Is Your iPhone Hacked? Here's What to Do About It

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Take immediate steps to get rid of hackers and protect your iPhone
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We use our iPhones for everything—managing our appointments, communicating with friends and family, online banking, and even tracking our health data. The fact that our iPhones contain so much of our personal information makes them attractive targets for unethical hackers. This wikiHow article will teach you how to figure out if your iPhone's been hacked, and some easy steps you can take right now to get rid of the hacker for good, with tips from electronics repair specialist Aydin Yildiz.

What to Do If Your iPhone’s Been Hacked

If you suspect your iPhone has been hacked, immediately disconnect it from the internet. Change or reset your Apple Account password if you suspect it has been compromised. Delete any unfamiliar apps and configuration profiles. Update your iPhone to the newest iOS to patch any security issues.

Section 1 of 3:

What are some signs my iPhone is hacked?

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  1. Swipe left on your Home screen until you get to the screen that says "App Library" on top. Tap App Library and scroll through your list of apps. If there's anything on this list you don't remember installing, your phone may have been hacked. [1]
    • Apple is fairly strict about the apps it allows on the App Store. If you've jailbroken your iPhone or downloaded apps from anywhere other than the App Store, you're more likely to wind up with shady apps on your phone.
    • According to Yildiz, hackers may install strange apps and change your settings so they can run in the background or access private data like your location. [2] If you find a strange app, check the settings in Settings > Apps to find out what permissions the app has.
    • If you share your iPhone with someone else (or are using Family Sharing features), apps you don't recognize may have been installed by someone you actually trust. Before you panic, check with other members of your family to see if anyone installed the unfamiliar apps.
  2. Pop-ups don't always mean your phone is hacked, but they could indicate that your phone is infected with malware or spyware—especially if you see the pop-ups when you're not actively browsing the web.
    • If you're browsing the web and see a pop-up that says "Your iPhone has been compromised!" or "We have detected that your browser is infected with a trojan virus," this doesn't mean you were really hacked. In most cases, these pop-ups appear when you click on a website that's malicious (or has been hacked).
    • Never click a link or provide any sort of payment in response to one of these pop-up messages. You should never have to pay to remove any sort of virus from an iPhone.
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  3. A configuration profile is a group of settings that can manage email accounts, passwords, and other sensitive data. Sometimes your work or school will require you to install a configuration profile so you can log into their services remotely. However, a hacker could also trick you into installing a profile that gives them access to your phone. Here's how to check:
    • Open your Settings , tap General , and then tap VPN & Device Management . [3] If you see any profiles you don't recognize, a hacker may have tricked you into installing them.
    • If you don't see this section in your Settings at all, don't panic. It just means you don't have any configuration profiles installed.
  4. If a hacker has control of your iPhone or Apple Account, they may be using it to contact your friends, family, and possibly even strangers. Check your Messages inbox (and even your Mail outbox) to make sure nobody's sending messages to people and pretending to be you.
    • If you sign into another Apple device (like your family Mac, your partner's iPad, or your child's iPhone) with the same Apple Account you use on this iPhone, you may see the calls and texts they've sent while signed in with your ID. Ask your family members who have access to your iPhone or other linked devices whether they've made the calls or sent the messages before assuming your iPhone is hacked.
    • In this case, it's a good idea to contact your provider and ask for help to recover your account.
  5. Are you suddenly hitting your data or calling limits even though you're not doing anything different? Getting strange charges on your phone bill? A hacker (or some bad software) could be taking advantage of your mobile data .
    • Open your Settings app and tap Cellular or Mobile (depending on your region). Scroll down to the "CELLULAR DATA" or "MOBILE DATA" section to see which apps are using a lot of data. If you see something you don't recognize, be wary.
  6. If your iPhone is incredibly slow to open apps and access the web, you may have some malware. If your phone seems to heat up a lot, especially when you're not holding it or it's not being charged, there could be malware running in the background.
    • Sometimes your iPhone can get excessively warm when you're playing games or using other CPU-intensive apps—it doesn't always mean you were hacked.
  7. Open the Settings app and tap Battery . What's using the most of your battery power ? If there's an app you don't use often (or that you've never heard of) that's eating up precious battery power, it could be due to a hacker or malware.
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Section 2 of 3:

How do I get rid of a hacker?

