As you all know, scammers have different methods to con you into giving them money. One of these methods is including URLs in SMS, which can redirect you to websites that either steal your information or money. Well, Maxis has already confirmed when it will start blocking this.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) issued a directive to local telcos to block all SMS with URL links. According to this Maxis FAQ, this move will be enforced starting from 2 May 2023. The FAQ also confirms that Maxis will completely block the sending and receiving of any SMS with URL links.
This measure could ensure that less security-savvy Malaysians would not get scammed through this method. However, this also means that Malaysians can no longer share URL links via SMS. As an alternative, you're encouraged to share links through other apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, etc. Honestly, this isn't a problem for most Malaysians. But less tech-savvy people, like the elderly or those without smartphones (yes, they still exist), could be inconvenienced by this change.
With that said, do you think this solution is a good one? What else can KKD and local telcos do to deter scammers? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned to TechNave for more local news.
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