How to Tell if Your iPhone Has Been Hacked (And What to Do About It)

Is your iPhone acting strange? Are you worried that it might be hacked? You‘re not alone. According to a 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center, 28% of Americans have had their smartphone hacked in some way. As an iOS security researcher with over a decade of experience, I‘ve seen countless cases of compromised iPhones. The good news is, there are some clear signs to look out for and steps you can take to diagnose and fix a hacked iPhone.

In this article, I‘ll walk you through four easy ways to tell if your iPhone has been infiltrated, recommend some top apps and tools for confirming and cleaning up a breach, and give you my expert tips on keeping your iPhone safe from future attacks. By the end, you‘ll have a clear action plan for handling any iPhone security issues that come your way.

1. Unexplained Battery Drain and Overheating

One of the most common signs of a compromised iPhone is a rapidly draining battery. If your fully-charged iPhone is suddenly running out of juice within a few hours, even when you‘re not using it heavily, that‘s a red flag. According to Apple, "normal" battery drain is about 1-2% per hour when idle. Anything significantly higher than that could indicate malicious activity.

Hacked iPhones often run unseen background processes that suck up battery life. A study by Wandera found that a phone infected with the "DrainerBot" malware saw its battery life decrease by 20 times! Similarly, if your iPhone regularly overheats, even when you‘re not using processor-intensive apps, it could be straining under the weight of malware.

2. Unfamiliar Apps and Unexplained Data Usage

Another tell-tale sign of an iPhone hack is the sudden appearance of unfamiliar apps on your home screen or app folders. These are often disguised as legitimate programs (like a flashlight or calculator app) to trick you into installing them. A notable example was the "Find and Call" app, which posed as a contacts manager but actually stole users‘ address books and spammed their contacts with phishing links.

Even if you don‘t spot any strange apps, check your data usage in Settings. Specifically, look out for spikes in "Background App Refresh" data for apps you rarely use. Malicious apps often run continuously in the background, secretly transmitting your data back to the hacker‘s server. The Wandera study found that infected phones used up to 100MB of data per day, even when not actively used.

3. Unusual Pop-ups and Ad Behavior

Malware often injects ads, alerts, and pop-ups onto your iPhone screen, even when your browser and apps are closed. These may try to get you to click on dubious links or enter sensitive information. Some variants use scare tactics, claiming your data is at risk unless you call a "support number" (which goes to the hackers). Others may be adult or gambling-themed.

For example, in 2017, a strain of pop-up malware targeted Safari on iPhones with endless "You‘ve Won a Prize" scams. If you‘re seeing a barrage of pop-ups that don‘t seem tied to any particular app, proceed with caution. Avoid clicking any links and close out the alerts immediately.

4. Performance Issues and Random Restarts

Like computers, iPhones have a finite amount of processing power and memory. Malware infections make your phone work overtime, leading to sluggish performance, app crashes, and unexpected reboots. If your once-zippy iPhone suddenly slows to a crawl and struggles with basic tasks, a hack could be to blame.

In particular, if you notice your phone randomly restarting when you‘re not using it, that‘s concerning. While occasional restarts are normal (to install updates, for example), frequent unprompted reboots are a sign of instability often caused by malware. Check your iPhone‘s Analytics Data (under Privacy in Settings) and look out for repeated crash logs that coincide with the restarts.

Best Apps to Check for iPhone Hacks

If you‘ve noticed any of the above signs and suspect your iPhone has been hacked, don‘t panic. The first step is to confirm your suspicions. While there isn‘t a one-click solution, these apps and tools can help you hunt down and verify any security breaches:

iVerify

iVerify is an iOS app developed by security research firm Trail of Bits. Once installed, it runs a comprehensive scan of your iPhone‘s settings and configurations, flagging any potential vulnerabilities or evidence of hacking. It checks things like your iPhone‘s jailbreak status, iCloud security, and two-factor authentication setup, providing easy-to-understand "Pass" or "Fail" results for each category.

