SMISHING

What Does Smishing Meant?

Smishing is a type of phishing attack that uses SMS (text messages) to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal details. The term combines "SMS" and "phishing." In a smishing attack, the message often appears to come from a trusted source, like a bank, delivery service, or government agency. It may contain a link to a fake website or urge the recipient to respond with confidential information. Smishing scams can also include prompts to download malicious software. To protect against smishing, avoid clicking on suspicious links and verify requests through official channels.

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Smishing is a type of phishing attack that uses text messages to trick recipients.

Summary of Key Points

Smishing
Definition:	SMS Phishing Attack
Type:	Acronym
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at Smishing

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As it is formed by merging two terms into one, smishing is a portmanteau word. It is a combination of the term SMS and the word phishing. It can also be considered a neologism (i.e., a newly coined word or term which has emerged into everyday usage). Some neologisms are formally accepted into mainstream language (at which point, they cease to be neologisms), and some wither until they can longer be considered everyday terms. A neologism can be: