YOUR iPhone could be hacked – and security experts have shared the key signs to look out for.
Fortunately, your iPhone is probably not compromised. In fact, it’s surprisingly difficult to end up with a hacked device.
But there are some important signs that your iPhone is infected that you should definitely try to learn.
That way, if you see them, you can investigate and try to resolve the issue before something bad happens.
Cybercrime experts at Keeper Security say there are three simple signs to spot.
“Although Apple devices are less likely than other devices to be infected by viruses, due to the strong security features of the iPhone operating system (iOS), it is still possible for your iPhone to get a virus,” said Ashley D’Andrea , from Keeper Security. she explained.
“iPhones are much more likely to get viruses if they are jailbroken, which occurs when someone removes iOS restrictions on their Apple device so they can download apps and software from third-party sources.
“If you jailbreak your iPhone, you run the risk of unauthorized apps and software containing viruses that could infect your device.”
WARNING SIGNS OF INFECTED IPHONE
A big surprise is if you find unknown apps on your device.
If you see an app that you definitely know you haven’t installed, it could mean your device has been compromised.
This might not even be done by a distant hacker – someone close to you might have installed spying software on your phone.
If you go into settings and look for the app, you can check what permissions it has access to.
Is it tracking your location, using your camera, or even accessing your microphone? You can find out literally in seconds.
And then if you’re worried, just delete it.
Another warning sign is that data usage has suddenly skyrocketed.
If you’re using your iPhone normally but it’s suddenly consuming a lot more data, this could be a sign that something is wrong.
APPLE ID COMPROMISED? THE OFFICIAL SIGNS
Here’s Apple’s official list of clues that your Apple ID has been compromised…
- Apple has notified you (notification or email) about account activity that you do not recognize (for example, if your Apple ID was used to sign in to a device you do not recognize, or if your password was changed but you did not change it). changed this).
- You notice unusual activity, such as messages you didn’t send, deleted items you didn’t delete, or purchasing activity you don’t recognize.
- Your password no longer works, you don’t recognize some or all of your account details, or your device has been locked or placed in Lost Mode by someone other than you.
This could mean that a rogue app is consuming a lot of data in the background.
You can view the app’s data usage in settings to check where your precious megabytes and gigabytes are going.
If an app is behaving suspiciously – especially if you can’t explain its data usage – it’s best to delete it.
And thirdly, be aware when apps are excessively draining the battery.
You can see how battery life has been affected by malware.
Ashley D’AndreaGuardian Security
This is similar to the data issue – some apps may be using a lot of battery in the background.
This isn’t always a sign of malware, but it could be a clue that an app is doing something it shouldn’t.
You can simply go to your iPhone’s battery settings to see exactly which apps are using how much battery.
And if a suspicious app seems to be using a lot of battery and you can’t figure out why, it’s probably best to delete it.
CHECK YOUR IPHONE BATTERY USAGE
Here’s what you need to do…
You can get a quick overview of your battery level and activity by going to Settings > Battery.
Tap a time period to see its activity graph for the last 24 hours or a specified number of days.
You can also see a list of apps that have contributed to battery usage.
And it will display the amount of battery used by each individual app.
You can see how long each app has been in use on your screen as well as in the background.
Apple explains that you may see the following types of usage:
- Background activity means that most of the app’s battery usage—like playing music or tracking location—occurred while the app was in the background.
- No cell coverage and low signal means your device was searching for a signal or being used with low signal.
- Connected to charger means the app was used only when the device was charging.
If you’re concerned about battery life and can’t use the charger right away, consider turning on Low Power Mode to preserve it.
You can find this feature in the battery settings.
“Just as you might notice increased data usage as a sign of a virus-infected iPhone, you can see how battery life has been affected by malware,” Ashley explained.
“Go to Settings and click on Battery. From there, you can choose whether you want to view battery activity for the last 24 hours or the previous three days.
“This screen will show you which apps consumed the highest percentage of your battery, as well as whether your screen was on or off.”
And beyond these signs, remember to look for obvious clues that your device – or some of your accounts – have been compromised.
Keep an eye out for changes to settings that you don’t recognize – that’s a big sign that something bad is happening.
If you’re worried about your iPhone being compromised, delete all suspicious apps as soon as possible.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story