<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The short answer is yes\u2014any networked device can, by definition, be hacked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apple is far from being the only tech giant to claim something to the contrary, and iOS is well-regarded as being a particularly secure operating system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that ignores the fact that the vast majority of hacks are facilitated through human error: using weak, repeated, or compromised passwords, clicking phishy links, erroneously sharing personal details and credit card numbers\u2026 you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s consider the likely hacking scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can An iPhone Be Hacked Remotely?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A \u2018remote\u2019 hack refers to a hack facilitated away from the location of the device being hacked. While these aren\u2019t unheard of<\/a>, they are, thankfully, highly unlikely. It would be unthinkably expensive and require expert knowledge to hack without malicious software or physical access, so unless you happen to be a Kardashian or a Royal, there\u2019s a pretty high chance you\u2019ll never be targeted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, enabling two-factor authentication is a simple and effective way to prevent it. Exploiting iCloud backups is essentially the sole means of remote hacking the iPhone of an average Joe, so enabling two-factor authentication prevents access even if your password has been compromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Apps downloaded from the App Store will never contain viruses or malware outright. Even on Safari, it\u2019s highly unlikely that malware could be installed on your device, but it isn\u2019t impossible. Adware and phishy links have been around since the birth of the internet, and iPhones aren\u2019t immune to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve visited a suspicious website and have concerns, close the website, and take time to look diligently through your phone\u2019s storage to see if anything has been downloaded. This could appear under \u2018data and documents\u2019. Delete any downloads you don\u2019t recall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is significantly more likely that malware or spyware would install itself if you clicked on a phishing link on iPhone than if you simply visited a suspicious website. Scrolling through a page without interacting with it is unlikely to install anything on your device\u2014but intrusive pop-ups are likely to appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of attempting to exit the pop-up (most will have fake closure buttons), simply close the Safari app (or browser app of your choice). When you return to it, immediately create a new tab; from there, close the tab of the website with the intrusive links without returning to it. You could also delete and reinstall your browser app. If pop-ups are severe, a hard reset will be necessary to avoid clicking links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Last year, a journalist for The New York Times reported<\/a> that their phone had been hacked, alleging that the government of Saudi Arabia was behind it. It certainly wasn\u2019t the first\u2014or the last\u2014time a journalist has claimed to have been hacked by a government body, but what was especially concerning is that it was facilitated through a zero-click text message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no doubt that it is possible to be hacked just by receiving a text, but there\u2019s a reason these reports only point the finger at world governments; as with other forms of true remote hacking, a zero-click hack would be an absurdly expensive and complicated endeavour for a person without significant resources. \u2018Pegasus\u2019<\/a>, the sophisticated spyware from NSO Group responsible for the WhatsApp hack, is alleged to be behind these zero-click hacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, hacking through phone calls is also a possibility through Pegasus. Even if the user doesn\u2019t pick up the call, this is sufficient for the spyware to exploit vulnerabilities in the operating system and discreetly install itself. Apple claims to continually update iOS to prevent such attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific apps it will target on iPhone are WhatsApp, iMessage, Phone, and Camera: it\u2019s capable of reading texts, tracking calls and locations, collecting passwords, and using the device\u2019s microphone and camera. No wonder the New York Times recently deemed it \u2018the world\u2019s most powerful cyberweapon<\/a>\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether an iPhone can be hacked when it\u2019s turned off is up for debate. In essence, if the iPhone is truly <\/em>off, there is no feasible way for it to be hacked via the internet, texts, calls, or some other remote means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a rather limited argument to suggest the presence of the phone\u2019s static current (which will still be present so long as the battery isn\u2019t drained) is enough to be hacked, but this is, for all intents and purposes, unfeasible. In the extraordinarily unlikely case that someone smashes your phone open to steal its insides, yes, its physical storage could essentially be \u2018hacked\u2019. But we guess you\u2019d have to have something extremely valuable on there to warrant that much effort!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the \u2018selling point\u2019 of advanced spywares like Pegasus is precisely how discreet they are, it can be difficult, if not completely impossible, for most of us to spot the signs. Thankfully, most of us aren\u2019t high profile individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s some of the signs of a hacked iPhone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n A tell-tale sign of something nasty being installed onto your device is if files you don\u2019t recall downloading suddenly appear on your device. If something raises a flag, take time to go through what\u2019s on your phone and delete what you don\u2019t recall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, apps that randomly download themselves onto your iPhone are an obvious sign your device has been hacked. These will be apps that aren\u2019t available for public release (i.e. on the App store). This is a legal and permissible feature of iOS\u2014it\u2019s supposed to be reserved for companies with internal apps or for dev software but can be exploited by hackers to install malware or spyware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Jailbreaking\u2019 devices is a term used to describe hacking that bypasses restricted modes of operation. Many people purposely jailbreak their iPhone to create custom features, change the look of the interface, and so forth. Though it’s virtually impossible to jailbreak remotely, if you have a lost or stolen phone returned to you and the interface appears different (or you notice unusual apps installed), it may be jailbroken and therefore highly susceptible to hacking. Jailbreaking allows for all kinds of manipulation, monitoring, and tracking of data. A factory reset will remove jailbreak exploits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n A useful habit to start is to keep tabs on how much internet data you