While iVerify can‘t directly detect malware, it‘s an excellent first step to assessing your iPhone‘s overall security posture. If you fail any of the tests, the app provides clear instructions on how to remediate the issue. iVerify is free to download and scan, with more advanced monitoring features available for a $4.99 monthly subscription.

Certo Mobile Security

Certo is an anti-malware and spyware scanning tool designed specifically for iPhones. Unlike iVerify, which assesses general security settings, Certo scans your phone‘s files and data for any signs of malicious software. It checks for known iOS malware variants as well as suspicious changes to system files that could indicate a new hack.

To use Certo, you‘ll need to connect your iPhone to a computer and run the scan through the desktop app. The software then generates a detailed report of any threats found and helps guide you through removing them. Certo offers a free trial, with full functionality starting at $49.99 per year.

Malwarebytes for iOS

Malwarebytes is a well-known name in the anti-malware space, and their iOS app brings that expertise to iPhones. While it doesn‘t scan your phone directly, it includes a suite of security features designed to block hacks before they start. This includes a safe browsing mode that prevents you from accessing malicious websites, an ad blocker to stop malware-laden pop-ups, and a scam call protection tool.

Malwarebytes for iOS is a good choice if you‘re more interested in prevention than diagnosis. By blocking common infection vectors, it reduces the chances your iPhone will get hacked in the first place. The app is free to download with an optional $11.99/month subscription for more advanced protection.

How to Remove Malware From Your iPhone

If any of the above tools confirm that your iPhone has indeed been hacked, it‘s crucial to act quickly to minimize the damage. Here‘s my step-by-step advice for cleaning an infected iPhone:

1. Back up your data: Before you do anything else, make sure you have a recent backup of your important data (photos, contacts, documents, etc.). If possible, use a secure cloud backup like iCloud or create an encrypted local backup using iTunes.

2. Update your iPhone: Make sure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS. Apple regularly patches security vulnerabilities, so updating can remove some types of malware by overwriting them with fixed code.

3. Remove suspicious apps: Go through your apps and delete anything you don‘t recognize or remember installing. If an app looks legitimate but is exhibiting malicious behavior, try offloading it instead (go to the app in Settings, choose "Offload App"). This preserves the app‘s data in case you need it but removes the potentially harmful program itself.

4. Run an anti-malware scan: Using one of the tools mentioned above (like Certo or Malwarebytes), perform a thorough scan of your iPhone and remove any found threats.

5. Factory reset (if needed): If the above steps don‘t resolve the issue, a factory reset may be necessary. This will erase all data and settings from your iPhone, returning it to its original state. Make sure you have a backup first, then go to Settings > General > Reset and choose "Erase All Content and Settings." After the reset, you can restore your data from the backup.

6. Change your passwords: Even after cleaning your iPhone, change the passwords for any accounts you access from it (iCloud, email, social media, banking, etc.). If the hacker accessed any of these during the breach, they could still have your old passwords.

Tips to Prevent Future iPhone Hacks

Of course, the best way to deal with an iPhone hack is to avoid getting hacked in the first place. While no method is 100% foolproof, these best practices will significantly lower your risk:

• Always keep your iPhone updated with the latest version of iOS
• Use strong, unique passwords for all your accounts and enable two-factor authentication wherever possible
• Only download apps from the official App Store and read reviews carefully before installing
• Avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or messages, as they may lead to phishing sites
• Be cautious about connecting to unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks, especially public hotspots
• Regularly back up your iPhone data in case you ever need to do a full reset

By following these guidelines and staying vigilant for the signs of a hack, you can keep your iPhone and personal data secure.

The Bottom Line

An iPhone hack can be a scary and stressful experience, but you‘re not helpless. By knowing the common signs to look for, using the right diagnostic tools, and acting quickly to clean your device, you can minimize the damage and get back to using your iPhone with peace of mind. Stay informed, stay cautious, and don‘t be afraid to seek expert help if needed. With the right knowledge and tools, you can keep your iPhone secure from even the sneakiest of hackers.