Which mobile social engineering technique uses SMS to prompt users to take immediate action?

Which mobile social engineering technique uses SMS to prompt users to take immediate action?

• A. Wardriving
• B. Pretexting
• C. SMiShing
• D. Phishing

Answer: (C)

SMiShing is the mobile-specific form of social engineering that uses text messages to prompt immediate action. In SMiShing, an attacker sends a fraudulent SMS that pretends to come from a legitimate organization, often creating a sense of urgency to make you act now. The message typically tries to get you to click a malicious link, call a fake support number, or enter sensitive information, leveraging how quickly people respond to time‑sensitive requests on their phones. This is different from other techniques: wardriving involves scanning for wireless networks while moving around, pretexting relies on a crafted storyline to manipulate you into divulging information, and phishing broadly refers to deceptive attempts (often via email) to steal data. SMiShing targets the mobile channel specifically and exploits the immediacy of SMS to coax a fast, risky action. To stay safe, verify the sender through official channels, don’t click links or call numbers from unsolicited texts, and use additional protections like multi-factor authentication.

SMiShing is the mobile-specific form of social engineering that uses text messages to prompt immediate action. In SMiShing, an attacker sends a fraudulent SMS that pretends to come from a legitimate organization, often creating a sense of urgency to make you act now. The message typically tries to get you to click a malicious link, call a fake support number, or enter sensitive information, leveraging how quickly people respond to time‑sensitive requests on their phones.

This is different from other techniques: wardriving involves scanning for wireless networks while moving around, pretexting relies on a crafted storyline to manipulate you into divulging information, and phishing broadly refers to deceptive attempts (often via email) to steal data. SMiShing targets the mobile channel specifically and exploits the immediacy of SMS to coax a fast, risky action.

To stay safe, verify the sender through official channels, don’t click links or call numbers from unsolicited texts, and use additional protections like multi-factor authentication.