Imagine a situation where an unfamiliar number calls you and a robotic voice says: “We have important information about your credit accounts. Please wait to speak to the operator."
How many times has this scenario happened to you or someone you know? Even if the answer is “once,” it directly translates to “too many times.” It's annoying.
If you have an Android phone, you won't have to deal with them. There are actually several ways to block calls on Android, and today we will talk about the simplest of them.
Spam phone call - what is it?
Attackers are constantly inventing new ways to make easy money from gullible citizens. We have all become accustomed to email spam; what’s more, sometimes it seems as if such mailings have always existed. Technology does not stand still, which is why spam calls to mobile phones have become common over the past few years. Let's figure out what it is.
Imagine, minding your own business and not bothering anyone. Then suddenly a call rings and an unfamiliar number is displayed on the screen. You pick up the phone and hear from the interlocutor an offer to buy something profitable or invest money in some dubious event. In most cases, various get-rich-quick schemes are offered here.
Often they call supposedly from representatives of the bank. In this case, the conversation is the same. Subscribers report that their bank card will be blocked and ask to provide its details: number, secret code and date of issue. If a gullible citizen calls all this, then you can say goodbye to your money.
Spam calls are unpleasant and even somewhat dangerous. Who knows how an elderly pensioner will react to the message that his SIM card is about to be blocked? This phenomenon needs to be combated and there are several ways to do this.
How to read hidden messages
After hiding information, the question arises of how to read it when a message arrives. If Honor is locked and the appropriate settings have been made in Android, this will not work. The only way is to unlock the display.
If you have set a PIN or password, this is not always convenient. To speed up the process, activate fingerprint, face unlock using Bluetooth or voice command. Such options are not provided in all Honor models, but modern devices should have them.
What to do with SMS and calls
To get rid of intrusive mailings, sometimes it is enough to simply contact representatives of the company where the advertising comes from. Typically, employees accommodate the subscriber and remove his number from the subscriber database. In addition, you can deactivate such mailings in several ways. Some organizations have the opportunity to register a personal account, and then it’s a matter of technology, you just need to change the settings.
But there may be another version of SMS spam. In this case, user numbers that accidentally end up on the Internet are entered into the database of various organizations and then used to send out various information. It is very problematic to deal with such messages. If you wish, you can contact your operator, but it is not a fact that all spam will be eliminated.
If advertising materials come from one number, then you can simply block it by adding it to the blacklist. All modern smartphones have this feature.
Add a number to the blacklist
Most smartphones and tablets run on the Android operating system. Despite the convenience of this operating system, many mobile phone manufacturers are developing proprietary shells. They all differ in appearance and functionality. There are two ways to blacklist a specific number. The first one is this:
- Enter the smartphone menu and click on Call Log.
- Find in the list the name of the subscriber from whose number the spam is coming. The subscriber must first be remembered under some name if the number has not yet been saved.
- Click on the name of the desired subscriber and hold your finger for a few seconds. A menu appears on the screen where you need to select the Block section. After this, a new window appears, here you can select the “Report spam” section and check the box here. After this, select the Block option again and confirm your intentions.
There is a second simple way by which you can blacklist a number. In this case, in the upper right corner of the Phone tab, click on the three vertical dots to bring up the menu. Next, go to the settings, there is an item called Call Blocking. This is where you can quickly enable a ban on incoming calls and SMS messages from a specific person.
It is worth knowing that the blocked subscriber will not even realize that his number is blocked. He will hear the usual long beeps, that is, the call will continue, but you will not hear beeps.
For some proprietary shells of the Android operating system, the procedure for adding a number to the blacklist may be slightly different, but the essence does not change.
Install an antispam application
Another effective way to combat unwanted advertising mailings can be special applications for smartphones. There are many programs for the Android OS that will definitely not miss annoying messages. To search, enter the query Spam Blocker in the search bar. After this, all that remains is to look through the entire list of programs and choose the one that is most suitable.
Good apps are Don't Call Me and Blacklist.
These programs can be downloaded completely free of charge from the Play Market. It is worth considering that there is advertising here.
iPhone owners were less fortunate in this case. There are no similar applications in the AppStore. But you can always create a contact with a memorable name. For this contact, notifications are turned off, and then all the numbers of annoying callers are added to it. But this method does not work if the Sender Number field contains a name rather than numbers.
Note on automatic SMS blocking
There are certain restrictions that prevent any application from blocking messages. However, if you want automatic SMS spam blocking, it is possible - you just need to ditch your favorite SMS app and use one that has a built-in blocker. So, essentially, it's a compromise. If there are things you like about a particular SMS app, you may have to give them up in exchange for spam blocking.
The most popular app on Google Play for this is Truecaller.
