What is SMS Bombing – Know how to stop SMS bombing!

Ever had your phone explode—not literally, of course—with hundreds of unwanted texts in seconds?

If so, you’ve been SMS bombed!🎉 (It’s not as fun as it seems.) If only these people used their skills to send good things, like free pizza coupons, instead of annoying messages.

But don’t worry, you don’t need a special team to fix this—just a few simple ways to stop SMS bombing.

So, let’s get started!💣📱

What is SMS Bombing?

SMS bombing is a cyber attack where a victim receives a massive number of text messages in a short time, clogging their phone and rendering it unusable.

The attackers use auto dialer software or web programs to send bulk spam, verification codes, or promotional messages to the victim’s number.

To some, it is a joke, but SMS bombing is disruptive, invasive, and can even lead to service interruptions. It can also be used for harmful ends such as diverting people’s attention away from essential messages.

Knowing what SMS bombing is will be the key to protecting oneself against such an issue or cyber threat.

📖Note: If you are a victim of SMS bombing, it’s important to report it to the authorities and take steps to protect your privacy and security.

How Does SMS Bombing Work?

SMS bombing, also known as SMS flooding or text bombing, is a form of harassment where a target receives a large number of SMS messages in a short period of time. This can be done manually, but it is often automated using scripts or software.

Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how SMS bombing typically works:

Step 1: Identify the Target

The attacker selects the target’s phone number. This could be someone they want to harass, prank, or disrupt.

Step 2: Choose a Method or Tool

The attacker uses one of the following methods:

• Manual Method: Manually sending multiple messages through different platforms or devices.
• Automated Tools: Using scripts, apps, or websites designed for SMS bombing. These tools automate the process of sending multiple messages.

Step 3: Exploit Vulnerabilities or Services

SMS bombing often exploits free online services or APIs that allow sending SMS messages.

For example:

• Online SMS Services
• APIs
• Scripts

Step 4: Send Bulk Messages

The attacker configures the tool or script to send a large number of messages to the target number.

This can involve:

• Setting the number of messages to send.
• Choosing different message templates to avoid detection.
• Using multiple services or platforms to send messages simultaneously.

Step 5: Overwhelm the Target

The target’s phone is flooded with messages, which can:

• Drain the phone’s battery.
• Consume storage space.
• Disrupt normal usage by causing constant notifications.
• Overload the phone’s messaging app.

Step 6: Cover Tracks

Attackers may use proxies, VPNs, or other methods to hide their identity and avoid being traced.

How to Stop SMS Bombing?

In order to prevent SMS bombing, you require a blend of proactive steps, immediate measures, and lasting solutions to shield against SMS bombs.

Below a complete guidelines to help you avoid and survive SMS bombing:

1. Immediate Measures to Block SMS Bombing

• Activate Do Not Disturb Mode: Enable this feature on your device to mute calls or notifications from unsaved or spam numbers for some minutes. This will limit interference as you take corrective measures.

• Block Spam Numbers: Block numbers that are sending spam manually. Most smartphones can block numbers directly from the messaging app.

• Report Spam: Report messages by using the “Report Spam” or “Report Junk” option in your messaging app. This helps your service provider to detect and block the sources of spam.

2. Use Anti-Spam Apps and Software

• Install Anti-Spam Apps: Use reputable apps like Truecaller, Hiya, or SMS Blocker to automatically detect and filter out spam messages. These applications typically have known spam numbers lists and can filter out unwanted messages.

• Enable Built-In Spam Filters: The majority of smartphones (Android and iOS, for example) have built-in SMS filter capabilities. Ensure that they are enabled within your messaging application settings.

3. Strengthen Your Privacy and Security

• Prevent Sharing Your Number Publicly: Don’t put your phone number on social media, forums, or public websites. This reduces the chances of your number being targeted by spam callers.

• Use a Secondary Number: Use an alternate or virtual phone number for online sign-ups, subscriptions, or public use. Apps like Google Voice or Burner can provide temporary numbers.

• Be Careful with Online Forms: Only provide your phone number to reputable websites and services. Don’t put it on suspicious or unverified sites.

4. Long-Term Solutions

• Change Your Number (Last Resort): If the bombing persists and is intolerable, attempt to change your phone number. It is a last resort but can be useful if everything else fails.

