How to Check if Your iPhone Is Being Tracked and What to Do About It

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October 3, 2024

Choosing the Right Technology Solutions for Your iOS Devices

Ever get that creepy feeling of being watched or monitored by an overly nosy partner, a meddling relative, or even (dare we say it) the government? Let’s be real, after the Snowden leaks and the rise of some authoritarian regimes, the last one doesn’t sound too far-fetched. And sure, you probably think your iPhone offers foolproof protection from data leaks, malware, and cyber-attacks.

But while the odds of someone tapping into your device are slim, thanks to Apple’s top-tier security measures, they’re not zero. Is it damning? Of course, because your texts, calls, and location are all fair game for bad actors you’d rather keep at bay. These individuals could leverage such to steal your data and commit online fraud. Thankfully, you can prevent this outcome, using our proven tips.

Ways Your Phone Security Can Be Compromised

Cyber threats are evolving at lightning speed, and it’s a bit unsettling—hackers can now bug your phone without needing to touch it, no matter how airtight you think it is with a passcode, fingerprint, or even facial recognition. All it takes is sneaky spyware being remotely installed through:

Phishing Texts and Emails

You know those spam emails promising a large sum of money or those texts showing you ladies near me, click to chat? Yes, those. Clicking on them or opening the attachment triggers malicious software to download and install onto your iPhone, giving hackers unfiltered access to your data or even control over the device. Even some generic ads can be injected with malicious links that compromise security.

Unsecured Public Wi-Fi Networks

Free Wi-Fi at a coffee shop or airport might be a lifesaver. However, it is often wide open for cybercriminals to intercept your data. A hacker sitting across the dining area in the same café could be on the same unsecured network as you and capture your credentials or install malware on your phone without you even realizing it.

Exploited Software Vulnerabilities

If your phone’s software is outdated, hackers can exploit the vulnerabilities in old versions to gain access, and Apple’s security team recently highlighted how real this risk is. According to them, 16 documented vulnerabilities in iPhones and iPads had to be fixed in the latest iOS 17.0.1 patch, the most severe being a memory corruption bug in RTKit that could’ve already been exploited. The tricky part is these issues are beyond our control as users, regardless of how cautious we are.

Malicious Apps

Not all apps are as harmless as they seem. Some are designed to look legit but secretly contain malware that can track your activities or steal your data. Even bug-free apps might still have security vulnerabilities. Surprisingly enough, over 75% of all published apps have at least one security flaw, and one in four mobile apps houses a high-risk vulnerability just waiting to be exploited.

Compromised Accounts

A breached Google or Apple account might be the gateway a cybercriminal needs to install spyware onto your device or track it remotely.

Tell-Tale Signs Your iPhone is Bugged

If you notice any of these signs on your device, you may have been compromised, so proceed with caution:

Battery Drain

Bugs are a real resource hog, which might explain why your phone’s battery life dips significantly even when the device is on standby. The worst part? They run in the background, so you probably won’t spot them.

Unusual Data Usage

You notice a spike in data usage that is way beyond the capacity of the apps installed. That’s a dead giveaway that surveillance software has been installed and is covertly transmitting data.

Unusual Behavior

This could include slow performance, unexplained reboots, malfunctioning features, and frequent crashes from spyware or malware.

Increased Battery Temperature

Unexplained thermal spikes indicate the presence of malicious software that is working overtime.

Delayed Shutdown

If you try to shut down your phone but it takes a while before it completely powers off, it could be spyware running in the background or a bad actor watching.

Background Noise

You may hear faint, irregular, static, or clicking sounds that aren’t audible in normal circumstances, and no, you’re not hearing things. This could be an eavesdropping tool in disguise transmitting a data stream.

Unusual Text Messages

If you find out-of-character texts comprising a combination of letters, numbers, or symbols, it could be a hacker testing the security of your device or an app, using a monitoring software command.

If these signs exist, check for unknown devices in Find My Settings. Another thing to watch for is the icons that pop up on your notification bar. If you see the location, microphone, or camera icons light up at the top of your screen without you using those features, that’s a red flag.

Swipe diagonally from the top-right corner to open Control Center and check which app is behind their activation. If it’s one you don’t recognize, it’s likely a spyware.

How to Kick Out Trackers

Now that you know what to look out for, it’s time to take measures against being tracked.

Step 1: Disable Location Services

Location services are helpful when grabbing directions or checking the weather, but they also give shady apps a free pass to monitor your every move. Your first step? Turn them off! Head to your iPhone’s Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then Location Services, and flip that switch. If you still need it for maps or ride-sharing, toggle it on for those apps.

Step 2: Update Your Phone’s Software

iOS updates, beyond their cool features, come packed with crucial security fixes that help secure your device. So, apply them as they’re released. The same goes for your apps.

Step 3. Run Anti-Malware and Spyware Software

Add an extra layer of security to your iPhone by downloading trusted anti-surveillance and anti-malware programs designed to hunt down spyware, adware, and more, and remove them if found.

Step 4: Use VPN

VPNs like Proton and Avast take protection to the next level by masking your IP address so you can surf the web and make calls anonymously. They sure come in clutch for those motel and café free browsing sessions.

Step 5: Reset Your Phone to Factory Setting

If there’s still a lingering hunch about your safety, a factory reset might be your best bet. This will wipe everything from your phone—including any hidden malware. Just be sure to back up your important stuff before you do the reset.

Step 6. Turn off Bluetooth and Use Airplane Mode

Bluetooth can be an easy way for malware to sneak in, so keep it turned off unless you’re actively using it. Another trick? Switch on Airplane Mode, which kills all connections to your phone. If anything suspicious is running in the background, this should stop it, making it easier to track down what’s going on.

Step 7. Verify Links and Senders

Hackers often get in by tricking you into clicking on a dodgy link or downloading a harmful attachment, which is why you should double-check the sender before interacting with such content.

Step 8. Consult a Professional

Still feeling uneasy about your iPhone’s security? Reach out to a cybersecurity expert or digital forensics pro. They can run a full analysis of the device to detect and remove any lurking malware.

Conclusion

The steps and tips we’ve discussed should help keep those data-hungry hackers and cyber-stalkers off your radar. You still need to be vigilant though. Therefore, be on the lookout for red flags that point to a potential breach, and keep other measures in your back pocket.

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About the author

GeoSn0w

An iOS and Jailbreak enthusiast who has been around for quite some time in the community. I’ve developed my own jailbreaks before and I am currently maintaining iSecureOS, one of the first iOS Anti-Malware tools for jailbroken devices. I also run iDevice Central on YouTube with over 146.000 Subscribers! Thank you for being part of this awesome community.