Receiving unwanted messages can be annoying, and spammers have unfortunately adapted their methods to match evolving technologies. First, they bombarded us with unwanted materials in our physical mailboxes, making it necessary to go through the process of unsubscribing from catalog lists.
Then, as the internet became popular, spam specialists sent junk mail to our inboxes. Filters catch some of it, but not all. That means our already overloaded email interfaces get even more clogged, increasing the likelihood we’ll overlook genuinely important messages.
The Rise of Spam Texts
As you may already know from experience, the people who spam unsuspecting victims didn’t stop with email. They also turned their attention to smartphones. The fact that they did so isn’t surprising, especially since 2017 data indicates Americans collectively have more than 400 million Wi-Fi connected devices. That statistic is undoubtedly linked to a 42 percent rise in data usage in 2016.
Spammers know many smartphone owners almost always have their devices close at hand. Also, they’re accustomed to receiving content through them. People depend on text messages to schedule dinner dates, ask questions, and simply give greetings to friends and family members.
Therefore, spammers probably assume the likelihood is high that people will at least check their phones after hearing text message notifications. At that point, they’re only one step away from reading the associated content.
Many People Don’t Bother Unsubscribing
Some smartphone owners don’t realize how easy it is to unknowingly sign up for unwanted text messages. Imagine the common scenario of a person filling out an online form while ordering pizza through a delivery service. At the end of the fields containing an individual’s details, there’s often a checkbox for consenting to receive offers from third-party companies.
In many cases, that box has a checkmark in it by default. It’s easy to gloss over that section, as well, especially if the consumer feels hungry for the pizza he or she just ordered. Unless the checkmark gets removed, it’s possible for a company not associated with the food company to contact that customer through a smartphone or other means. Then, the stage is set for spammers to harass people with texts they don’t want.
Notification Sounds Cause Distractions
Many people are already aware smartphones aren’t usually helpful for maintaining focus. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if most of them assumed that using their devices was the culprit behind shaken concentration and if they just kept the phones out of reach, that’s sufficient.
According to a study carried out at Florida State University, merely hearing smartphone notifications causes distractions comparable to using the devices for calls or texts. That means instead of just keeping phones out of reach, it’s also necessary to mute them. That tactic works, but it’s not always practical because it may stop people from receiving the notifications they truly need.
A Specialty App Is an Excellent Defense
If you’re tired of constantly receiving text messages from spammers and aren’t willing to silence notifications altogether, there’s another effective safeguard. It involves downloading a dedicated message blocker called SpamHound.
Developed by a company called Redwerk, it works on the iOS and Android platforms and functions without an internet connection. After downloading and installing it, you can create whitelists and blacklists for SMS and MMS filtering, making it so you only hear from authorized senders.
Also, the application offers filters you can fine-tune to ensure unwanted messages don’t fall through the cracks and get sent to your phone or prevent you from seeing the content you’ve allowed. SpamHound permits creating an unlimited number of filters, too, so you can get as specific as necessary to keep spammers from making headway.
There may also be cases when you receive a text from an unknown number, making it impossible to block it in advance. Luckily, SpamHound provides unknown number filtering, which gives you protection in that situation, too.
By spending a few minutes or less to download this app and set it up, you could avoid countless hassles that arise when you look at your phone and realize the text isn’t from someone you care about but a spammer instead. Whether you typically use your phone for work, pleasure, or both, you owe it to yourself to do something to stop spammers from having an adverse effect on your life. Thankfully, the technology exists to let you take matters into your own hands.