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Scammers have come up with a new deceitful tactic, specifically targeting iPhone users.
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They instruct you to respond to their messages, which compromises Apple’s protection against scams.
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Fortunately, there are a couple of ways to keep yourself safe
Scammers have been able to find a way around Apple’s security measures to send you hazardous links, in spite of Apple’s best efforts to prevent this.
When you reply to a message from someone whose sender ID you don’t know, links contained in the conversation will be automatically re-enabled because responding to the message means you trust that person’s links enough to open them.
According to Bleeping Computer, a phishing link was found with the following message below it:
“Please respond with a ‘Y,’ then close and reopen the messaging service linkage, or copy the link to Safari for opening purposes.”
The concern is that people have become accustomed to responding to automated texts with simple answers like “YES” or “NO”, so they may naturally do the same with phishing messages, inadvertently allowing potentially malicious links to be executed.
How to stay safe
If you get a message from someone you don’t know, and it has links in it, don’t respond to it. The links will keep working, but if you ignore it and mark it as spam, you’ll avoid falling prey to it.
If you’re unsure if a message is genuine or not, don’t respond to it. Instead, reach out to the company directly through its official contact methods. This way, you can speak with a real representative who can verify if the message you received was authentic.
Even if you ignore the suspicious links and don’t click on them, responding to the message can still alert the scammer that your phone is active and that you’re open to engaging with these types of messages, making you a greater target for them.
It’s always better to err on the side of caution when receiving unexpected texts from unknown sources claiming to be official. To avoid any potential risks, if you’re unsure about the authenticity of a message, it’s wise to report it and refrain from responding or engaging in further communication.
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**Protecting Yourself from Spam Text Messages**
Spam texts can be frustrating and unwanted, but there are steps you can take to minimize them. Here are some tips to help you stop spam texts:
1. **Block unwanted numbers**: You can block unwanted numbers by going to your phone’s settings and selecting “Blocked Numbers” or “Blocked Contacts.”
2. “Report spam texts”: Most phone carriers allow you to report spam texts as such by forwarding them to a spam number.
3. **Use a spam filter app**: There are many apps available that can filter out unwanted spam messages and block suspicious numbers.
4. **Be cautious with suspicious links**: Scammers often send links in spam texts to trick you into clicking to install malware on your phone.
5. **Only share your number with trusted individuals**: Be careful about sharing your phone number with companies, websites, or apps, especially those that store sensitive information.
6. **Use two-factor authentication**: Enable two-factor authentication on your phone and accounts to add an extra layer of security.
7. **Register for National Do Not Call Registry**: Registering your number with the National Do Not Call Registry can reduce the number of unwanted calls and texts you receive.
8. **Monitor your phone bill**: Regularly review your phone bill to catch any suspicious activity and report it to your carrier. - Beware, iPhone users! A fresh SMS attack could be stealing your Apple ID. Find out how to protect yourself.
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