How To Tell If Your iPhone Is Hacked?

Imagine getting annoying pop-ups while using an iPhone or noticing unfamiliar apps you don’t remember downloading. These are just a few creepy things that might happen if someone hacked your iPhone. Yes, you heard it right: iPhones can be hacked.

iPhones, though regarded as the safest mobile devices, can be hacked. And any personal information and data may be compromised. But how do you tell if your iPhone is hacked? If you’re worried that your iPhone might be compromised, there are some key signs to look for and steps you can take to protect your information and get your phone back under control.

In this article, we’ll explain steps on how to tell if your iPhone is hacked, and what to do in such cases.

Can an iPhone be hacked?

iPhones may seem safe and secure regarding data, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be hacked. Yes, iPhones can be hacked. Hackers are clever and can find ways to get into your device, especially if you download apps from unsafe sites or click on links in suspicious texts or emails.

They’ll use tricks like fake emails or websites to get you to install malware on your phone. Once they’re in, it’s bad news—they can steal your passwords, and banking information, and even use your phone to spread malware to your friends! So be careful what you click on, and keep an eye out for anything that seems off.

How to tell if your iPhone is hacked?

Since it is possible to hack an iPhone, you should be careful while downloading apps from unknown sources, or clicking unknown links in spam emails. However, if your iPhone is already hacked, you’ll see some weird things happening to your device. Here are some of them discussed:

1. The battery is draining fast

The iPhone doesn’t usually have a long-lasting battery like some other phones in its price range. However, if you find that your battery is draining unusually fast, that’s not normal. While it’s expected for your phone’s battery to weaken over time, it shouldn’t suddenly become very bad in just a few days.

If your phone’s fairly new and suddenly can’t hold a charge, something is wrong. Sometimes, that means an app is secretly running in the background and eating up your battery life, and it could even be something nasty, like malware. These background apps can send your data to hackers, thus draining more battery in the process.

2. High Data usage

Usually, we are fixed on data for every month. But if, recently, you have noticed that you are always about to hit your data limit and you can’t account for such high usage, then there may be something fishy.

Sometimes, if your phone’s hacked, there’s malware running in the background, sending your data and other information to the hacker. The process takes up a lot of internets, and such high data usage may be an indication that your data is being transferred regularly.

3. Overheating

As mentioned above, if your iPhone has been infused with malware or a fishy app, then it keeps on running in the background without you knowing about it. The process takes up a lot of battery and internet data. However, since the background app is constantly running, your iPhone may overheat at times.

It’s usual for your iPhone to heat up after playing a heavy game or performing a heavy task like video rendering. But is your iPhone heating up without any reason? This may mean that an app is constantly running in the background without your knowledge.

4. Slow iPhone performance

If you notice a significant slowdown in your iPhone’s performance, it could indicate that its processing power is being diverted for unauthorized purposes. Hackers might exploit your device for activities such as cryptocurrency mining, coordinating cyberattacks, or transferring stolen data.

If your iPhone is lagging regularly, or working slower than usual, then there may be a possibility that some background app is constantly taking up all the RAM.

5. Check for jailbreak

Jailbreaking Apple devices means removing certain iOS restrictions to enable customization according to one’s preferences. Some individuals jailbreak their iPhones to install apps that are not allowed to be installed by Apple. So, hackers may jailbreak devices to deploy spyware.

This method is more advanced compared to other hacking techniques. If you notice unfamiliar apps, particularly ones named ‘Cydia’ or ‘Sileo,’ on your phone, your iPhone has likely been jailbroken. The presence of these apps on your device indicates that your iPhone is jailbroken, and if you have not done it yourself, somebody else has.

6. Strange pop-ups

The iPhone is renowned for its sleek and clutter-free user interface. Typically, users won’t encounter pop-ups or ads while using the device. However, if you start seeing unusual pop-ups or annoying ads on your iPhone, it’s a clear sign that your device may have a virus.

7. Suspicious Activity

Monitor your iPhone for strange occurrences like texts or calls not made by you, changes to your social media accounts you didn’t authorize, or unexpected purchase confirmations. These can all be signs that someone else has gained access to your device.

What should you do if your iPhone is hacked?

If you are noticing suspicious activities mentioned above on your iPhone, then probably your iPhone has been hacked. But what do we do in such cases? Here’s a list of actions that you should take when your iPhone has been hacked.

• Change Passwords: Reset your Apple ID password without delay. Afterward, change passwords for all sensitive accounts, such as email, banking, and social media. Make sure each new password is strong and unique.
• Enable Two-factor Authentication: The two-factor authentication feature adds another layer of protection by requiring a code (often sent to your phone) whenever logging in to accounts, even if someone has your password. So, even if someone has entered your password without your knowledge, they won’t be able to log in without your authorization.
• Remove suspicious apps: Check your installed apps and uninstall anything that seems unfamiliar or raises suspicion. These suspicious apps have very weird names, like iSpy and Secret.IP, etc.
• Update Your iOS: Always install the latest version of iOS, as Apple frequently releases updates to fix security lacunas.
• Factory Reset (Severe Cases): In worst-case scenarios, erasing and restoring your iPhone to factory settings can delete malware apps from your iPhone. Remember to create a backup of important data first.

Frequently asked questions

1. Is my iPhone hacked if I see a weird calendar invite?

Spam calendar invites are annoying, but they don’t necessarily mean your iPhone has been hacked. Still, avoid clicking suspicious links within these invites.

2. Can someone hack my iPhone with remote access?

It’s possible. Advanced hackers can sometimes exploit the iPhone’s loopholes without interacting with it. To fix this, regularly download and install security patches on your iPhone.

Conclusion

That’s how to tell if your iPhone is hacked. Things like hacking are very serious. It compromises your personal information and data. To avoid such things, you have to be diligent when handling spam emails or unknown apps or links. If you are unsure when your iPhone has been hacked, refer to the article above. In case of any doubts, do let us know in the comment section below.