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Blocking Text Message Spam
By Christina Mulberry
It's been estimated that e-mail spam makes up 90% of all e-mail traffic. Luckily, the volume of text message spam is significantly less than this. In the not so distant past, many cell phones didn't have the ability to send and receive SMS so the problem didn't exist at all. Now most cell phones do provide this ability, so SPAM has begun to rear it's ugly head. Unfortunately, the volume of text messaging SPAM is expected to escalate in the next few years. It seems that part of the reason SPAM on your cell phone is expected to increase, is due to the fact that the cost of text messaging is decreasing. With the decreased cost, and increased size of the potential audience, SPAM will become more economically viable for offenders. Cellular providers and regulatory bodies of course are making efforts to thwart this anticipated problem, but consumers would be wise to take steps to protect themselves as well. The basic rules of keeping your phone number private can help. Certainly too, anyone who receives spam should report it to their provider. Customers shouldn't be charged to receive unwanted messages. Most cellular providers also give users ways of blocking or filtering messages from unknown parties which can help as well. Blocking text messages that originate from the internet is particularly useful. Other providers allow you to block specific numbers so that if you are receiving SPAM from the same place repeatedly, you can put an end to it. You can usually find a way to do this from your provider's website. There are also software products on the market that can block text messages. TextGuard is one of the better known. The software also assists in stopping unwanted calls and provides monitoring of messages and calls being received on a minor's phone, if that is desired. A search online will reveal additional software solutions. |
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I think I got my first text spam today. I never got those until I got the android "Google" phone. I did install a program to deal with it, but haven't had time to use it yet. I was lazy and just deleted the message. Unbelievably, Sprint does not allow us to block certain callers. Their solution if you have junk calls is to block the whole account. That is ridiculous and the rep did not know to advise me about 3rd party software. But I went to the Android Market and found some to try. The one I chose works on both text and calls.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Good for you for being proactive. Hopefully your first SPAM will be your last.
I'm not a fan of text messaging, Christina, as I firmly believe it deteriorates our communication skills. If correct spelling was necessary to send a message,a lot of the garbage would disappear. Our children don't need this dysfunctional communication skill.
Thank you for sharing.
Best wishes.
Frederick
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Yes, the same non-standard communication was used in online chat and so forth which is also prevalent. I suppose the SMS abbreviations and so forth are as legit as morse code or anything else...it's just the fact that kids use it almost exclusively that makes it a problem for that group.
Its a shame that whenever a technology comes along, somebody (or many somebodies) decide to abuse it. Spam has been the detriment to so many technologies. Thanks for the info.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Cellular providers are working the the FCC etc. to try to nip this in the bud, hopefully it won't get to the same point as e-mail spam.
Franklyn's Rule: Every new benefit contains the seed to an equal or greater problem.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Right...you have to hand it to spammers, snake oil salesmen, etc. They always find a way.
Thanks, Christina. That's one of the reasons that I won't text. I don't care much for the idea of texting on a phone anyway.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Yes, numbers show that those of us over 35 really don't use text messaging. Those under 25 use it far, far more than voice calling.
As someone who detests texting for similar reasons as those mentioned by Frederick I have kept to a simple mobile. However with four youngsters who live-by-mobile at least I can pass your intel onto them. Thanks for that Christina.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Simple works for me as well!
The copyright for this content entitled "Blocking Text Message Spam" has been specified by the contributor as:
All Rights Reserved
This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.
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This intel was contributed by mulberry
mulberry
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May, 2012
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