Surfshark takes aim at the smishing epidemic with new real-time scam text protection

Date:
Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:44:36 +0000

Description:
Surfshark is expanding its anti-fraud arsenal with a real-time scam text protection tool designed to detect and block malicious "smishing" messages on mobile devices before they can do any harm.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Surfshark unveils scam text protection against SMS-based phishing The AI-driven tool screens texts in
real time on iOS and Android The feature is available for Surfshark One and Surfshark One+ subscribers If your phone is constantly buzzing with
suspicious package delivery updates or urgent bank alerts, you aren't alone. Americans received an average of 19.2 billion spam texts per month in late 2023, a near-threefold increase since 2021. To tackle this growing epidemic, one of the best VPN providers on the market, Surfshark , has launched a dedicated real-time tool to fight back against SMS fraud.

Following the company's recent decision to shift its focus to fighting scams
, the new scam text protection feature is designed to safeguard mobile users from "smishing" (SMS phishing). Using AI-driven technology, the tool screens incoming messages to detect dangerous URLs, suspicious sender numbers, and fraudulent content before you can accidentally click on them. With SMS scams now accounting for 35% of all phishing attempts globally, blocking these threats at the source is becoming essential for mobile security.

Recently, we have introduced a scam protection hub , a unified space to make it easier for users to defend against modern, human-centric cyberthreats like scams, phishing, or identity fraud," explained Dominykas Simkus, Senior Product Manager at Surfshark. "Scam text protection is our newest feature to be introduced to face these online threats and help users fight increasingly sophisticated SMS-based scams.

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text protection works The new feature handles threats differently depending
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For iPhone users, it works entirely in the background. Once a scam signature or suspicious pattern is detected, the iOS native Messages app automatically moves the fraudulent text to the Spam folder. You won't even receive a notification, effectively removing the temptation to open the message.

On Android , the approach is more transparent. Users receive a warning notification from Surfshark alerting them to a detected scam. Clicking the notification opens the message in a controlled, risk-free environment within the Surfshark app, allowing you to examine the contents safely without accidentally triggering a malicious link.

Users also gain access to an in-app dashboard detailing their blocked suspicious messages. In a unique addition for US citizens, the dashboard even calculates an estimate of how much money they likely saved by avoiding each fraudulent text. For those worried about privacy, Surfshark explicitly states that the feature does not retain your messages, monitor your phone generally, or use any private data to train its AI models.

"While traditional cybersecurity focuses on malware and hacking, modern scams increasingly target human behavior through social engineering techniques that exploit trust, urgency, and exposed personal data," said Simkus, explaining that SMS-based sophisticated scams are very difficult to spot.

"Our tool is built to spot mistakes or suspicious patterns in order to avoid any interaction with bad actors," Simkus added.

The Scam text protection feature is rolling out now for users subscribed to the premium Surfshark One and Surfshark One+ plans. To get immediate access, Surfshark recommends manually updating your app via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Today's best Surfshark deals +3 months free Surfshark 24 Months 1.79 /mth View at Surfshark Surfshark 12 Months 2.49 /mth View at Surfshark Surfshark 1 Month 11.99 /mth View at Surfshark Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-services/surfshark-takes-aim-at-the-smishing -epidemic-with-new-real-time-scam-text-protection


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