are using. Many network providers now have apps that show exactly how much data you are using in real time. Not only does this help you keep tabs on your internet usage, it also is a great way to tell if your iPhone is exhibiting unusual behaviors. If you notice a massive spike in data usage, it could be a sign that something has been discreetly installed to pass on information to a hacker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Though it\u2019s a little more difficult given how notoriously fast iPhone batteries die, it\u2019s also worth keeping an eye on exactly how much use you get out of your device before needing to recharge. A battery that\u2019s draining unusually fast could be a sign that discreet background processes are occurring. Of course, it\u2019s worth taking the iPhone to the Apple store first to get it checked out before assuming the worst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you feel confident that your iPhone is hacked, there are a number of things you can do to rectify the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, contact your bank. To put it plainly, unless you\u2019ve been gossiping on the group chat about highly classified information on another country, access to a credit or debit card is almost guaranteed to be what hackers want from your device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have your bank cancel your card and reject transactions made within the period you suspect it has been hacked. Likewise, any online payment accounts, like PayPal, will require similar treatment and immediate password resets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Password resets are crucial because there is a strong likelihood that existing passwords will be compromised within seconds of being hacked. These should be facilitated on another device. Clear all passwords, cookies, and cached data on the iPhone in question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A factory reset will completely wipe everything on your iPhone. In many cases, this will be necessary, particularly if you suspect something discreet has been installed, or that there\u2019s a jailbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These tips all aim to quickly rectify the situation, but it\u2019s important to remember that being hacked is not something to take lightly; it\u2019s a very serious invasion of privacy, and if you suspect that someone is spying on you, do not hesitate to go to the relevant authorities and report what\u2019s occurred. Experts can then be assigned to take a deep dive into your device and discover who or what is hacking your device, as well as where it\u2019s come from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 NEVER jailbreak<\/strong> \u2013 it\u2019s an invitation to hackers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 REGULARLY update<\/strong> \u2013 vulnerabilities will be patched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 REFRESH all passwords, stored credit cards, and addresses<\/strong> \u2013 these are what hackers want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 COVER the camera<\/strong> \u2013 one of the oldest tricks in the book! If you\u2019re using AlfredCamera<\/a> as a surveillance solution, it\u2019s good to know that the app features industry-leading security features to protect your footage and privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 INSTALL third-party security software<\/strong> \u2013 anti-virus software is available for iPhones from reputable companies, like McAfee, Norton, and Avira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n iOS doesn\u2019t support any native \u2018virus scanning\u2019 that users can activate. However, third party anti-virus apps, like Norton and McAfee, are available to download for iPhone should you wish to keep closer tabs on malware. For most of us, though, simply updating iOS regularly should be adequate at keeping viruses at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since filing a class-action lawsuit against NSO Group (the Israeli company responsible for Pegasus), Apple claims that it will inform users when it detects state-sponsored hacking<\/a>. The number of users who will be targeted by these attacks is exceptionally low, so don\u2019t expect one of these messages any time soon (if you do get one, it\u2019s probably a phishing link). If you have concerns about your iPhone acting up, take it to your local Apple store to get checked out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes. In Settings, click on Screen Time, and then See All Activity. Here you\u2019ll see a comprehensive breakdown of your screen time, including what apps you used, for how long, and at what time. Note that you will need to enable activity\/screen time monitoring to do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Can an iPhone be hacked? We won\u2019t sugar coat it: absolutely, just as any networked device can be. Thankfully, they are known for being rigid with their security, and frequent updates to iOS aim to mitigate any exploitable vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wreaking havoc on high-profile individuals across the world, Pegasus does represent an alarming future for hacks facilitated with zero-clicks. Thankfully, that threat does remain exceptionally low for those of us who aren\u2019t diplomats, dignitaries, or journalists\u2014at least for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Four](\"https:\/\/alfred.camera\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Four-iPhone-11s-are-held-together.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCan An iPhone Be Hacked by Visiting a Website?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can An iPhone Be Hacked by Clicking a Link?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can An iPhone Be Hacked from Text Messages?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can An iPhone Be Hacked Through a Phone Call?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can An iPhone Be Hacked When Turned Off?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alfred.camera\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/iPhone-home-screen.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIs My iPhone Hacked? 5 Warning Signs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Files you didn\u2019t download appear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Apps you didn\u2019t download appear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Your iPhone is jailbroken<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Data draining<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Battery draining<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What To Do If An iPhone Is Hacked?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Person](\"https:\/\/alfred.camera\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Person-pays-for-a-transaction-using-a-card-stored-on-their-iPhone.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5 Essential Tips for Smartphone Security: Secure Your iPhone From Hackers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FAQ<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do I run a virus scan on my iPhone?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Can Apple check if my iPhone is hacked?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Can I tell if someone has accessed my iPhone?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n