"SMS Sniffing": The "Eavesdropper" in Your Phone!

"SMS Sniffing": The "Eavesdropper" in Your Phone!Smartphones provide tremendous convenience to our daily lives, but as their use expands, criminals have also targeted those who are unfamiliar with smartphone usage or less vigilant, especially the elderly population whose phones are linked to bank accounts or have money in their WeChat wallets. High-tech mobile phone scams are rampant, and a new scam called "SMS sniffing" is particularly disturbing it can collect and intercept SMS content without touching the phone, silently transferring our bank account balances away

"SMS Sniffing": The "Eavesdropper" in Your Phone!

Smartphones provide tremendous convenience to our daily lives, but as their use expands, criminals have also targeted those who are unfamiliar with smartphone usage or less vigilant, especially the elderly population whose phones are linked to bank accounts or have money in their WeChat wallets. High-tech mobile phone scams are rampant, and a new scam called "SMS sniffing" is particularly disturbing it can collect and intercept SMS content without touching the phone, silently transferring our bank account balances away.

I. What is "SMS Sniffing" Technology?

"SMS sniffing" is a very covert new technology-driven crime method using "GSM hijacking + SMS sniffing". It utilizes fake base stations and other advanced equipment to precisely capture and intercept phone numbers and data information within a specific signal coverage area without touching the target phone.

Criminals can silently collect every SMS received by the user's phone, including crucial bank verification codes, payment passwords, and other sensitive information. They then exploit security vulnerabilities in banks, shopping websites, and mobile payment apps to engage in information theft, fund swiping, and online scams, posing a serious threat to public property security. All this happens without the user's knowledge.

II. How "SMS Sniffing" Works

Simply put, "SMS sniffing" technology can intercept verification codes sent to our phones from banking apps, Alipay, shopping platforms, and other services, then swipe bank cards, steal personal information, and more. The entire process is extremely covert.

It's important to note that although "SMS sniffing" primarily targets 2G networks, under certain conditions, such as when criminals use special equipment to suppress signals or when poor network quality causes frequency reduction, even if the phone is on 3G, 4G, or even higher frequency bands, user's sensitive information could still be stolen.

III. How to Prevent "SMS Sniffing"?

Facing the threat of "SMS sniffing", we need to increase our vigilance and learn some effective preventative measures to protect our digital security:

1. Identifying the Precursors of an "SMS Sniffing" Attack:

When receiving unidentifiable verification codes on a phone, especially those from banks, Alipay, shopping platforms, and other services, this is often a precursor to an "SMS sniffing" attack. In this case, the most direct strategy is to immediately turn off the phone or activate airplane mode, quickly cutting off communication with the outside world to prevent verification messages from being further intercepted. To completely escape the influence of fake base stations, it's advised to immediately change locations. In urban areas, moving a few hundred meters is usually enough to effectively exit the signal coverage area of the fake base station.

2. Pay Attention to Changes in Phone Network Signal Mode:

Under normal circumstances, the phone will connect to a stable 4G or 5G network. If you find that the network signal suddenly drops to 2G or disappears, you need to be vigilant. This might be due to criminals using fake base stations to try to interfere with or hijack your phone signal. At this time, you should quickly switch network environments or simply turn off the network.

3. Enable "VoLTE HD Calling" Feature:

To further enhance communication security, it's recommended to enable the "VoLTE HD Calling" feature in your phone settings. VoLTE, or VoiceoverLTE, is a data transmission technology based on the 4G network that enables simultaneous transmission of data and voice services. This not only improves call quality but also effectively reduces the risk of being hijacked by fake base stations. Because VoLTE calls use encryption throughout the process, making it difficult for criminals to intercept call content or verification messages. Currently, mainstream phones support this feature, and users can simply enable it after a brief setup, adding a solid line of defense to their communication security.

4. Use Public Wi-Fi Networks Cautiously:

When traveling, try to avoid using free Wi-Fi networks provided in public places. Although these networks seem convenient, they often hide enormous security risks. Criminals may deploy sniffing devices on these networks to use information leaked during user's network connection for attacks. To minimize the likelihood of phone sniffing, it's recommended to use your own mobile data network while traveling or choose trusted Wi-Fi networks with password protection to connect.

5. Enable Two-Factor Authentication:

For bank accounts, Alipay, shopping platforms, and other services, it's recommended to enable two-factor authentication. Even if someone obtains our phone verification code through illegal means, they won't be able to log into our bank account normally to transfer funds, thus ensuring financial security.

IV. Conclusion: Be Vigilant Against "SMS Sniffing" and Protect Yourself!

This new type of cybercrime, "SMS sniffing", is incredibly covert and efficient, making prevention especially challenging. After understanding its principles, if we experience a surge in various verification codes on our phones or if our phone signal suddenly deteriorates, immediately turn off the phone or activate airplane mode. Also, if it's not important, consider simply turning off your phone at night before going to bed.

Hopefully, this article will help everyone increase their vigilance against "SMS sniffing" and take effective preventive measures to protect themselves!

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