Can Someone Hack My iPhone? How To Tell & What To Do

Can iPhones Really Be Hacked?

Yes, iPhones can be hacked — but not in the ways you might assume.

Apple’s closed ecosystem and built-in cybersecurity features make Apple devices more difficult for hackers to infiltrate with traditional viruses. However, hackers can bypass these security measures by taking advantage of vulnerabilities in new or outdated versions of iOS, or by tricking you into clicking on phishing links. 

Even the official Apple App Store can put your iPhone at risk. 

One report found that malicious App Store apps had been downloaded at least 13 million times [*].

The bottom line is that while iPhones are known for their security, you can still lose access to important accounts like your email or iCloud — or even compromise your device itself, if you’re not careful.  

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How Do iPhones Get Hacked? 6 Real Risks

Saying that iPhones can be “hacked” is somewhat misleading. iPhones use a feature called “sandboxing” to prevent apps from gathering too much information about you or accessing your phone’s core features [*]. This means that a traditional virus wouldn’t be able to take control of your device.

Instead, it’s more likely that one of your accounts has been hacked or you downloaded a buggy app. 

Here are some other risks to be aware of: 

• Unverified or malicious apps. Apple’s manual vetting process means the majority of malicious apps never make it to the App Store. But if your iPhone is jailbroken, you’ll be able to sideload unverified third-party apps that could potentially infect your device with malicious software [*].
• Too many permissions on a sketchy app. Apps need to request permissions to access other data or features on your iPhone. Some hackers create sketchy apps that ask for too many permissions — giving them access to your camera roll, microphone, saved data, and more.
• Outdated versions of apps or iOS. Previous versions of iOS sometimes have unpatched security vulnerabilities that put you at risk. Older apps can also have flaws that bad actors can exploit.
• Zero-day exploits. Cybercriminals may also discover vulnerabilities in a new operating system update before it’s been patched. Apple’s iOS 17.4 update last year had two actively exploited zero-days [*].
• Suspicious links in text messages, emails, pop-ups, or calendar invites. Hackers use phishing links that download malware to your device or direct you to fake websites. These are often messages claiming to be from Apple that ask you to click on a link to sign in to your Apple ID or “reactivate” your account [*].
• Charging your iPhone at a public charging station. The FCC warns that fraudsters could possibly load malware onto public USB charging stations to intercept your data or allow cybercriminals to gain remote access to your device [*].

The bottom line: iPhone viruses are rare — but there are plenty of ways for hackers to access your accounts, devices, and data. Consider protecting yourself with Aura’s all-in-one digital security app →

How To Tell If Your iPhone Was Hacked

• Your phone is hotter than usual or runs out of battery quickly. These are red flags indicating that there may be apps or processes running in the background that you don’t know about.
• Unfamiliar apps on your homescreen. These apps could have been installed by hackers and used to access your files or spy on you. Delete them immediately.
• You’re locked out of your Apple ID or receive a notification saying your Apple ID was used to sign in to another mobile device.
• Your camera or microphone indicator lights turn on. An orange indicator means an app (or spyware) is using your iPhone’s microphone, while a green indicator is a sign that an app is using your camera (or both the camera and microphone).
• Your friends and family say they’re receiving “strange messages” from you. Some malware spreads by assailing your contacts with suspicious links. Watch out for odd messages sent from your phone number or spam in your email’s sent folder.
• Your iPhone performance has dropped. If you find it’s taking longer to load webpages, play videos, or open apps, it could be the result of malware bogging down your device’s processing power.
• Unauthorized purchases made via your Apple ID or linked credit card. Even small charges are suspect. Thieves often make smaller test purchases before draining your account with larger fraudulent transactions.
• Your data usage is higher than usual. Hacked iPhones often consume large amounts of processing power due to hidden software running in the background.

📚 Related: What To Do If You’ve Been Hacked →

What To Do If Your iPhone Has Been Hacked

1. Delete suspicious and unfamiliar apps

First, look through your phone for apps that you don’t remember downloading. You can check your homescreen, or go to Settings and scroll down until you see a full list of the apps on your device.

If you see any app that you don’t remember downloading (or seems suspicious), hold your finger on it until the menu appears; and then select Remove App and Delete App. 

2. See who has access to your iPhone, and remove unrecognized devices

Check to see if anyone has access to your iCloud account or has updated your phone’s sharing permissions to grant them access to your data. 

• On iOS 15 or earlier: Go to Settings > [Your Name] and check the listed devices. If you see any you don’t recognize, tap on the device’s name, and select Remove from Account. You can also follow Apple’s advice on how to check your iPhone’s sharing permissions.
• On iOS 16 or later: Use Apple’s Safety Check tool by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check. Tap on Manage Sharing & Access to control which devices and people have access to your information. 

📚 Related: How To Remove a Hacker From Your Smartphone →

3. Update your Apple ID password, and enable 2FA

A hacked Apple ID can allow cybercriminals to track your location, access your photos and videos, or even take control of your saved payment details — including your credit card and Apple Pay. 

Update your Apple ID password by going to Settings > Sign-In & Security > Change Password. 

A strong password should include:

• At least 10 characters
• Both uppercase and lowercase letters
• At least one number or symbol (preferably one of each)

Make sure you’re using a unique password for your Apple ID — and all of your other online accounts. If your password has already been changed by a hacker, try to reset your Apple ID by going to iforgot.apple.com.

Pro tip: While you’re updating your Apple settings, turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) by going to Settings > [Your Name] > Two-Factor Authentication.

