Can You Get Hacked By Replying To A Text?

If you own a phone, you’ve likely received texts from unknown senders alerting you to an impending delivery, a free holiday, or even a mysterious inheritance. All these messages ask is for you to simply click a link. Sound familiar? Then you know they’re fake.

The scale of this problem has reached staggering new heights. In 2024 alone, Americans reported losing $470 million to scams that started with text messages—a five-fold increase from 2020. Even more alarming, in April 2024, Americans received 19.2 billion spam texts in just one month, translating to nearly 63 spam texts for every person in the country.

Thanks to new legislation forcing phone companies to block robocalls, text messages are now one of the most popular methods hackers use to infiltrate smartphones.

Fortunately, hackers can rarely breach your device just by sending you a text message. It’s what you do after receiving the message that is crucial in determining whether the attack is successful or not.

In this article, we’ll cover how you can be hacked via text and provide practical tips on protecting yourself from unwanted text messages and SMS hacks.

Can Phones Get Hacked from Text Messages?

As mentioned above, it’s highly unlikely you’ll get hacked by simply receiving a text message. The problem comes in when you reply to a text or click on a link it provides.

Following a link can allow attackers to hack your phone, and responding to a text can open you up to phishing or social engineering attacks—which we will expand on shortly.

SMS hacks or spam texts typically involve leveraging social engineering techniques to deceive the user into giving out private or personal information. Some more advanced attacks even exploit vulnerabilities in the messaging app or operating system to take complete control of the device.

Fig 1. Example of a fraudulent text message.

How Can Your Phone Be Hacked via Text?

SMS phishing (Smishing)

🔺 How it works: Attackers send fraudulent text messages that appear to come from trustworthy online accounts, like banks or legitimate companies.

The message usually prompts the recipient to act by following malicious links or calling a number.

⚠️ The Risk: Once the recipient follows these instructions, they might be directed to malicious websites where they unwittingly provide their sensitive data, login credentials, or banking information to hackers. Alternatively, they could download malware onto their device.

If you’ve followed a suspicious link, don’t worry. Here’s our guide on what to do if you have clicked on a phishing link.

Malicious links or attachments

🔺 How it works: The text message contains a link or attachment that, when clicked or downloaded, installs malware on the user’s device.

⚠️ The Risk: Once installed, this malware can steal sensitive information, monitor user activity, or provide backdoor access to the device.

So, to avoid falling victim, don’t visit links or download attachments from unknown numbers.

A zero-click exploit

🔺 How it works: Attackers send specially crafted text messages containing malicious code that exploits vulnerabilities in the messaging app or the device’s operating system.

⚠️ The Risk: These messages can allow attackers to crash the device or gain unauthorized access without any action from the user. While most require you to click on a link, some exploits are even zero-click, meaning the user doesn’t need to interact with the message for the hacker to access the device.

Messaging apps are often targeted because they receive large amounts of data from unknown sources without requiring action from the target phone.

Identifying Spam Messages

Fraudsters send billions of unsolicited messages each month, hoping that a small percentage of people will respond. And their scams are getting harder and harder to spot.

Now that you understand how you can get hacked by replying (or not!) to a spam text message, here are a few ways to spot suspicious messages:

• Unknown sender: If the message is from an unknown number or a short code you don’t recognize, it could be a sign of spam. Be especially cautious if the message urges immediate action or tries to instill a sense of urgency.
• Suspicious links: Be wary of any unexpected links in messages. Don’t follow them. Spammers often use shortened URLs (e.g. https://tinyurl.com/34htt43y) to hide the final destination.
• Offers that seem too good to be true: If you receive unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true (e.g., winning a lottery you didn’t enter, huge discounts etc), it’s likely spam.
• Requests for personal information: Legitimate organizations usually don’t ask for sensitive information (like passwords, Social Security numbers, or bank account details) via text message. Be suspicious of any message that does.
• Grammar and spelling mistakes: Many spam texts, especially those from international sources, contain glaring spelling and grammatical errors.
• Instructions to text ‘STOP’ or ‘NO’: While legitimate companies often offer an opt-out option, some spammers use this as a trick to confirm that your number is active.
• Random codes: If you didn’t request a code (e.g., for two-factor authentication or a password reset) but received one, someone might be trying to access one of your accounts. Instead of using the code, go directly to the service’s official website or app to check on your account.

How to Protect Your Device From Text Hacking

➡️ Beware of unknown senders

Receiving spam texts is generally harmless; clicking links in spam text messages is not. It is never a good idea to click on links in text messages from unknown senders.

If you receive a message from a known contact, but the content seems out of character or unexpected, contact them through another method to confirm its legitimacy.

➡️ Don’t reply to scam texts

As mentioned above, spotting malicious texts is easy if you are vigilant.

When you receive a random text from an unknown person, you might be tempted to reply and call them out. Don’t.

Your first defense against spam texts is never to reply to unknown numbers (this applies to phone calls, too!)

Unless you know the sender, texting back can be dangerous, leading to more spam texts or potential scams.

➡️ Block spam numbers

Most phones give you the control to block numbers that send you spam messages, meaning they can no longer contact you. Here’s how:

How to block spam texts on Android:

1. Open the spam text and tap the three dots icon in the top-right corner.
2. Tap Details.
3. Tap Block and report spam.

Fig 2. Blocking a caller on Android.