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  1. If you think someone has access to your phone, disconnecting from the internet will make it so the hacker can no longer access it remotely.
    • To disconnect quickly, swipe down from the top-right corner of the Home screen (if your iPhone doesn't have a Home button) or swipe up from the bottom (if it does have a Home button), and then tap the airplane icon to go into Airplane Mode. If your phone stays connected to Wi-Fi in airplane mode, tap the Wi-Fi icon (the curved lines) to disconnect.
    • You can disconnect from the internet even if you’ve been locked out of your iPhone.
  2. 2
    Secure your Apple Account if you think it’s been compromised. If the hacker has taken control of your Apple Account, they can create all kinds of problems, such as remotely locking you out of your iPhone using the Lost Mode feature on iCloud. To regain control of your Apple Account: [4]
    • Reset your Apple Account password if necessary. If you aren’t able to get into any of your trusted Apple devices, you can do so online at iforgot.apple.com/ . You may need to use the account recovery process , which will require you to verify your identity and can take a few days to complete.
      • If the hacker hasn’t changed your Apple Account password, you can easily change it yourself .
    • Log in to account.apple.com/ and check your personal and security information. If you see anything unfamiliar or incorrect, change it.
    • Check your list of devices at account.apple.com/ and remove any that you don’t recognize.
    • Reach out to your cell phone and email providers and make sure nobody has linked any unfamiliar phone numbers or email addresses with your Apple Account.
    • If you’re locked out of your iPhone, you may need to reset it so you can set up a new passcode. You’ll be able to do so once you take control of your Apple Account again.
  3. 3
    Remove apps you don't recognize. If you've inadvertently installed a bad app on your iPhone, you can uninstall the app to get rid of it. Removing bad apps is a lot easier on your iPhone than it is on, say, a PC. To delete an app, just tap and hold its icon and select Remove App (or tap the - on the app if the icons start jiggling, then tap Delete App ).
  4. 4
    Delete unfamiliar configuration profiles. If you found a configuration profile you don't recognize in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management , tap the profile and select Delete Profile . Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process. Restart your iPhone when you’re done. [5]
  5. 5
    Clear your browser history. If you've been seeing threatening pop-ups while browsing the web, you'll want to clear your history , cache, and cookies so they don't come back next time you use your browser.
    • Safari: Open Settings > Apps > Safari , and then scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data . Select the timeframe for the data you want to delete, then tap Clear History to confirm.
    • Chrome: Open Chrome, tap the three dots at the bottom-right, then tap Delete Browsing Data . Select All Time as the time range and tap Delete data at the bottom.
  6. If a hacker has gained access to your iPhone, it could be due to a security hole in iOS. [6] These security holes are fixed pretty quickly, so updating your iPhone should get rid of any backdoor entry points. [7]
  7. 7
    Change your passwords and passcodes. The hacker may have gained access not only to your Apple Account password, but also other passwords and passcodes stored on your phone. Change any important passwords associated with websites and apps you use on your iPhone and update them in the Passwords app.
  8. If you back up your iPhone to iCloud or a computer, you can restore it to a point in time before you got hacked. If your iPhone was hacked, this will remove anything the hacker has installed that helps them keep access to your phone.
    • When you restore from a backup, you're also resetting your iPhone. This erases everything on your iPhone! But as long as you've backed up or synced your data to iCloud or your computer, you can restore from your backup after resetting.
  9. If you don't have a backup and still think a hacker is controlling your iPhone, you can do a factory reset. This erases everything on your iPhone and reinstalls the operating system. Once you log back in with your Apple Account, anything you had synced to iCloud (including your text messages) will be synced back to your iPhone. Resetting your iPhone will get rid of anything shady that's been installed, and close any backdoors added by hackers.
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Section 3 of 3:

How can I keep hackers out of my iPhone?

