The 7 Steps to Take if Your iPhone Has Been Hacked

Discovering that your smartphone has been compromised can be a distressing experience. However, understanding the signs of a hacked iPhone and knowing the necessary steps to rectify the issue can help restore your peace of mind. Read on for more info.

The signs of a hacked iPhone

Your iPhone may be hacked if you notice signs such as battery draining faster, unexplained apps appearing, a surge in data consumption, unexplained charges, or reduced performance. These symptoms might indicate that your device has been compromised by malware, a term short for ‘malicious software’ designed to damage or harm a computer system, often masquerading as seemingly innocent software, files, or media​.

Types of malware

Malware includes various types such as:

• Adware
• Banker malware
• Ransomware
• Rooting
• SMS malware
• Spyware
• Trojan malware
• Mobile bot networks

Each of these types functions differently, with some showing frequent ads, attempting to steal banking credentials, monitoring and recording your activity without your knowledge or permission, and even executing DDOS attacks or crypto mining​.

How malware infects your iPhone

Your hacked iPhone may have been infected with malware through several methods. These include:

• Infected applications usually downloaded from third-party app stores
• Malvertising which is distributed by ad networks and appears silently on legitimate site
• Scams or phishing where the user is redirected to a malicious web page after clicking on a malicious email, text message, or pop-up screen
• Direct-to-device methods which require direct access to the device to download or sideload malware​

The 7 steps to take if your iPhone has been hacked

If you believe your iPhone has been hacked, it’s crucial to take immediate action. If your device is infected with malware, you can reset or restore your device by following these steps:

• Use iCloud to back up the data on your device.
• Go to Settings > General > Reset.
• Click “erase all content and settings” to clear all apps and data.
• Restart your iPhone and set it up again.
• Sign in to iCloud when you set up your iPhone and restore your backed-up data.
• Re-download your apps again from the App Store​
• If your iPhone continues to show signs of being hacked, seek help from a professional

Playing it safe

Prevention is always better than cure. To keep your iPhone safe from being hacked, avoid downloading apps from third-party app stores, install OS updates as soon as they are available, and check app permissions before installing an app. 

Additionally, consider installing antivirus software on your iPhone, scanning for viruses regularly, and being cautious when sharing portable devices like USBs or clicking on suspicious web links​.

We can save your hacked iPhone

At Phone Repair NZ, we provide comprehensive malware-checking services and restoration for your iPhone. We are committed to helping our customers regain control over their devices and can detect and eliminate any threats, restoring your once-hacked iPhone to its original state. 

Please reach out with any questions you have about our services. We’d love to hear from you. And, if you’ve enjoyed this deep dive into what you should do about your hacked iPhone, check out our other handy resources on our blog.