Has your iPhone been hacked? That’s how you find out
Can an iPhone be hacked? Unfortunately, because no smartphone is completely secure. These 6 things reveal that your iPhone may have been hacked. We also explain what you can do about this.
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Has my iPhone been hacked?
One swears by Android phones while the other loves iPhones. Whichever “camp” you belong to, there’s no doubt about one thing: iOS is more secure than Android. Apple users get more security updates, iOS is more closed than Android (and therefore more secure), and the Apple platform is less likely to be the victim of viruses.
However, an iPhone can also be hacked. The big question is: how do you notice this? In this article we list 6 signs that indicate that your iPhone may have been hacked. Be careful, because even if you experience the ‘symptoms’ below, this does not necessarily mean that malicious parties are in your phone. There could also be something else going on.
1. Listen to Apple
Before we start with all kinds of additional steps, it’s time to enlist the help of Apple. As soon as the iPhone maker suspects that your device has been hacked, you will receive a so-called ‘threat notification’.
In this post, Apple explains that government hackers may be hunting your device. The company also advises on possible next steps. The threat notification is sent via email and iMessage to the email address associated with the user’s Apple ID. You can also go to your personal Apple ID page to check if there’s anything wrong.
Do you get a notification that your iPhone has been hacked? Then take this very seriously. Note that this really comes from Apple, because malicious parties then send fake alarm messages to scam.
How to get to Apple’s threat report
2. Battery lasts less time
It is normal for your iPhone battery to wear out over time. If you’ve owned your Apple phone for three years, it’s only natural that your battery lasts less than when you first started using it.
However, this process is very gradual. Does your iPhone battery suddenly last much less? Then there might be more to it. Hackers often install programs that run in the background. So you won’t notice these ‘apps’, but they do need electricity.
Grab your iPhone and go to the settings. Then open ‘Battery’ and tap ‘Battery health’. Here you can view the battery consumption of the past ten days. Check whether you suddenly see a drastic reduction in this.
3. More data usage
“Data is the new gold”, it is sometimes said. Typically, cyber criminals are after victims’ personal information.
Think, for example, of bank details, a signature or passport details. This information must of course be sent to the hackers. This is done via the internet, such as your WiFi network or mobile data bundle.
Check this by checking your iPhone’s data usage. Go to the settings and choose ‘Mobile network’. At the bottom of this screen you can see how much data you have used. Compare this statistic with previous periods to rule out the possibility of hackers being active.
Is your mobile data bundle running out too quickly? Check out these saving tips.
4. Strange Behavior
Is your iPhone sending messages you don’t know about? Or do you see in the log that all kinds of (usually foreign) telephone numbers are called?
It may mean that your iPhone has been hacked. Many malware strains nestle on the victim’s iPhone as a parasite. The device is then used to call expensive premium rates or to take out subscriptions.
This way you can recognize fleeceware viruses.
5. Do you know these apps?
Also very important: regularly check which apps are on your iPhone. If you suddenly see applications that you have not downloaded yourself, there is a good chance that your device has been hacked.
But, don’t just delete apps you don’t know. They may be legitimate programs that have been on your iPhone since the beginning, but that you simply never use. You can check if an app is legit by googling its name. If the app contains a virus, you will find out quickly enough this way.
6. iPhone is slower
Technology moves at lightning speed and an iPhone a few years old is logically less fast than a brand-new one. But, when your device suddenly becomes considerably slower, this is a possible sign on the wall.
After all, hackers carry out all kinds of processes in the background, for example to collect and send your personal data, and that requires computing power. And who will provide that computing power? That’s right: the chip of your iPhone.
A hacked iPhone is almost always slower than a ‘healthy’, uninfected one.
You can make an iPhone faster with these tips.
My iPhone has been hacked: what to do?
Has your iPhone been hacked? That’s annoying, but don’t panic. In most cases you can solve the problem yourself.
The first step is to get the latest software update. Apple regularly releases security updates that ensure that hackers are sidelined.
Also important: protect your device with two-step verification. You also need a one-time code when logging in, instead of just a username and password.
Furthermore, it is important to use a good password manager – such as those from Apple, 1Password or Bitwarden – and of course you should not just click on vague websites, links and attachments. After all, criminals use this phishing technique to ‘fish in’ victims.
Learn how to update your iPhone
