smish

Smish is a term that combines "smishing" and "phishing," referring to the use of text messages (SMS) to deceive individuals into divulging personal or financial information. It is a form of social engineering where attackers exploit human psychology and trust to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. Smish attacks often involve sending fraudulent messages that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks, government agencies, or well-known companies. These messages may contain links to fake websites designed to steal login credentials, credit card numbers, or other personal information. Unlike traditional phishing, which uses email, smishing targets the convenience and immediacy of text messaging. Users are typically tricked into clicking on malicious links or replying with sensitive information, believing the message is genuine. Smish attacks can result in financial loss, identity theft, and other forms of cybercrime. To protect against smish attacks, individuals should be cautious of unsolicited text messages, verify the sender's identity, and avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. Organizations and individuals can also use security software and multi-factor authentication to enhance protection against these types of attacks.