QR Code
Truecaller Caller ID
Developer: Truecaller
Price: Free
Since finding the right balance of SMS features and blocking capabilities can be quite subjective, we've simply pointed you in the right direction and it's up to you to decide which will be most suitable for your use.
How to block push notifications
Such spam mailings have nothing to do with SMS messages, but can be displayed on the smartphone screen at any time and accompanied by a sound signal. The reason for such mailing is some of the sites and applications that the user uses. Push notifications can be very annoying as they often contain advertisements.
Interfering notifications can be turned off very quickly. To do this, you must follow these instructions:
- Open the settings and select the Applications tab;
- Find a program that constantly sends push notifications;
- Go to the Application Notifications section;
- Next, you should uncheck the Enable notifications item;
- Save the changes made.
To deactivate notifications from sites, you need to go to the settings of the browser you are using. Let's look at how to do this using Google Chrome as an example.
- Go to browser settings. These are three vertical dots in the upper right corner.
- Select the section “Site Settings” - “Notifications”.
- They study the entire list of sites that are allowed to send notifications in the browser. Next, they find and disable unnecessary services.
In this way, you can easily get rid of annoying notifications without uninstalling the programs themselves. But here you need to understand that very useful information can come along with advertising. Before disabling Push notifications, you need to carefully study the program to be sure that it only sends advertising.
Push notifications often start to bother the user after downloading various games. It is recommended that you carefully read reviews from other users before installing a game.
Enable data saving
When you activate the option, you can disable spam on your Android smartphone and block notifications when your Honor device is turned off. Take the following steps:
- Enter the Smart traffic saving section.
- Move the toggle switch to the right side.
The second option is to enable simplified mode in the Chrome browser. To do this, do the following:
- Go to Web Explorer.
- Click on the three dots at the top right.
- Go to Settings.
- Find Easy Mode.
- Click Enable. In the future, you can turn it off at any time.
How to protect your phone from spam using operator services
Many Russian operators have spam blocking services. All major operators offer this option for free.
On MTS
MTS has a free Antispam service. To use this option, you must follow these instructions:
- The received advertising SMS message is forwarded without making changes to number 6333. In response, the subscriber receives a response message from number 6333 where the number or name of the sender of the newsletter advertisement will be requested.
- Send an SMS message with the sender's number or name to 6333 within 10 minutes after receiving the request.
Immediately after sending data about the spammer, this number will be blocked at the operator level.
By the way, the MTS operator itself also often sends advertising mailings to subscribers. To block spam messages, you must enable the Content Blocking service. To do this, dial the code *111*374# and then press the call button.
On Beeline
The main SMS spam that Beeline subscribers have to block is mailing from the company itself. These could be messages like this:
- Informational in nature. A complete list of all USSD codes with which you can disable them can be found on the operator’s website;
- . Provides for receiving various infotainment messages. This includes horoscopes, weather forecasts, jokes and other useful information.
Beeline does not have a service for blocking advertising mailings. Yes, but it only blocks calls. If you use the services of this operator, then it is better to block spam mailings on your smartphone using special applications.
On Megafon
MegaFon subscribers can block spam mailings in two ways.
- Forward the received spam message without changes to 1911. The operator will automatically block the number of this sender for you. It is worth considering that the service is completely free.
- They use a special service “SMS control”. On your smartphone, dial the symbol combination *903# and then press the call button. After this, a list of the last ten numbers from which SMS messages were received appears on the screen. Select the number from which the spam was sent and add it to the blacklist, following the instructions that appear on the screen.
MegaFon is very disorderly in terms of mailings. If necessary, you can easily unsubscribe from all operator mailings.
On Tele2
The Tele2 operator has a free Antispam service that allows you to block the sending of spam messages. This service is designed even better than that of MTS. To block an unwanted number from which SMS messages are sent, you need to send a message to number 345. In the body of the letter write the phone number from which the advertising mailing is sent. In addition to the number, you can also simply specify the subscriber's name.
Many clients of taxi services are faced with the fact that they are bombarded with SMS messages from unknown numbers. This is due to the fact that dishonest company owners resell ready-made databases of telephone numbers to enterprising businessmen.
Spam on social networks
The third type of spam that phone owners encounter is spam on social networks. To solve the problem, it is recommended to subscribe only to verified communities, and also remove your personal profile from public access. Also, some social networks have built-in spam prevention features. For example, the user can allow messages to be sent only to friends, and then the problem will be resolved.
How to talk to spammers
If you are tired of spam calls, then you need to develop a clear strategy to combat them. What to say when you next call?
- First you need to ask if you have written consent to receive advertising calls. You should immediately refer to the violation of the advertising law and ask not to bother you anymore.
- There are subscribers who are very determined. In this case, you need to ask for the full name of the organization, its legal address and the details of the employee who is calling you. You can also find out who exactly ordered the advertisement. Usually spammers are alarmed by such questions, and they try not to call this number anymore.
