Attacks & Threats
Smishing
Also known as: SMS phishing, Text-message phishing
Definition
Phishing delivered via SMS or other mobile-messaging channels to trick victims into clicking malicious links, calling fraudulent numbers, or revealing data.
Examples
- A text claiming "USPS delivery failed — pay $1.99 redelivery fee at hxxps://usps-redeliver[.]link".
- A fake bank alert urging the recipient to call a fraud line that asks for full card details and one-time codes.
Related terms
Phishing
A social-engineering attack in which an attacker impersonates a trusted party to trick a victim into revealing credentials, transferring money, or running malware.
Vishing
Phishing conducted over voice channels — phone calls or VoIP — to manipulate victims into revealing credentials, payments, or remote access.
Spear Phishing
A targeted phishing attack tailored to a specific individual or organization using personal or professional details collected in advance.
Social Engineering
The psychological manipulation of people into performing actions or disclosing confidential information that benefits an attacker.
Mobile Malware
Malicious software that targets smartphones and tablets to steal data, intercept communications, mine cryptocurrency, or perform financial fraud.
Credential Stealer
Malware focused specifically on extracting passwords, hashes, and authentication tokens from an infected system or its memory.