PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)'s enforcement of a directive to block short messaging services (SMS) with prohibited content from Sept 1 is a major piece of cyber security policy to protect consumers and the public.

The prohibited content includes hyperlinks, personal information requests and callback numbers.

MCMC commission member Derek John Fernandez said this policy would protect consumers and the public from scams, phishing websites and malware.

"It reduces the cybercriminals' options. This will also have to be extended to other internet messaging systems as the criminal will move to other delivery methods to entice the victim to click on malicious links," he said.

Fernandez was responding to a statement by MCMC that the enforcement aimed to safeguard users from the growing risk of SMS-based scams.

Fernandez said that for now, as a precaution, the public can and should assume all links on SMS are fraud.

"They should also not click on links on any internet messaging as a precaution unless they can confidently independently verify the web address using credible search engine tools.

"The average person will not be able to tell by looking at a link on an SMS or internet message if it's a scam link or not.

"Advertisers can still advertise using SMS but need not use a link," he said.

Telcos such as CelcomDigi have announced in an FAQ that the directive to block SMS with prohibited content applies to local and international Person-to-Person (P2P) SMS and Application-to-Person (A2P)/Enterprise SMS.

The directive will also apply when the user is abroad or using roaming services.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/09/03/mcmc-implements-directive-to-protect-consumers-from-sms-based-scams