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Applicable for: Android,iOS
Protect your mobile device against phishing text messages
The spam SMS text messages that you receive on your device may include links to fraudulent websites or attachments that can compromise your personal information to cybercriminals. In some cases, cybercriminals may use local phone numbers to mimic the text messages of real financial institutions or banks to steal your personal information when you open suspicious links or attachments.
Android
Scans only the text portion of the MMS messages and does not scan for multimedia content such as images, videos, and audio.
Set up Safe SMS
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Open Norton 360.
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On the main Norton 360 app screen, tap Menu > Safe SMS > Complete setup.
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Tap Continue.
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Tap Allow to allow the Norton 360 app to view and filter the spam text messages that you receive from known and unknown senders.
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Tap Open settings.
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In the Display over other apps screen, tap Norton 360 from the list.
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Next to Display over other apps, move the slider to turn it on, and tap Continue.
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Tap Allow to allow the Norton 360 app to view and filter the spam text messages that you receive from known and unknown contacts.
View and delete the risky messages
Due to Android OS limitations, the Norton 360 app does not automatically delete the risky messages. Follow the steps below to delete the risky messages.
The steps below may vary depending on your device and Android OS version.
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From the home screen, launch the Norton 360 app.
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At the bottom of the main screen, tap Menu, and tap Safe SMS.
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Your Norton 360 app provides a list of risky text messages you receive from known and unknown senders.
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Tap View to the relevant text message that you want to delete.
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Tap and hold on the text message that you want to delete, and tap Delete.
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In the confirmation alert, tap Delete.
iOS
You can enable the Safe SMS* feature using your Norton 360 app to filter spam SMS text messages and MMS messages that you receive from unknown senders.
Scans only the text portion of the MMS messages and does not scan for multimedia content such as images, videos, and audio.
Turn on Safe SMS
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Open Norton 360.
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On the main Norton 360 app screen, tap Menu, and tap Safe SMS.
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Tap Start setup > Next > Open settings.
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Scroll down to the Unknown Senders section.
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Next to Screen Unknown Senders, tap the slider so that it turns green (On) if it is disabled.
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Next to Filter Spam, tap the slider so that it turns green (On) if it is disabled.
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Tap Text Message Filter, select Norton 360 in the list, then tap Use to confirm.
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Navigate back to the Norton 360 app and tap Menu > Safe SMS > Done.
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Tap Yes to confirm and complete setting up the Safe SMS feature on your device.
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Tap Next.
Safe SMS is now set up on your device to detect scams in text messages.
Last modified: 03/19/2026
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