I just recently received a text message from an unknown source stating that I had won a free iPod and all I had to do was to sign into and account I had and verify my information so that they could send out my new iPod. OMG, I won!
In the latest attempts to steal your information, hackers are not exposing weaknesses in cell phones through a new term called “Smishing”. They will use fake text messages to alert you that you have won something, or have a new message from a close friend. Then you will be asked to confirm some personal information, and then they have you. For the more technology advanced cell phones that connect to the internet, spammers and hackers can download viruses and spyware via text messages or multi-media messages. While some may be harmless, some of them are able to load on your phone and then track and record phone numbers and conversations.
While this problem is not widespread, it is only a matter of time as people upgrade their phones, and use them as more than their phone. Surfing, downloading tunes, and videos will be more common place and with it come the same perils that PC users face. So the next time you receive a text from someone unknown, you should think twice before reading it.