IT experts urge that you stop sending SMS text messages again

Experts warn that this outdated technology developed in Europe in the 1980s puts your messages at risk for tracking by cybercriminals.

Instead, the public needs to use software designed as whatsapp, which turns messages into a secret code that can only be deciphered by the receiver.

“SMS has no encryption, making it more vulnerable to wiretapping, fraud and other forms of unauthorized excise”, said Dan Lattimer, cyber security expert at the Semperis software company for MailOnline.

“From the security perspective, switching from SMS to encrypted mail applications like WhatsApp, Signal or other may be wise, especially when sensitive or personal information is communicated”.

John Kingston, cyber security legalist at Nottingham Trent University, called the message with SMS an old technology and thus vulnerable in more than one way.

“SMS has many of the same weaknesses that emails have, like sending false connections for diving or filling in recipients with unwanted messages,” he told MailOnline.

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The SMS, which stands for short message service, was invented in the 1980 ' s, but its peak was at the end of the last century.

It was December 1992, when the first SMS message that simply read Christmas was sent by British engineer Neil Papworth from his computer to colleague Richard Yavis, who accepted it on his wireless phone, Orbittel.

As most of those belonging to the millennium generation will remember, SMS was an essential part of using a mobile phone, be it Nokia 3310, BlackBerry or Motorola Razr.

SMS is usually transmitted through mobile networks, massive infrastructure that enables wireless communication between mobile devices.

But 25 years later, this technology has been replaced by apps like WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram, which use end encryption (E2EE).

Already considered a privacy standard, E2E codon messages, causing them to be decrypted only by recipient and no one else in the middle.

On the other hand, SMS messages are not finally encrypted, which means they can be bugged or read by anyone including hackers or even your own network operator.

“A SMS message sent as a simple text, which means there is no encryption,” added Lattimer.

“This means that the content of your messages can be copyed and read easily by unauthorized parties. Moreover, your mobile service provider saves these messages along with data such as sender numbers and recipients, giving them full access to your communications. ”

Latifer said that SMS “may be considered outdated”, but abandoning it full “is not fully practical “because “continues to play some essential roles”.

For example, SMS is still useful for authentication with two <x0 points Who sends a code to your phone to help you access your online accounts.

It also remains universal accessive, said Mr. Latifer, in the sense that it can be used in areas where Internet connections are uncertain.

A balanced approach may include using secure message applications when possible, especially for private conversations, saving SMS for cases when access is a concern”, he added.

“like any older technology, it can be modernised and security can be integrated in the future. ”

Marc Rivero, a researcher at the Caspian cyber security company, agreed that SMS “also has his own place”, while calling it an outdated “in terms of security”.

“SMS functions without internet access, simple phones, and as an opportunity for two factors (2FA) when there are no alternatives,” said Mr. Rivero.