Check out this month's cybersecurity tip!

Cybersecurity Tip for July 2026

Did you know? Cyber criminals can now mimic legitimate cell towers with a portable device known as an SMS blaster. 

This type of technology—originally developed for law enforcement—can be carried in car trunks, or even in a backpack, making it easy for criminals to set up operations in heavily populated areas. The SMS blaster allows them to bypass the internet and send scam text messages directly to users’ phones via a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone app (or through the blaster itself). 

This technology is becoming more widely used. Earlier this spring, Canadian authorities arrested three people and confiscated three SMS blasters, believed to be the first known use of this technology in Canada. The authorities estimated that tens of thousands of devices had connected to the blasters before the arrests. 

Don’t Click Links in Unexpected Text Messages

SMS blaster technology is just the latest smishing—SMS phishing—tactic. All smishing scams are designed to trick people into clicking on malicious links or sharing personal information. The safest approach to unexpected text messages is to slow down and verify before you act.

• Do not click links in unexpected text messages, even if the message looks like it came from a bank, delivery service or other trusted company.
• Never share passwords, codes, payment details or personal information by text.
• If a message seems urgent, go directly to the company’s official app or type the website address into your browser instead of using the link.

• Report suspicious messages through the appropriate channels and delete them once reported. 
• If you experience suspicious messages at BW, please report the instance to your service desk: 
  • Enterprise IT Service
  • DG Help Desk

An SMS Blaster found by Canadian authorities.

Sources:

Messaging, Malware and Mobile Anti-Abuse Working Group (M3AAWG). (n.d.). SMS blasters are on the rise: Here’s what the anti-abuse community needs to know. https://www.m3aawg.org/blog/SMSBlasterEngagementSeries

Thank you for doing your part to help keep our network and your information safe!