Unfortunately, yes. Security and privacy are central to the iPhone’s design, but it’s still possible for someone to hack and control it remotely. If someone hacks your iPhone, restart it, change your Apple ID password, update iOS, and contact Apple Support.
Hi, I’m very passionate about cybersecurity, especially regarding Apple devices. In this article, I’ll guide you through how you can secure your iPhone against cyber threats.
If you think your iPhone may be hacked and want to ensure your data is safe, read all the tips in this article!
Contents
First Steps to Follow If You Think Your iPhone Has Been Hacked
If you think your iPhone has been hacked, don’t panic. Follow these steps.
- Restart your iPhone (force restart if necessary)
- Change your Apple ID password
- Update iOS
If necessary, also enable Lockdown Mode. Open Settings, go to Privacy & Security, and Lockdown Mode. This mode will limit certain features on your iPhone to reduce the attack surface. Once done, you can contact Apple Support for further instructions.
Top 5 Signs Your iPhone May Be Hacked
It’s not always easy to tell when your iPhone might be hacked. It’s much more subtle than most people think. Here are some signs you should keep an eye out for.
- Unrecognized devices in Apple ID: Open Settings, tap your Apple ID name, and scroll down to view devices. If you see any unrecognized devices, tap on them and choose Remove from Account.
- Unexpected orange or green indicator: iOS shows an indicator on the screen when an app uses the microphone (orange) or camera (green). Unless you are using an app that legitimately requires them, this might indicate the presence of spyware.
- Unusual system, battery, and mobile data usage: If your iPhone has malware, it might use an unusually high system resource level.
- Unrecognized purchases made using your Apple ID: Go to this page and check your purchase history. If you see any unrecognized purchases, your Apple ID might be hacked.
- Apps opening and closing automatically: Unless there’s the ghost touch issue on your iPhone, apps opening and closing automatically also indicate that your iPhone might be hacked.
Did you notice any of these signs on your iPhone? If yes, your iPhone might be hacked or infected with malware. Follow the steps in the above section and read on for more security tips.
Top 3 Tips to Ensure iPhone Security
Here are three proven tips for securing your iPhone and its data. Even if your iPhone has been hacked once, follow these to ensure it doesn’t get hacked again.
Tip #1: Maintain Digital Hygiene
Most cyber security threats can be avoided if you maintain digital hygiene. Here are some tips.
- Never tap on any unrecognized links sent via text messages or email.
- Never share security details with anyone, like your Apple ID credentials or login passcode. Also, don’t write your passwords on post-it notes.
- Change your Apple ID password every six months and enable two-factor authentication. The same also extends to your other online accounts.
- Only use trusted WiFi networks and charging stations (use a VPN if possible)
- Remove bogus configuration profiles from your iPhone. To do this, open Settings, go to General and tap on VPN & Device Management.
If you stay mindful of these tips, you’re already much ahead of most people in securing your iPhone and online data.
Tip #2: Enable Built-In Security Features
iOS has been developed from the ground up with security and privacy in mind. So, it has many built-in security features that you can use. To get security recommendations from iOS, open the Settings app and go to Passwords.
Safari also has many security features. Open Settings and go to Safari. Here, toggle on Block Popups, Prevent Cross-Site Tracking, and Fraudulent Website Warning.
If you want to double-check who you share your data with, you can also look into Safety Check in the Privacy & Security page in Settings. Visit this page to learn more about your iPhone’s security features.
Tip #3: Enable the ‘Find my iPhone’ Feature
Find my iPhone can come in handy in many cases. Beyond just helping you track your iPhone, you can also use it to remotely wipe your iPhone’s data to ensure that it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
Although it’s enabled by default, to double-check it, open Settings, tap your name, Find My, Find My iPhone, and ensure that Find My network is toggled on. Check this article to learn more about Find My iPhone.
Want more advice from Apple on how you can keep your iPhone secure? Check this page for tips on maximizing the security of your Apple ID and this page for additional tips to protect your iPhone.
FAQs
Here are two common questions related to iPhone security.
How to Spot and Uninstall Apps with Malware?
Although the App Store is strictly monitored, sometimes a legitimate-looking app that contains malware might fall through the cracks. To spot such apps, you can check for any irregularities in battery usage, iPhone storage, and access permissions. If you’re confident an app has malware, uninstall it and report it to Apple.
Are Jailbroken iPhones More Vulnerable to Hacking?
Yes. Jailbreaking is a process to remove Apple’s security restrictions on an iPhone to provide more freedom for customization. It can also open the door to malware and cyber-attacks. Check this page to learn more about it.
Conclusion
Although it is possible to hack an iPhone, you can keep it secure by following the security measures highlighted in this article. If you think your iPhone is hacked, restart your iPhone, change your Apple ID password, update iOS, and contact Apple Support.
Are there any other security tips you’d like to share? Let me know in the comments!
