Consider the following statements regarding Smishing: It involves send...
The Indian government recently warned against a new scam called ‘Smishing’.
About Smishing:
- "Smishing" is a portmanteau of "SMS" (Short Message Service) and "phishing."
- What is it? A type of phishing attack, smishing, often involves sending fraudulent text messages to individuals with the aim of tricking them into divulging sensitive personal information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or other confidential data.
- When cybercriminals "phish," they send fraudulent emails that seek to trick the recipient into clicking on a malicious link. Smishing simply uses text messages instead of email.
- Smishing attacks often involve messages that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks, government agencies, or well-known companies.
- How it works?
- Smishing messages typically contain urgent or enticing content to persuade recipients to take immediate action, such as clicking on a malicious link, calling a phone number, or providing sensitive information.
- Once the victim opens and clicks on the link or dials the phone number listed in the message, they're taken to a fraudulent website or a mobile phone line that's designed to resemble a legitimate source.
- The victim might be asked to enter sensitive information, such as login credentials, social security numbers, credit card information or personal identification numbers (PINs).
- Once the victim's sensitive information is divulged, the attacker might steal it to commit fraud for personal gain or to compromise the victim's device by installing malware on it.
Hence both statements are correct.
Consider the following statements regarding Smishing: It involves send...
Explanation:
Smishing is a form of cyber-attack that involves sending fraudulent text messages to individuals with the intention of tricking them into divulging sensitive personal information such as financial details, login credentials, or other personally identifiable information. Here is a detailed explanation of the given statements:
Statement 1: It involves sending fraudulent text messages to individuals and tricking them into divulging sensitive personal information.
This statement is correct. Smishing is a technique used by cybercriminals to deceive individuals through text messages. These messages are designed to appear legitimate and often mimic messages from banks, service providers, or other trusted sources. The goal is to trick individuals into sharing their personal information, which can then be used for fraudulent activities.
Statement 2: Smishing messages typically contain urgent or enticing content to persuade recipients to take immediate action.
This statement is also correct. Smishing messages often contain urgent or enticing content to create a sense of urgency or curiosity in the recipients. For example, the message might claim that there has been suspicious activity on their bank account and they need to verify their account information immediately to prevent unauthorized access. By creating a sense of urgency, the attackers aim to manipulate individuals into taking immediate action without questioning the authenticity of the message.
Conclusion:
Both the statements are correct. Smishing involves sending fraudulent text messages to individuals and tricking them into divulging sensitive personal information. These messages typically contain urgent or enticing content to persuade recipients to take immediate action. It is important for individuals to be cautious and skeptical of any unexpected or suspicious text messages, especially those requesting personal information. They should verify the authenticity of such messages through trusted sources before taking any action.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed UPSC study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in UPSC.