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  1. By turning on automatic updates for both your iPhone and the apps you've installed, you'll ensure that you're always among the first to have the latest critical security updates.
    • To turn on automatic iOS updates, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates and toggle all the switches to the On (green) position.
    • To turn on automatic app updates, go to Settings > Apps > App Store > and toggle App Updates to the On (green) position.
  2. 2
    Use two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra step to the login process, usually requiring you to verify all of your logins via an SMS text or authentication app. Turn on two-factor authentication for your Apple Account so you'll always be notified when someone tries to log in to any Apple service with your username and password.
    • To turn on two-factor authentication, open Settings , tap your name at the top, tap Sign-In & Security , and then tap Two-Factor Authentication . Enter a trusted phone number where you can receive texts, then tap Next . Enter the verification code that’s sent to your trusted number. [8]
    • You can also add a trusted Apple device that you can use for authentication. After setting up 2FA, sign in to the other device with the same Apple Account as your iPhone. A 6-digit code will appear on your iPhone. Enter it on the trusted device. Once you do this, you’ll get a verification code on the trusted device when you try to do certain actions, like changing your Apple Account password on your iPhone.
    EXPERT TIP

    Brandon Phipps

    Technology Specialist
    Brandon Phipps is a Technology Specialist based in Bakersfield, CA. He is the owner of Second Star Technologies and specializes in Managed IT Services for small and mid-sized businesses in Bakersfield, CA. With over 23 years of experience, he offers expert cloud computing, cybersecurity, and network management solutions. Brandon is a committed community member and coach who leads and innovates in tech and sports coaching. His dedication to local businesses and communities is evident in his hands-on, tailored approach to IT solutions.
    Brandon Phipps
    Technology Specialist

    Enable two-factor authentication on all your digital accounts. This applies to your personal, business, and finance accounts, client information, and productivity apps. 2FA -factor protects your sensitive data from unauthorized parties and reduces the risk of security breaches.

  3. Always check an app's reviews in the App Store thoroughly before downloading an app. You can also scroll down to the "Data Used to Track You" and "Data Linked to You" sections of an app's App Store page to see what type of information this app can learn about you.
    • Yildiz advises only downloading apps from the App Store. The App Store goes through a verification process before approving apps, so they’re more likely to be safe than apps from other sources. [9]
    • If an app you've installed asks to access your microphone, camera, Bluetooth, photos, or anything else you don't feel comfortable sharing, deny that app permission when prompted. In some cases, the permission is needed for the app to function, but you can allow it only when the app is being used to minimize risks.
    • If an app or website ever prompts you to install a profile, don't do it—profiles can give hackers access to your phone.
  4. Even if your password is longer than 8 characters and contains a mix of mixed-case letters, numbers, and symbols, it won't keep you safe if you use it on multiple sites and services. If a hacker cracks your password on a website and it's the same one you use for your Apple Account, they may be able to gain access to your iPhone.
  5. If you connect to any sort of public Wi-Fi network—such as at your school, a café, or even the library—hackers may be able to snoop on what you're doing. This means that entering your banking password or logging in to your online accounts while connected to public Wi-Fi may expose your passwords without your knowledge. You can prevent this by using a VPN any time you use Wi-Fi outside of the networks you know are private and trustworthy.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/technology/article/how-to-tell-if-your-iphone-is-hacked/
      2. ↑ Aydin Yildiz. Electronics Repair Specialist. Expert Interview
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/install-or-remove-configuration-profiles-iph6c493b19/ios
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102560
      5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/personal-safety/review-and-delete-configuration-profiles-ips327569a75/web
      6. ↑ https://rocketit.com/signs-your-iphone-was-hacked-how-to-remove-virus/
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201222
      8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/use-two-factor-authentication-iphd709a3c46/ios
      9. ↑ Aydin Yildiz. Electronics Repair Specialist. Expert Interview

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Disconnect from the internet.
      2. Remove unfamiliar apps and configuration profiles.
      3. Clear your browsing history.
      4. Restore from a backup.
      5. Update your iPhone.
      6. Change your password.
      7. Reset your iPhone if necessary.

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