• Educate Yourself and Others: Educate yourself on common spam and phishing attempts. Share this with your friends and family so they can protect themselves.

5. Legal Actions

• File a Complaint: If the SMS bombing is harassing or severe, file a complaint with your local police or cybercrime unit. Spam and harassment are illegal in most countries.

• Report to Regulatory Authorities: In certain areas, you can report spam messages to regulatory authorities.

6. Preventive Measures for the Future

• Regularly Update Your Device: Keep your phone operating system and applications updated from time to time to receive the latest security fixes.

• Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): If you have your number tied to sensitive accounts, enable 2FA to add an extra layer of security.

• Keep an Eye on Your Accounts: Periodically monitor your online accounts for any malicious activity linked with your phone number.

How to Identify Who is Behind SMS Bombing?

It can challenge you to know who is behind SMS bombing attacks, so you need to investigate and potentially uncover the source of the attack.

Let’s see the step-by-step guide:

I. Analyze the Messages

Investigate sender information, patterns, and, of course, content. Search for clues such as phone numbers, links, or specific references that could point to the identity of the attacker. Without going into details, this initial analysis provides many pieces of information about the nature of the attack.

II. Use Reserve Lookup Tools

Using services such as Truecaller or Whitepages, if one has any suspicious numbers, the person who owns that number can be identified.

Most of the time, these numbers are spoofed or temporary; hence, reverse lookups would not be effective for many. But it works in tracing genuine numbers used in the attack.

III. Check For Online Services

If the messages come from some online service, identify that service and report the abuse. Service providers might be able to trace back to the accounts or IP addresses from which the messages were sent, thereby revealing the attacker’s identity.

IV. Monitor Your Online Presence

Search for your phone number in online directories to check if it’s listed publicly. Remove it from directories or hide it to reduce future risks of being targeted. If you find your number publicly listed, take steps to remove it; this will reduce the risk of being targeted in the future.

V. Use Cybersecurity Tools

Facilitate the installation of anti-spam or security apps to message suspicious text messages or calls. They can actually foresee blocking messages on bombing attempts and provide an insight into the source of the attack. These tools can help manage message overload and identify sources of the attack.

Types of SMS Bombing

SMS bombing can take many shapes, each trying to fill the receiver’s phone with unwanted messages. Knowing the types of SMS bombings helps one take the necessary steps to ensure protection for oneself and his or her devices.

Let us go through the types of SMS bombings most commonly found and how they work:

1. Automated SMS Bombing

Automated SMS bombings, where scripts or bots are used to bomb a phone with messages. The attackers use the SMS services or APIs available to send hundreds of messages to the targets within a very short period of time. This is popular for the very fact that it is very fast and efficient with no, or minor, human input involved once started.

2. Random SMS Bombing

Random SMS bombing is often used for pranks or vast-scale disruptions. Since it is completely random and non-personalized, it can still create ample confusion and annoyance to the receivers.

3. Phishing SMS Bombing

Phishing SMS bombings would send fake messages in an attempt to lure the victims to reveal private information or malicious websites. These messages, in reality, impersonate legitimate entities such as banks in an effort to steal sensitive data from the person’s identity.

4. Subscription SMS Bombing

Subscription SMS bombing fills a phone number with huge SMSs by subscribing that number to multiple services or newsletters very few times over. Users receive alarming amounts of code or promotional SMS messages for verification, bringing constant annoyance and disruption.

5. Botnet-Based SMS Bombing

Botnet-based SMS bombing requires a network of infected devices that bombard a target with very huge messages. These devices are controlled remotely, and since they’re all sending messages at once, it becomes very hard for the target to block or trace their source.

6. Targeted SMS Bombing

The targeted SMS bombing is the type that is aimed at individuals or organizations, with a focus on harassment or revenge. This is often intentional and personal, as it is designed to cause emotional trauma by obtaining the feelings that the repeated messages are focusing on the victim.

These six types of SMS bombings show the various means by which attackers abuse SMS technology to disrupt, deceive, or harass. From random joke plays to targeted hits, each of them methods the aim to quench the recipient. Knowing these types helps pro-cocitied for protecting themselves against such threats.

The Impact of SMS Bombing on Individuals and Businesses

SMS bombing floods phones with texts, disrupting communication for individuals and businesses. It causes stress, financial costs, and operational issues.

