What could be more frustrating than receiving several unwanted calls from unknown callers? Not only do they waste your time, but they can also harm you by spreading malware, i.e. malicious software designed to infiltrate your device and harvest sensitive data (passwords, credit card numbers, etc.).
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To counter these links that are out to get you, and that slip innocently into your emails and SMS, there are more or less elaborate ways to defend yourself.
What is spam?
Spam is an unwanted message or call, often advertising, that you receive without ever having asked for it. Usually sent in great numbers over the internet or via an email service, these communications can be very annoying and time-consuming. On smartphones, unwanted text messages are usually from unknown numbers or from automated systems.
Spammers are not limited to SMS messages. They can take many other forms, such as junk mail flooding our inboxes, or phone calls from unknown numbers. While the purpose of these senders is usually to promote a product or service, they can also reveal online scams to harvest your personal data, i.e. phishing. However, most spam messages are fairly harmless and filtering them is relatively easy - mailboxes even offer to do this automatically.
To counteract these fraudulent communications, there are ways to block spam calls and messages.
How to block spam calls and SMS?
There are several quick and easy ways to stop receiving unwanted text messages on your mobile phone from a specific number. The first is to use a call and SMS blocking application - such as Hiya, TrueCaller or RoboKiller.
These can be built into your device or are available as third-party programs. In addition, there are companies that specialise in investigating illegal spamming and spoofing (the practice of disguising a communication from an unknown source as one from a known and trusted source). You can therefore relay unwanted SMS and other potentially dangerous messages you receive to them.
For even more security, a second solution is to forward unwanted emails and SMS to your mobile operator. They are becoming increasingly effective in identifying spam numbers and can help reduce the risk of being bombarded by unwanted calls and messages.
Another solution to consider, which is certainly the wisest, is simply not to answer these calls from unknown numbers or from locations that seem unrealistic. If you do answer, you will be telling the spammers that your phone number is active - which may result in a flood of unwanted SMS and calls to you. As a last resort, you can also report a suspicious phone number and file a complaint with the appropriate law enforcement agency.
How do I block spams on my iPhone?
Given their relatively predictable nature (the content of SMS messages sent is often very poor), another solution consists of directly blocking the number from which the message was sent to you. This technique, which is effective in neutralising malicious or overly insistent correspondents, works equally well on iPhone and Android. To do this:
- Click on the number that appears next to the SMS;
- Select the 'info' tab on the right;
- Press 'Block this person'.
You will then no longer have to endure this type of message, at least not through this number.
How to block spams on Android?
To block a spam message on an Android smartphone, the procedure is as follows:
- Open your messaging app and search for the SMS you want to block.
- Then select the three dots in the top right corner of the screen;
- Press 'Block number' and confirm your choice
Please note that call and SMS blocking functions may vary depending on your Android device, so the procedure will be different if you are using a phone and messaging application other than the one installed by default.
Which apps block SMS on iPhones?
Installing a call and SMS blocking app on the iPhone will allow you to reinforce the security of your smartphone, but also that of the application itself. Effective against the vast majority of spams, these message blockers are a great way to combat digital fraud. Here are some of the best apps available for blocking unwanted messages and correspondents on your iPhone:
- TrueCaller: A popular free mobile installation, TrueCaller offers comprehensive incoming call and SMS management. Available for both iOS and Android smartphones, the app allows you to control who calls you by providing detailed information about the person you are calling. Incredibly convenient, the app detects unwanted messages, automated calls and other fraudulent communications before you respond.
- Hiya: Designed to work with iOS, Hiya is a call and text-blocking app that identifies telemarketers and automated calls and then automatically blocks them based on their origin (area code and prefix). Conveniently, it allows you to easily view blacklisted numbers, as well as a reverse directory that helps you identify non-unknown numbers.
- SMS Shield: Specialising in spam filtering, the SMS Shield application, which works with machine learning, offers manual control options that allow you to block SMS messages from certain contacts based on specific keywords. Based on artificial intelligence, its engine identifies both old and new spam. The application offers to block cross-border SMS using a "traveller mode". Practical!
Which applications block SMS on Android?
Just like on the iPhone, spam filtering applications on Android devices allow users to protect the data stored in their smartphones from malware and other malicious messages. Here are the ones we can recommend to you first:
- Call Control: discreet and comprehensive, the Call Control app offers an "incognito mode" that allows you to hide incoming calls and SMS. Its intelligent sorting system rejects all contacts that are confirmed or likely to be in the spam category. As an added bonus, you can create custom blacklists to forget about those nagging numbers.
- Key Messages: an artificial intelligence-based SMS blocking application, Key Messages automatically neutralises messages from unknown contacts.
- Calls Blacklist: Simple and lightweight, Calls Blacklist is an application that blocks incoming calls and messages from unwanted sources. In addition to blocking calls, the software allows the user to turn off call notifications. This means that you can keep the data of the malicious call, without being bothered by it.
You now have all the cards in your possession to never be harassed by spam again!
This article was translated from Gentside FR.
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