How to keep your phone spam-free

Here’s another reason to think before you click – signing up for some services may have given some companies permission to send you unsolicited messages.

Technology enthusiast Art Samaniego said that of three categories of unsolicited text messages, one has the user click on checkboxes in forms that allow companies to send such texts.

“So dapat titignan natin yung sa bandang huli na nakalagay ‘Allow us to send you additional messages.’ So pag tinick natin yun o hindi natin tinick depende sa pagkakagawa ng question, maaari silang magpadala ng text message na in-allow natin,” he said in an interview with GMA News’ Jamie Santos on “Unang Balita”.

He said this could be considered a “legitimate” text spam since the user had given permission to a company to send such “additional messages.”

A second category of text spams falls under premium messages, those sent by four-digit numbers. These are usually sent after users subscribe to services or buy a ringtone.

Users can usually stop the second category by keying in “STOP” and sending the message to a four-digit number.

The third category is the more “familiar” spam messages, from 11-digit numbers.

But the good news, at least for those with newer smartphones, is that late-model devices have a function that can block such messages.

In the meantime, most recipients continue to express exasperation over the spam texts, with some having learned to simply delete them.