How do you block spam messages on your phone?

As soon as you hear the familiar sound of an incoming message, you are always curious who wants to contact you. Usually it is a family member, partner, boyfriend, girlfriend or colleague. But not always. Spam messages are increasingly being sent via SMS or WhatsApp, often containing a malicious link. How do you block such messages and how do you ensure that they do not install rogue software on your phone unnoticed?
Spam messages are less intrusive than spam calls because they are easier to ignore. But they are no less dangerous, quite the contrary. Spam messages are often more dangerous than spam calls because you are more likely to click on a link that is not trustworthy.
But there is also good news, there are several ways to block such messages and it is also fairly easy to protect your phone against malware, viruses and scammers.

Block spam messages
It is important that you do not interact with the sender of the message. So don’t comment and don’t click on a link. The click may install malware or redirect you to an untrustworthy website.
If you respond to a spam message, there is a chance that your phone number will be shared with even more scammers and you will likely receive more spam messages.

Block the phone number
You can block a number that has sent unwanted messages. The downside to this approach is that spammers usually spoof or switch phone numbers. So even if you block the number, you can still receive messages from the same spammer using a different number. Block a phone number for an iPhone or Android device in the following way:

– iPhone: On an iPhone, open the text message you received. Tap the phone number at the top of the screen, then tap the Info-knob. In the next screen, select Block this caller and then tap Block contact to confirm.
– Android: On an Android phone, open the text and tap the three dots icon in the top right corner. The steps will then vary based on your phone and Android version and any shell. Select the option Block number or select Details and then tap Block and Report Spam†
– WhatsApp: open the WhatsApp app on your phone, select ‘Account’ and go to ‘Privacy’, go to ‘Blocked’ and then click ‘Add’

Disable spam messages
On an Android phone, you can disable all possible spam messages through Google’s Messages app. Tap the three dots icon in the top right corner of the app and select Settings > Spam protection and turn on the switch Enable spam protection at. Your phone will now warn you if an incoming message is suspected of being spam.
In iOS, you can filter messages from unknown senders in its own folder in the Messages app. Activate it via Settings > Messaging > Filter unknown senders†

Secure your phone
Despite being as vigilant as possible, it can sometimes happen that you overlook a malicious message or mistake it for a trustworthy message. Now that doesn’t have to be a problem if you protect your phone with software that aims to protect you against malware, scammers and viruses. You can protect and secure your phone in an easy way, we are happy to give you some tips.

There are several apps available in the App Store or Google Play Store that promise to protect you from unwanted messages and phone calls. But the experiences are variable and the prices differ considerably. A quick search often gives multiple options, but read the reviews carefully.

Use a VPN & antivirus
The most obvious option is to use a VPN and antivirus software. A VPN protects your online privacy and ensures that you can use the internet more safely. Do you want to know more about what a VPN is and what it can do for you? Then take a look at ExpressVPN’s What is VPN page where it is clearly explained.
Antivirus software protects your phone from the unwanted installation of malware and viruses on your phone. There are various providers that you can use for this.

We always recommend using a combination of the above methods to keep the unwanted messages to a minimum!