- You can simply say that you are in the wrong place and hang up the call. After several unsuccessful attempts to call, there will be no more calls, since all such companies work for results.
There are some subscribers who, when answering a spam call, do not mince words. Everything is clear here, we are tired, but still we must not forget about politeness.
Now some domestic operators offer to install applications that show who is calling even when making a call. This allows the subscriber to decide whether to pick up or not.
Tatiana
I follow news on the mobile services market. Always up to date with the latest events
Ask a Question
Question to the expert
People call me all the time and offer me some kind of sensors. I don’t need them at all and I haven’t given my number to anyone. What should I do to stop calling?
Many companies often buy ready-made databases of numbers and periodically call them, trying to sell some products. In this case, you need to ask to remove the number from the database and say that otherwise you will write a statement to the police.
Yesterday I received a call supposedly from the bank and was told that the card would be blocked. After this, they asked me to dictate the card number and my passport details. The son said that these are swindlers, is he right?
If they call you supposedly from the bank and ask you to perform some actions with the card, you should not do it. It is better for the interlocutor on the other end of the line to answer that you will call the bank’s hotline yourself and clarify everything.
I have never taken out a loan, but a collector constantly calls me and asks about some woman I don’t know. Where did they get my number?
Most likely you bought a so-called gray number, which someone stopped using more than a year ago. It was re-released and re-sold. But it remained in the debtors’ databases.
If someone constantly bothers you with calls, then it is better to blacklist the number. To get rid of SMS messages, you should install a special application, which can be downloaded for Android smartphones in the Play Market.
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Tatiana
I follow news on the mobile services market. Always up to date with the latest events
Temporarily disable via “do not disturb”
Many people do not know about such a mode as “Do not disturb”. When it is turned on, messages arrive, but there is no sound. The only exceptions will be those that you define as priority.
In this way, you can add contacts - SMS and calls will come from them. To do this, go to the "star" next to the contact's name and turn on this feature.
Open the “Settings” of your device and go to the “Sound” section. Select the Do Not Disturb Settings tab
Click on "Important Only"
Set the value “Only for selected contacts” to the “Messages” and “Calls” options
More about Huawei: How to find a Huawei or Honor phone if you have lost your Google account by geolocation - Huawei Devices In this section, you can set the time when the mode will turn on and off by itself.
Can you get rid of SMS spam forever?
While these apps can help you separate what you want from what you don't, you still need to keep an eye on blocked messages from time to time. Regardless of whether an application uses manual, algorithmic, or rule-based tagging, there is a chance that a legitimate message could be caught.
The worst thing is when companies use the same sender ID to send you both transactional and promotional texts. This way, you can't block all correspondence for fear of missing a critical alert.
Removing questionable applications
The first thing you need to do is get your smartphone in order. After all, during operation, users do not notice how their device is filled with a huge number of programs, not all of which are safe. This is especially true in cases where the owner of Huawei Honor 7 installs applications not through Google Play, but using APK files downloaded from the Internet.
To remove advertising you need:
- Open phone settings.
- Go to the "Applications" section.
- View the list of programs.
- Click on the name of the suspicious software.
- Click the “Delete” button.
Unfortunately, this method only helps if the user is 100% sure which program is harming the device. But in any case, it won’t hurt to clear your phone of unnecessary applications.
Microsoft SMS Organizer
This offering from Microsoft was initially only available in India. However, it is now available for those in other regions, although at the time of writing the app was in early access. It is a messaging app designed to solve the problem of SMS spam.
To do this, it moves what it identifies as promotional messages into a separate Promotions . Like other anti-spam apps, you can turn off notifications when you receive a promotional SMS. Text messages from blocked numbers appear in a separate Blocked .
With SMS Organizer, you can also tag conversations by placing them in a labeled folder (like in Gmail). There is a folder called Reminders that displays information cards generated after completing your texts.
For example, let's say you receive a message from your credit card company about your monthly bill and due date. All relevant information is neatly displayed in the Reminders for easy recall. This feature makes it a must-have app for forgetful people.
Finally, SMS Organizer can also automatically remove promotional, blocked and one-time password messages after a predefined time (week, month or year).
Download : Microsoft SMS Organizer (Free)
Turn off browser notifications
Most often, advertising on Huawei Honor 7 appears not because the device has become infected with viruses, but because the user has permission to display partner notifications. This often happens after the phone owner opens a website and then clicks the “OK” button, not understanding what he is agreeing to.
To block pop-up advertising, you must:
- Launch the browser.
- Go to settings.
- Select "Site Settings".
- Open the “Notifications” tab.
- Move the slider to the “Off” position.
Depending on the browser you are using, the names of some menu items will differ. But you still won’t have any difficulty finding the right section to turn off notifications.