4. Report the hack to Apple directly

If hackers compromise your iPhone, iCloud, or Apple ID, contact Apple directly by using one of these methods:

• Forward suspicious emails to reportphishing@apple.com.
• If you receive a suspicious FaceTime, click on the ⓘ icon beside the call and send a screenshot to reportfacetimefraud@apple.com.
• Call Apple Support at 1-800-275-2273 on a secure device.‍
• Visit an Apple store in person to speak with a customer support representative.

5. Remove configuration profiles

Configuration profiles are generally used by corporations or schools to define settings or control features on your iPhone. However, hackers can use phishing emails and website links to get you to download configuration profiles without your knowledge.

Review the list of configuration profiles on your device, and remove any that look suspicious or are no longer relevant.

• Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management.
• Click on the profile you want to remove, and tap Remove.

6. Cancel any linked credit cards

If your iPhone was hacked, thieves can use Apple Pay to make fraudulent purchases on your account.

Contact your bank so it can cancel your cards and send you new ones. Review your bank statements and notify the bank to dispute any fraudulent charges.

It’s also a good idea to report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov if money was stolen.

📚 Related: What To Do If Your Identity Is Stolen →

7. Freeze your credit

If an identity thief gains access to your personally identifiable information (PII) on your iPhone, you could fall victim to various types of financial fraud.

Placing a credit freeze with each of the three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — can prevent scammers from being able to take out loans or rack up debt in your name. You’ll have to freeze your credit with each bureau individually:

8. Check your app permissions

Malicious apps often request excessive permissions — such as accessing your contact list, location data, camera roll, or even data from other apps.

To check your app permissions:

• Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
• View each category on the list to see which apps can access your data. For example, you might be sharing personal data through Location Services, Contacts, Bluetooth, Microphone, etc.
• Grant or revoke permissions as you see fit.

9. Clear your browser history and cache

Your iPhone stores data from websites you’ve visited in order to decrease load times as you browse. However, cache data can also tuck away viruses and malware on your device — which is why you should clear it every so often, or immediately if you suspect a hack.

• Go to Settings > Safari.
• Scroll down, and click on Clear History and Website Data.
• Select the timeframe of data you want deleted —  all history is recommended.
• Tap on Clear History to confirm.

📚 Related: How To Get Rid of Viruses on iPhones and iPads →

10. Factory reset your iPhone

If all else fails, a factory reset may be the best way to oust a hacker from your iPhone (but this still won’t guarantee that you’ll remove all viruses).

⚠️ Caution: A factory reset will erase all information and settings on your iPhone and installs the latest version of iOS. Make sure that you first make a backup of any data you want to save from your iPhone. 

• Go to Settings > General.
• Scroll to the bottom, and tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Click on Erase All Content and Settings and then confirm.
• Wait a few minutes for the device to reset.

Once factory settings are restored, the iPhone will automatically restart and you can set it up as a new device.

If you have an eSIM, you can choose to erase or keep it when factory resetting your iPhone. Bear in mind that if you erase it, you’ll need to contact your carrier to reactivate your cellular plan. Generally, eSIMS are safe from hackers, and erasing them is unnecessary.

How To Protect Your iPhone From Hackers and Malware

Regardless of commonly purported myths, iPhones (and Mac computers) are still vulnerable to attacks — particularly those that target your accounts or take advantage of known iPhone security vulnerabilities.

The best thing you can do is take preemptive action to secure your Apple ID and shield your iPhone from attacks:

• Turn on automatic iOS updates. Software updates often include critical security fixes that protect your iPhone. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and toggle on automatic updates.
• Update your phone’s passcode. Set up a complex passcode or enable Face ID by going to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. 
• Change your auto-lock settings. Adjust the auto-lock setting to 30 seconds to reduce the risk of someone with physical access unlocking your phone. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock.
• Turn on Stolen Device Protection. This feature adds extra security requirements before you can take certain actions when your iPhone is away from familiar locations. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen Device Protection to turn it on.
• Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) on your Apple ID. This added security layer means hackers will need access to one of your Apple devices to get into your account. To enable 2FA, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign-In & Security > Two-Factor Authentication.
• Don’t jailbreak your phone or sideload apps. Jailbroken phones eliminate some of Apple’s most critical security features.
• Use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your data to prevent hackers from intercepting it — which is especially important when using public Wi-Fi networks.
• Ignore and delete all suspicious text messages, emails, and calendar invites. Your iPhone could potentially be hacked if you reply, call back suspicious numbers, or click on malicious links via SMS, email, or other messaging apps. Test you ability to identify common scams by taking Aura's spot the scam quiz.
• Hang up and report any phone calls claiming to be from Apple. Apple won’t call you unless you request a call with them first. They’ll never ask you for your login credentials.
• Enable Find My. This feature allows you to track your iPhone and remotely wipe your personal data in the event that your phone is stolen. To enable Find My, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Find My, then toggle on the “Find My iPhone” setting.
• Consider the Erase Data option. This feature sets your iPhone to erase all data after 10 consecutive failed passcode attempts [*].

While your iPhone is mostly safe from traditional viruses, hackers have developed numerous ways to access your Apple ID, device data, and other accounts. 

For added security and online safety, consider signing up for Aura’s all-in-one security solution. 

With Aura, you get advanced antivirus protection for Macs, Windows, and Android devices, digital security including a military-grade VPN, password manager, and more — as well as award-winning identity theft and fraud protection, 24/7 U.S.-based support, and up to $1 million in insurance coverage for every adult on your Aura plan.