Categories
Close
Menu
Menu
Close
Search
Search

Featured Articles

News

More than 350,000 different SMS spam variants hit mobile users last year

Mark

Share:

Print

Rate article:

No rating
Rate this article:
No rating

New figures from messaging threat protection specialists Cloudmark have revealed that text message spammers used more than 350,000 unique SMS spam variants in 2012. December saw the widest variety, with more than 53,000 different variants received worldwide.

The most common spam last year claimed to be gift card deals (44%), free iPhones and iPads (11%) and Payment Protection Insurance compensation (3%), which was particularly common in the UK. Although some spammers offer a genuine gift, the consumer often compromises their personal information in order to respond - and can find the value of any gift is outweighed by associated costs.

Cloudmark’s 2012 Messaging Threat Report uses data from the Cloudmark-powered GSMA Spam Reporting Service launched at Mobile World Congress last year. Individual consumers can report unsolicited messages by forwarding them to 7726 (which spells ‘SPAM’ on most mobile keypads) if their mobile operator is participating in the scheme.

This year, the top spam trends expected to continue are:

  • Fake apps that cause customers to send spam themselves, such as the SpamSoldier Android Botnet. This sent SMS spam before deleting itself and installing a pirated copy of the game it originally claimed to be. It’s estimated that several thousand people had mobile devices infected with this software.
  • Blended messaging threats that combine SMS messaging with other communication processes, such as email, instant messaging and social networking. Consumers receive messages that entice them to use other media - and potentially commit to some form of subscription or payment.

Neil Cook, Cloudmark’s Chief Technology Officer, said “Global smartphone adoption rapidly increased in 2012, with smartphone users passing the 1 billion mark and this has consequentially resulted in a hike in mobile messaging spam. As opposed to email, we often automatically trust that our SMS must come from someone we know or have done business with and attackers are well aware of this wide acceptance, using it to their advantage. Our research is highlighting the growth of sophisticated mobile threats as new mobile technologies develop and 2013 will see a rise in this sophistication.”

[Report (pdf)]

Comments

Collapse Expand Comments (0)
You don't have permission to post comments.

Opinion Articles

ExclusiveLast week at The Fonecast: 26th November 2012

Mark Bridge writes:

It’s time to ‘ketchup’ with last week’s biggest mobile industry news stories - and where better to start than with HP’s claims of ‘saucy’ behaviour?  It’s launched an investigation into last year’s acquisition of UK company Autonomy, claiming the software company had ‘spiced up’ its valuation. Condiment-based puns aside, it’s a serious matter that could see key players from the deal charged with cooking the books.

ExclusiveOperation Mobile as military prepares to synchronise with smartphones

Kevin Deal, Vice President of Aerospace & Defence at IFS North America, writes:

It is difficult to believe that the idea of a hand-held mobile phone was an alien concept only a few short decades ago. From brick-sized analogue devices to wafer thin smartphones with processing capabilities comparable to those of laptops, new technology is constantly pushing the boundaries of what we can expect from our phones. And, in a reverse of the normal pattern of technology innovation, a development driven by consumers is set to have an important impact on aerospace and defence (A&D).

ExclusiveLast week at The Fonecast: 19th November 2012

Mark Bridge writes:

The last few days have been particularly busy for UK telecoms regulator Ofcom. It started the week by announcing its rules for next year’s UK 4G mobile spectrum auction – expect services to go live in around six months – and it ended the week with plans to avoid a 5G capacity crunch.

ExclusiveConsumer privacy, opt-in marketing and the future of mobile

Mark Bridge writes:

Today’s consumers receive a seemingly never-ending stream of online information from their social networks, from websites, in their email and on their mobile devices. But is there a way to let individuals stay in control whilst also helping companies advertise their products?  According to nFluence Media, there definitely is.

To find out more, I spoke to Henry Lawson, co-founder and CEO of nFluence, and started by asking him to explain exactly what nFluence did.

ExclusiveDoro aims at the sweet spot for easy-to-use mobile phones

Mark Bridge writes:

Here’s a statement that’ll come as no surprise to anyone who works in the UK mobile industry.

For many people, their mobile phone isn’t just a communication device. It’s a personal statement.

Of course it is. Why else can you buy a gold-plated iPhone, a diamante-encrusted Blackberry or a Samsung Galaxy SIII in colours “inspired by the Earth’s richest materials”?

RSS
First2829303133353637Last

Recent Podcasts

ExclusivePodcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

Mark Bridge learns about the mobile technology trends at Mobile World Congress 2015 by chatting to James Rosewell of 51Degrees, Dr Kevin Curran from the IEEE and Chris Millington of Doro.

They talk about wearable devices, wireless charging, mobile operating systems and much more... including some of their favourite products from the exhibition.

ExclusiveLooking back at February: from security scares to multiple MVNOs

We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.

We also talk about the planned BT and EE merger, the creation of two new UK virtual networks, some acquisitions in the mobile payment arena and a new Ubuntu smartphone.

ExclusiveA month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?

We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.

RSS
12345678910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Archive Calendar

«August 2026»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
272829303112
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31123456

Archive