Sophos introduces anti-SMiShing app

Sophos Mobile Security now includes spam filter capabilities for text messages and calls. The filter rules can block specific phone numbers and calls with a hidden caller ID, as well as text messages with potential malicious URLs. Every incoming call or text message is scanned by the app's Spam Protection feature and the active filter rules are applied successively. Blocked calls and text messages are logged in the Quarantine folder, where they can be restored as needed.

"People trust their personal devices, but security requires vigilance," said Chris Hazelton, research director, mobile and wireless of 451 Research. "Gone are the days when hackers merely distributed malware via app stores; these days, consumers are seeing growth in text spam and malicious URLs sent directly to their phones. And this growth makes mobile security offerings that filter out the noise of unwanted messages all the more important, especially as smartphones are increasingly the primary device for everyday use."

Many people trust messages

"Even with the legal crackdown on mobile spammers, SMS spam and SMiShing continues to grow, as there are billions of mobile phone subscribers who use text messaging. More spam means greater annoyance and risk to consumers, as many people trust messages that come directly to their phones or don't necessarily think about what links they're clicking on," said Brett Myroff, CEO of Sophos distributor, NetXactics.

"The latest version of Sophos Mobile Security allows users easily to prevent the onset of SMiShing," he added.

Sophos Mobile Security is offered for free in its standalone version at Google Play. Additionally, Sophos Mobile Security integrates into the company's mobile device management and security solution, Sophos Mobile Control, providing full administrator management and compliance enforcement.