Fake links in SMSes are a common tactic used by scammers to trick unsuspecting individuals into revealing sensitive information. These links often appear legitimate but direct users to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal data or install malware on their devices. This has led to the government deciding to block URL links in SMSes.
Free Malaysia Today reports that the Ministry of Communications and Digital has instructed all telecommunications companies to block any URL links contained in SMSes in order to prevent individuals from falling prey to online scams.
URL or Uniform Resource Locator, is a unique address that identifies a specific webpage on the internet. It usually begins with “http://” or “https://” and includes the domain name, such as “google.com”, and a path to a specific page or resource on that website. URLs can be clicked on or entered into a web browser’s address bar to access the corresponding webpage.
Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching stated that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) issued this directive to ensure that users don’t accidentally click on fraudulent links and compromise their personal information.
While acknowledging that this directive will be implemented gradually, she expressed hope that the involved companies will comply with the directive as soon as possible.
