Cybersecurity tools launch to combat SMS scams and spam calls

New tools and methods are emerging to combat the rising nuisance of spam calls and fraudulent SMS messages on smartphones.

Surfshark has launched a Scam Text Protection feature that utilizes artificial intelligence to analyze incoming SMS messages in real time. The tool scans for dangerous URLs, suspicious sender numbers, and social engineering patterns. On iOS, detected scams are automatically moved to a spam folder without notification to prevent accidental clicks. On Android, the system provides an alert, allowing users to view the message within a controlled environment in the Surfshark app.

For voice calls, iPhone users can utilize built-in iOS features to manage unwanted contact. Methods include manually blocking specific numbers through the Phone app or using the ‘Silence Unknown Callers’ setting, which sends any number not in the user's contacts directly to voicemail.