Has your iPhone been acting strange lately? Do you suspect that someone has tried to access the device without you knowing?
Whatever the factor, we'll show you how to remove a hacker from your iPhone, minimizing the damage to your device and data.
So, read on for a comprehensive look into this topic!
It is a common concept that Apple products, such as iPhones, are impenetrable and difficult to get hacked.
Well, it is not the whole truth!
Under the right circumstances, cybercriminals can easily hack your iOS device remotely.
How is it possible?
This generally happens if you have shared your iCloud credentials with someone else, enabled an easy-to-break screen passcode, or installed a malware-infested app/file on your iPhone.
The whole concept of hacking is that it is done secretly and remotely.
However, hackers do leave breadcrumbs or footprints behind their unethical activity! So, how to detect those signs to determine that your iPhone has been hacked?
Follow the list below:
Spyware tends to consume a hefty amount of data. So, if your iPhone is burning data without authorization, it means it has been hacked.
Hacking is done around the clock via spyware and other resources. High internet consumption is needed for the hacker to access the iPhone data.
This may lead to the device being overheated and the battery getting drained faster than usual.
Too much utilization of data in a short span by the hacker may make the iPhone's performance sluggish. It gets particularly concerning when you have purchased a new iPhone, which has started behaving as outdated.
Hackers may send malware-based texts or emails to access your iPhone data remotely. If you happen to receive such messages, there is a strong indication of getting hacked.
The hacker may also send random messages to the numbers in your contact list, especially if they have hacked the iPhone.
If you suddenly cannot sign in to your iCloud account using your Apple ID, it means either you have forgotten your credentials, or someone has changed the details without you knowing.
Check the device for a specific notification from Apple Support saying that your Apple ID was used on another device. This is a sure sign of getting hacked!
Find random app icons on your iPhone and don't remember installing such applications?
It must be spyware or malware. Perform a thorough check to verify the status of such apps.
Hackers may use the iPhone's camera or mic for various purposes. If you randomly see the orange light(for the mic) or green indicator(for the camera), consider that someone else is using them.
Apply the following tips and tricks to prevent your iPhone from getting infiltrated by hackers now and also in the future.
Start by taking full control of your Apple ID credentials. Use the relevant means to update your password. This time, remember to set up a strong password that is a bit challenging to guess for the hacker in case they decide to attack you in the future.
The password should be a combination of upper case/lower case letters, symbols, and numbers. Moreover, ensure it is a lengthy one with at least 10 characters.
Change your iPhone's screen lock as well. Use 2FA on the device, and consider enabling the 6-digit passcode instead of 4.
The hacker must have associated other devices with your Apple ID. Sign in to your Apple account, and tap Devices to view Apple products linked to your ID.
If you find an unrecognized device there, tap "Remove from account" to remove it from the list.
Configuration profiles are generally XML files containing the authorization details of your iPhone, including accounts, settings, restrictions, and credentials.
Check the configuration profiles on your iPhone. If you see any strange, random, or fake ones, then remove them from the device. Here is how:
Malware might be easily detected by Antivirus software.
Install it, and then perform a complete virus scan on your iPhone. Remove the detected files to stop the iPhone from getting hacked.
You can use a free Antivirus tool to complete the scan. However, if you are certain that your iPhone has been hacked, then we suggest subscribing to a reliable service to get rid of the malware.
As discussed before, you may find several suspicious or unidentified app icons, files, and even links on your iPhone(emails or texts).
If so, do not hesitate to delete those files and links from the device. Uninstall the apps that you do not remember setting up on the iPhone.
Create a list of all your online accounts, including the banking and social media profiles. Now, sign in to those accounts individually, and change their passwords.
We recommend setting up strong and impenetrable passwords. It is also quite handy to enable 2 Factor Authentication across all your valuable online profiles. Now, it would be next to impossible for the hacker to break into your data.
Do not rely on just one type of screen passcode. Hackers can easily break into the iPhone with just a 4-digit screen lock.
We recommend enabling the 6-digit passcode to prevent future hacking attempts.
Here is how you can enable the 6-digit screen lock:
Options like Face ID and Touch ID aren't available across all iPhones.
Do not waver to switch the Two-Factor Authentication on from your device.
In case you lose your iPhone or it gets stolen, you can remotely locate the device using the Find My iPhone feature. However, the function must be turned on on the Settings menu for this solution to work.
If you are not able to locate the iPhone, then Find My also offers to remotely erase the data, preventing the thief or hacker from accessing your files and personal information.
Follow these steps to enable the Find My feature:
Your iPhone may store cookies containing malicious files that the hacker can use to access your data without you knowing.
We recommend browsing under incognito mode!
Similarly, it is better to erase the browsing history occasionally (once a week or month) to avoid any inconvenience.
Apple offers regular iOS and app updates to deal with the latest security issues and enhance its devices' performance.
If the users do not frequently update the software and apps on their iPhones, hackers can easily make their way into the devices.
So, it is vital to keep everything on the iPhone updated.
In case you do not know how to install the latest iOS update, then follow the steps here:
To update iPhone apps:
It is not your fault that your iPhone has gotten hacked!
However, whatever you do next is crucial in dealing with the situation. For this reason, it is essential to learn how to remove a hacker from your iPhone.
We hope this article has provided valuable information and solutions for protecting your data from hackers and stopping future attempts.
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