Numerous security apps available on the App Store can assist you in finding spyware on iPhone. Some popular options include Avast, Lookout, and Norton. Download and run any of these apps to scan your device for potential threats.
Signs that spyware is on your phone
You may experience unexpected handset battery drain, overheating, and strange behavior from the device's operating system or apps. Settings such as GPS and location functions may unexpectedly turn on or you may see random reboots.
Update iOS and apps
“The simplest way to remove spyware from an iPhone is to perform a software (iOS) update,” says Lurey. “If your phone has been jailbroken, this will [also] remove the jailbreak.” An important note: If you don't update your software regularly, you're leaving your phone vulnerable.
Sign in to the Apple ID website (https://appleid.apple.com) and review all the personal and security information in your account to see if there is any information that someone else has added. If you have two-factor authentication turned on, review trusted devices for any devices that you don't recognize.
If your iPhone backs everything up to your iCloud account, then someone can spy on your activity by accessing your iCloud account from any web browser. They would need your Apple ID username and password in order to do this, so if you know that a third party has that information, there are a few steps you should take.
In this case, a spyware program can pretend to be an update for a reputable app you have previously installed on your iPhone. For example, it can be disguised as a banking app update; therefore the hacker can steal the user's banking credentials and other personal data that might be on the app.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking. The list shows the apps that requested permission to track you. You can turn permission on or off for any app on the list. To stop all apps from asking permission to track you, turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track (at the top of the screen).
No single app can definitively tell you if someone is spying on you. However, anti-malware and anti-spyware apps might be able to detect spyware on your phone. If the anti-malware system is familiar with the type of spyware installed, it can detect it. More sophisticated forms of spyware are more difficult to detect.
There are other signs of a hacked phone, such as reduced screenshot quality, unusually high data usage, and apps crashing randomly. If you notice any of these signs, you can take immediate steps to protect your device by downloading a security tool that can scan your device for risks and remediate threats.
No—unless you hit a link included in the text. To avoid getting hacked, do not hit any link that comes with a text or email—unless you are absolutely sure of the sender's identity.
Use the code *#21# to see if hackers track your phone with malicious intent. You can also use this code to verify if your calls, messages, or other data are being diverted. It also shows your diverted information's status and the number to which the information is transferred.
Ignore and delete all suspicious text messages, emails, or calendar invites. Phishing emails and smishing texts via SMS or WhatsApp are among the most common types of fraud. Your iPhone could be hacked if you reply, call the numbers, or click on any malicious links.
Hopefully this has helped to reassure you that it is not possible for someone to hack your phone with just your number. However, phone hacking is a real threat and there are many other ways for hackers to gain access.
One of the best ways to determine if your iPhone is hacked is to run a malware scan. Antivirus apps for iOS are quite limited as Apple's operating system does not allow them to access areas of the device where malware typically hides.
There is a way someone can monitor your mobile phone without ever touching the actual device. Spyware (a portmanteau of 'spying software) and stalkerware can be installed on a phone without the owner's knowledge, allowing an attacker to steal information, track activity, and more.
Many of the stalkerware apps are disguised as plain apps called “Accessibility” or “Device Health.”
Can a hacker access my computer camera, microphone, and screen? Yes. Cybercriminals use malware like spyware to remotely access and control your camera, microphone, and screen. In fact, malicious actors often use camera and microphone recordings to blackmail people.