spoofing, Faking, Flooding, and GT Scanning.
Spam
A spam SMS is a type of unwanted and unsolicited text message that is sent to many recipients. Mostly, the purpose of spam SMS is often to scam unsuspecting recipients out of money or personal information.
Spam SMS’s can come from a variety of sources, including marketing companies, spammers, and scammers. They can be sent from both legitimate and illegitimate sources, making it difficult to distinguish between genuine and malicious messages.
Spoofing
Spoofing SMS is a technique used to send text messages that appear to come from a different phone number or sender than the actual source. The purpose of spoofing SMS is often to trick the recipient into believing that the message is legitimate or from a trusted source.
Spoofing SMS can be done using a variety of methods, such as using a fake sender ID or manipulating the SMS header to make it appear as though the message came from a different phone number. Spoofed SMS messages can be used for a variety of malicious purposes, including phishing attacks, malware distribution, and social engineering scams.
MT Faking
MT Faking brief is a type of SMS threat that uses text messages to trick users into revealing personal information or installing malware. MT Faking brief attacks often involve sending text messages that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or credit card company. The message may contain a link that, when clicked, will take the user to a fake website that looks like the real website. Once the user enters their personal information on the fake website, it is stolen by the attacker.
Flooding
SMS flooding, also known as SMS bombing or thread flooding, refers to the act of inundating an individual’s mobile device with many text messages within a short period of time. The purpose of SMS flooding is often to harass, annoy, or disrupt the recipient’s ability to use their phone normally.
SMS flooding is usually accomplished using automated tools, scripts, or online services that send many text messages to the target’s phone number. These tools exploit vulnerabilities in telecommunication networks or use multiple phone numbers to distribute the flood across various sources.
GT Scanning
Global Title (GT) scanning is a technique used in telecommunications to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in the signaling network. It is not directly related to SMS threats but rather focuses on the underlying infrastructure of the telecommunications system. However, vulnerabilities discovered through GT scanning could potentially be exploited to carry out SMS-related attacks.
GT scanning involves systematically scanning and probing the signaling network by sending signaling messages to various network elements. The purpose of this scanning is to identify potential weaknesses or misconfigurations in the network that could be exploited by attackers.
Conclusion
It’s important for telecommunication providers to be proactive in addressing these vulnerabilities and promptly applying appropriate security measures, such as SMS firewalls, to help filter and block these types of messages to prevent exploitation. By understanding the different types of SMS threats, such as spamming, spoofing, faking, flooding, and GT scanning individuals can take proactive steps to protect themselves. Additionally, users should stay vigilant and report any suspicious SMS activities to their service providers or local authorities, while adopting best practices to ensure SMS communication remains safe and secure in our digital lives.