How to block spam texts on an iPhone:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Open a spam text message and tap the name or number of the sender at the top.
3. Select Block Contact.

Fig 3. Blocking a caller on an iPhone.

➡️ Use Message Screening

Both iPhone and Android devices offer built-in message screening features that automatically sort texts from unknown senders away from your main inbox.

These tools help keep spam and suspicious messages out of sight while still allowing you to access them if needed.

For iPhone users:

iOS 26 introduced a powerful message screening feature that automatically sorts texts from unknown numbers away from your main inbox.

When you receive messages from unfamiliar senders, they’re silently moved to separate “Unknown Senders” or “Spam” folders without cluttering your main messages inbox.

This feature is particularly effective at blocking phishing attempts, fake delivery notifications, and messages containing malicious links. The key benefit is that these filtered messages stay completely silent until you actively choose to review them.

To check if message screening is enabled:

1. Open Settings > Apps > Messages.
2. Make sure Screen Unknown Senders and Filter Spam are enabled.

You can safely review filtered messages later and decide what to do with each one—mark the sender as legitimate, ask for more information, or simply delete them.

Fig 4. Enabling message screening on iPhone.

For Android users:

Android phones using Google Messages have built-in spam protection that automatically detects and filters suspicious texts.

To enable spam protection on Android:

1. Open Google Messages.
2. Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.
3. Select Messages settings.
4. Tap Protection and safety.
5. Toggle on Spam protection.

Fig 5. Enabling spam protection on Android.

➡️ Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A VPN helps to secure your Internet connection and protect the data you send and receive online. We would highly recommend NordVPN.

VPNs protect your privacy online by hiding your IP address and encrypting your traffic. This makes it more difficult for third parties to track your online activity and steal your data.

This protection is especially valuable on public Wi-Fi networks, which are prime hunting grounds for hackers looking to steal personal data.

➡️ Install antivirus software

Phone hacking via text message is a problem for users of both iPhone and Android devices. Installing antivirus software is one of the best ways to protect your cell phone.

Security software like Certo AntiSpy for iPhone and Android helps protect your device by detecting malicious apps and other cyber threats.

Here are some of the key benefits:

• Detecting spyware or bugging software on your device.
• Analyzing your operating system for signs that it has been compromised.
• Removing threats and restoring your privacy.
• Identifying which apps have access to your location, camera, etc.

Fig 6. Certo AntiSpy for Android.

➡️ Enable two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security process that requires two different methods to verify a user’s identity. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to access a user’s account, even if they have the user’s password.

2FA works by securing an account with two pieces of information:

• Something you know: This is usually a password, PIN, or passphrase.
• Something you have: This could be a physical token, such as a security key, or a one-time code generated by a mobile app.

How to set up 2FA on Android:

1. Go to your Google Account.
2. Tap Security and sign-in.
3. Tap the 2-Step Verification option and follow the on-screen instructions.

How to set up 2FA on an iPhone:

1. Go to the Settings app and select your name.
2. Select Sign-In & Security.
3. Look for Two-Factor Authentication and tap to turn on.

Final Thoughts

So, can you get hacked by replying to a text? The short answer is no.

However, the more significant risk lies in the content of the text. If it contains a link and you follow it, you could inadvertently download malware or be led to a scam site.

Simply responding might not give hackers the keys to your digital kingdom, but it can get you on a spammer’s radar.

It’s like opening your door to a stranger—you might just get an annoying sales pitch, but there’s always the risk of something more malicious lurking. So, play it safe: steer clear of engaging with or clicking on anything from numbers you don’t recognize.

Luckily, other ways exist to protect yourself from unsolicited texts and phone calls:

• Be vigilant and understand the telltale signs that a message is malicious.
• Ignore spam texts and block them.
• Use a VPN and activate 2FA on your devices.
• Install a reputable security app like Certo AntiSpy for iPhone or Android to stay ahead of scammers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What happens if you reply to a spam text?

Replying to spam texts confirms your number is active, putting you on scammers’ target lists for future attacks. While a simple reply won’t hack your phone directly, it opens the door to more sophisticated scams and phishing attempts. The safest approach is never to reply to unknown numbers—just block and report them instead.

Can someone hack your phone through text?

Not through the text message itself, but clicking malicious links or downloading attachments from texts can install malware on your device. Advanced “zero-click” exploits exist but are extremely rare and typically used only by governments. The real danger comes from what you do after receiving the message—clicking, replying, or sharing personal information.

What should I do if I accidentally clicked a link in a spam text?

Close the browser immediately and don’t enter any information. Run a security scan with Certo AntiSpy to check for malware. Monitor your accounts for unusual activity and change passwords if needed. If you entered any personal details, contact the relevant organization immediately. Report the message as spam to prevent future attacks.

Why am I suddenly getting more spam texts than before?

Spam texts have exploded—Americans received 19.2 billion in just April 2024. Scammers are using AI to create more convincing messages, your number may have been sold in a data breach, or you accidentally confirmed it’s active by replying to previous spam. Plus, stronger call-blocking technology has pushed scammers from robocalls to texts.