Expanded Definition: smishing

What is smishing? 

Smishing, short for SMS phishing, is a type of social engineering attack where cybercriminals use text messages to deceive individuals into clicking malicious links, downloading malware, or revealing sensitive information, such as credentials, credit card numbers, or verification codes. Smishing blends the convenience of SMS with the deceptive tactics of phishing, making it a fast-growing threat vector in mobile-first communication. 

Why is smishing on the rise? AI’s role in smishing attacks 

With the rise of generative AI (genAI), smishing has become more convincing, scalable, and dangerous. Attackers are using genAI to automate message creation, mimic natural human language, and even personalize content based on publicly available data or breached information. 

According to Forbes Tech Council, AI-generated phishing, smishing, and vishing attacks have surged by over 400% in the past year alone. This makes smishing one of the fastest-evolving threats in the social engineering landscape. 

Read our blog,  “The dark side: How threat actors are using AI”, to learn more about how bad actors are weaponizing AI tools. 

How does smishing work? 

A smishing attack relies on urgency, fear, or curiosity to trick recipients into acting without thinking. Common tactics include: 

• Spoofed short codes: Messages appear to come from trusted senders such as banks, shipping services, or healthcare providers.
• Malicious links: The SMS contains a shortened or disguised URL that leads to a phishing page or malware.
• Fake login prompts: Users are asked to enter login or account details to “verify their identity.”
• Credential harvesting or malware downloads: Clicking a link may lead to silent installations of spyware or keyloggers. 

Unlike phishing emails that may be caught by email gateways, smishing messages often bypass these defenses entirely, especially in bring-your-own-device (BYOD) environments. 

Smishing examples 

• Bank scam: “Your account has been suspended. Click here to reactivate: [fakebank.com]”
• Delivery notification: “FedEx: Your package delivery failed. Reschedule here: [phishing-link]”
• HR impersonation: “HR update: Submit your updated direct deposit info before 5:00pm.” 

These SMS phishing messages are crafted to appear legitimate and urgent, preying on users’ trust in text-based communication. 

Who do smishing attacks target? 

Smishing targets both individuals and businesses: 

• Consumers: Messages impersonating banks, government agencies, or shipping services.
• Employees: Smishing attempts pretending to be from HR or internal leadership.
• Executives and MSP staff: Targeted to gain access to systems or credentials that can compromise entire customer environments.
• SMBs: Attacks may mimic invoices, payment alerts, or system notifications requiring immediate mobile response. 

Smishing risks: Why smishing is a threat to MSPs and businesses 

Smishing is particularly risky for organizations that rely on mobile communications. Threat actors use it to gain a foothold in corporate networks via mobile devices and endpoints. 

Key risks include: 

• Compromised credentials: Users may unknowingly give up access to corporate tools and data.
• Device infiltration: Malware from smishing links can compromise endpoints, especially unmanaged ones.
• Business email compromise (BEC): Attackers may use smished credentials to launch more advanced phishing or wire fraud attacks.
• Loss of client trust: A successful attack on one employee can lead to broader client or vendor compromise. 

One SMS can be the entry point to a full-scale cyberattack. 

How to prevent smishing attacks 

Businesses and individuals can defend against smishing with a multi-layered defense strategy combining education, technology, and verification protocols: 

• Educate end users: Train staff and clients to recognize suspicious SMS content and avoid clicking unknown links.
• Avoid clicking unknown links: Encourage users to navigate to known websites instead of following links in messages.
• Verify requests independently: Never trust sensitive requests received via SMS. Contact the sender directly through official channels.
• Deploy mobile threat detection: Use mobile security tools that can scan for malicious SMS content and block risky links.
• Be cautious with MFA via SMS: Don’t enter MFA codes sent via text unless you’re expecting them. 

What to do after a smishing attack 

If your organization experiences a smishing attack, rapid and coordinated action is critical to limit damage and prevent future breaches. Follow this step-by-step guide for effective smishing incident response. 

1. Contain the threat 

Start by securing any compromised systems, user accounts, or mobile devices: 

• Instruct affected users to stop engaging with the message and delete it immediately.
• Reset passwords and revoke access to any accounts potentially exposed.
• Isolate mobile devices showing signs of compromise using mobile device management (MDM) tools.
• Revoke session tokens or authentication from compromised devices. 

Mobile threat detection tools and endpoint management software can help you quickly assess and isolate at-risk devices, even in BYOD environments. 

2. Investigate the scope of the attack 

Assess how far the smishing campaign reached within your organization. 

• Review mobile logs, device telemetry, and authentication history for suspicious activity.
• Look for patterns such as unusual MFA prompts, new device logins, or data access anomalies.
• Correlate activity across devices, accounts, and networks to find potential lateral movement. 

SIEM software such as ConnectWise SIEM™ enable IT and security teams to monitor endpoints, detect behavioral anomalies, and investigate threats in real time. 

3. Report the incident 

Documentation and transparency are essential, especially if sensitive data or credentials were compromised: 

• Notify your internal security and compliance teams.
• Inform affected users, clients, or partners of potential exposure.
• Report the attack to regulatory bodies if required (e.g., for GDPR or HIPAA compliance).
• Share the SMS details with mobile carriers or anti-fraud databases to help block future campaigns. 

4. Remediate and recover 

Once the immediate threat is contained: 

• Patch any identified vulnerabilities or software that may have been exploited.
• Reassess mobile security configurations across devices and user groups.
• Conduct a post-incident review to evaluate gaps in awareness or mobile controls.
• Re-issue credentials if users entered information on fake login pages. 

BDR solutions such as x360Recover from Axcient™, a ConnectWise company, can support rapid recovery in cases where smishing leads to malware deployment or broader compromise, ensuring quick restoration of business operations. 

5. Educate and reinforce awareness 

Smishing often succeeds due to human error and lack of awareness. Use the incident to strengthen your defenses by: 

• Sharing a recap of the attack and what was learned, without assigning blame.
• Updating end user training materials with real-world smishing examples. 
• Launching simulated smishing tests to reinforce behavior change and assess readiness. 

Interactive events such as IT Nation Secure™ provide practical training to help MSPs and IT teams stay ahead of evolving social engineering tactics, including AI-powered smishing threats.