Cybercriminals are no longer relying solely on email to reach their targets. Increasingly, threat actors are using social engineering attacks to bypass traditional email security controls and target employees directly through their smartphones.
For businesses, these attacks are especially concerning because they exploit human trust, urgency and distraction. From a cybersecurity perspective, one convincing text message or phone call can be enough to compromise an account, expose sensitive data or initiate fraudulent payments.
What Are These Attacks Specifically?
Smishing, or SMS phishing, uses fraudulent text messages to trick users into clicking malicious links, providing credentials, or sharing sensitive information. Messages may appear to come from Microsoft, a bank, delivery service, vendor, or even someone within the organization.
Vishing, or voice phishing, uses phone calls to manipulate victims. Attackers may impersonate IT support, executives, financial institutions or even trusted vendors and request passwords, multi-factor authentication codes, payment information or account changes.
Both techniques are forms of social engineering, meaning attackers are targeting people rather than attempting to directly break through technical security controls.
Why Are These Attacks Increasing?
As businesses strengthen email filtering and phishing protection, attackers are looking for alternative ways to reach employees. Smartphones provide an attractive target because texts and calls often receive immediate attention.
Summer months can create additional opportunities. Employees may be traveling, working remotely, taking vacations, or covering responsibilities for coworkers. Attackers can take advantage of these situations with fake travel alerts, package notifications, password resets, payment requests or urgent messages supposedly coming from company leadership. Advances in artificial intelligence can also make social engineering attempts more convincing by helping attackers create realistic messages and impersonation attempts.
Strengthening Your Cybersecurity Defenses
Unfortunately, technology alone cannot completely stop social engineering.
Businesses need a layered cybersecurity strategy that combines strong security controls with employee awareness. Organizations should use:
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Endpoint Protection
- Security Monitoring
- Identity and Access Controls
- Conduct ongoing cybersecurity awareness training
Employees should also be instructed to independently verify unusual requests, avoid clicking unexpected text links, and never provide passwords or authentication codes over the phone.
As an Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), our role is to help protect your organization against threats that extend beyond the traditional inbox. By combining proactive monitoring, cybersecurity tools, employee education, and strong security policies, businesses can reduce the likelihood that a smishing or vishing attempt turns into a serious security incident.
Ready to learn more about how our cybersecurity offerings can protect your business — click here to schedule a consultation.