Here’s a table outlining the impact of SMS bombing on individuals and businesses:

Mitigation and Prevention of SMS Bombing for Individuals and Businesses

SMS bombing can disrupt both individuals and businesses, but preventive steps can help. Individuals should use spam filters, block unknown numbers, and limit number exposure.

Therefore, Companies must secure their systems with SMS firewalls, authentication measures, and employee training. Legal action and compliance also help in preventing such attacks.

Here’s a table outlining the mitigation and prevention of SMS bombings for individuals and businesses:

SMS Bombing: How Can You Protect Yourself?

SMS bombing can be disruptive, but there are simple and easy steps that you can take to protect yourself and minimize SMS bombing.

Let’s see the step-by-step process to safeguard your phone and personal information:

Step 1: Avoid Sharing Your Phone Number Publicly

Sharing your phone number publicly can increase the risk of SMS bombing, where your numbers can fall into the wrong hands, so you have to be careful and avoid sharing your phone number publicly.

Step 2: Enable Spam Filters

This could be the better option as it will be enabled automatically by at least some telecommunication operators or a majority of mobile phones when they acknowledge it as the act of spamming. You can easily switch your built-in spam filter on or download third-party apps like Trucaller.

Step 3: Block Unknown Numbers

Blocking unknown or suspicious numbers can help stop such repeated messages from the same sender. You could also do it manually if you have to or just kill the autodial-on-the-lookout apps.

Step 4: Report to Your Mobile Carrier

When there is an SMS bombing attack going on, the first thing to do would be to send an SOS to your mobile service. They will be able to obstruct the number if necessary and do what they want to limit the malignant issue from damaging your phone.

Step 5: Use Do Not Disturb Mode

This can be enabled on your phone to stop incoming messages and calls for a while, giving you a respite from dozens of text messages hitting your phone incessantly, especially during the ongoing SMS bombing attack.

Step 6: Avoid Clicking on Suspicious Links

You might receive clickbait from SMS bombing attacks, so be very wary of any suspicious links within messages and do not click on them because they could transport you to extremely harmful web pages or infect your handset with malware.

Step 7: Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) with Apps

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for those very important and sensitive accounts. This then uniquely helps bolster security from the attack of unwanted guests, even if your phone number is being bombarded with spam messages.

Step 8: Monitor Your Online Accounts

Oftentimes, there will be suspicious activities going on in your bank accounts, email, and other types of social media accounts, especially when you are receiving a lot of SMS or in a case where you suspect SMS is an act of personal malpractice.

Step 9: Report to Authorities

When you receive direct threats or harassment-incited SMS bombing, this should be reported to those capable of addressing it, which includes local authorities or police departments.

Step 10: Stay Informed and Vigilant

Being aware is half the battle; understand what new phishing techniques exist and what new ways are being developed in order to provide security for oneself. The vast amount of knowledge about SMS bombing attacks’ tactics you may learn would better prepare you to deal with them should they arise.

Conclusion

SMS bombing is an inconsiderate issue, but it’s highly manageable with the proper steps. Keeping your phone locked with settings like two-factor authentication, blocking unknown numbers, and not clicking spam links will limit the opportunity of bombarded texts.

In case you’re affected by SMS bombing, react in a timely manner by complaining about the issue to your provider and employing anti-spam apps. Staying alert and proactive will keep you away from these digital distractions, with your phone in safe hands and messaging experience intact.

Let SMS bombers not ruin your day—empower yourself and protect yourself!

FAQs

How can I protect myself from SMS bombing?

Here’s how you can protect yourself from SMS bombing:

• Avoid sharing your phone number publicly.
• Enable spam filters on your device.
• Use anti-spam apps for added protection
• Avoid clicking on suspicious links in text messages.

What are some popular SMS bomber tools?

Popular SMS bomber tools include SMS Bomber APK, Bomber Bot, Online SMS Bombing Websites, and SMS Flooder. While some are used for software testing, they are often misused for harassment and cyberattacks.

What are the common motives behind SMS Bombing attacks?

The motives can range from pranks and trolling to harassment, cyberbullying, or even diverting attention for fraudulent activities.

What steps should I take if I become a victim of SMS Bombing?

Immediately report the incident to your service provider, use anti-spam tools to block messages, and consider changing your phone number if attacks persist.