Think Your iPhone Has Been Hacked? Here’s What To Do (2024 Guide)
If your iPhone is behaving weirdly, there’s a high chance it’s been hacked. You may have noticed excessive battery drain or data usage, slow performance, and even random apps appearing on the home screen.
Even though Apple has a strong built-in defense system, hackers are using increasingly creative and complex ways to access your iPhone, iCloud, and Apple ID accounts.
The best form of defense is to use a top-tier security app like TotalAV to fix your hacked iPhone. The app’s scanner easily flags any iOS security risks, and it also prevents future attacks by blocking malicious links, shady apps packed with malware, and unsecured WiFi networks. TotalAV even comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can download it and run a scan at no risk to you.
Protect your iPhone with TotalAV
Quick Guide: How to Fix a Hacked iPhone (2024)
- Download an iOS mobile security app. TotalAV has WiFi security, a free VPN, and web protection to secure your iPhone from hackers.
- Launch the app and run a scan. Most apps will automatically run an initial scan to assess the security of your iPhone.
- Check the report. Once the scan is finished, the app will detail any security issues and how to fix them.
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Step-By-Step-Guide: What to Do If Your iPhone Has Been Hacked
1. Run a Scan With Security Software
Download and run a scan with high-quality security software like TotalAV. This will tell you if you’ve actually been hacked, as well as assess any issues present on your iPhone and show you how to fix them quickly.
2. Warn Your Contacts About Scam Messages
Once you’ve confirmed the hacking, you should immediately let your contacts know the situation. Warn them not to click on links in any messages from you, as these are likely to be part of a phishing scam.
3. Change Your Passwords
If your iPhone has been hacked, it’s possible that your passwords and login information could be compromised. This includes your iCloud and Apple ID accounts. After running the security scan, reset and create new, unique passwords for your online accounts.
4. Delete Suspicious Apps
Apps are a very common way for hackers to gain access to your iPhone. If you’ve recently downloaded an app that comes from a third-party source (not the Apple App Store) you should delete it from your iPhone. When taking an inventory of the apps on your iPhone, also delete apps that you don’t remember downloading. These could have been added secretly when you were connected to unsecured WiFi or clicked a phishing link.
5. Reset Your iPhone
The majority of hacking malware can be removed by resetting your iPhone back to factory settings. This will remove all downloaded apps, plus your messages, contacts, photos, and files. As such, before you reset your iPhone it’s a good idea to create a backup of this data.
The Best iPhone Apps to Prevent Hacking (Tested in 2024)
1. TotalAV — #1 iOS Security App for Top-Tier Protection Against Hackers and Malware
Key Features:
- Features browser and system security checks, a device locator, and VPN
- Boosts iPhone performance with unique photo manager feature
- Supports iOS 9.0+ for iPhone and iPad
- Secures up to 6 devices at the same time
- 30-day money-back guarantee
TotalAV offers the best protection for your iPhone. By optimizing device performance, TotalAV ensures your iPhone is fast and efficient to keep all security features running smoothly. While testing TotalAV, it made sure I had all of my security options set up (like a password and Face ID), plus it freed up over 1.2GB of space in duplicate files and photos. This is important, as TotalAV’s iOS app is on the larger side — it needs almost 200MB of space.
After downloading TotalAV, the app ran a check on my iPhone to see if my security software and operating system was up-to-date. TotalAV prompted me to update my iOS and detailed the next steps I should take to reduce vulnerabilities. I also used TotalAV’s Data Breach Check to see if my email addresses or old accounts had been compromised — the report detailed some known breaches from around 10 years ago.
When you take your iPhone out with you, TotalAV protects your device from hackers with its WebShield and VPN features. WebShield blocks phishing links and websites hosting malware, so you’re secure against accidental misclicks. During my tests, I tried to visit several malware test sites and TotalAV blocked access to them all. I was pleased to find that TotalAV’s VPN automatically connected when I opened Safari’s private browsing mode, keeping my online activity private. The VPN has unlimited data and mitigates speed loss well, so you can browse without lag or interruptions.
For the best value and protection for your iPhone, I recommend you subscribe to TotalAV’s Internet Security plan. This gives you access to TotalAV’s essential features that prevent your iPhone from being hacked or attacked by malware. If you try the service and find it isn’t right for you, TotalAV has a 30-day money-back guarantee. When I spoke with an agent on the phone, it only took a couple of minutes to process my refund. I had my money back in a week.
Protect your iPhone with TotalAV
2. Norton — Boosts iPhone Performance and Enhances Security With Suite of Features
Key Features:
- Blocks phishing links, malicious websites, shady apps, and viruses
- Includes unlimited free VPN and password manager
- Supports iOS 13.0+ for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch
- Protects up to 5 devices at once
- 60-day money-back guarantee
Norton 360 has a range of unique features designed to improve your iPhone’s security and performance, defending your device and personal accounts from hackers and malware. I’m impressed by the number of features it packs into its iOS app — it includes Web Protection, WiFi security, a full device scan, Contact Backup, and scam call blocking. Plus, when you subscribe to Norton 360 you can also use its unlimited Secure VPN and Password Manager at no extra cost. This makes Norton 360 one of the most comprehensive antivirus software packages available for iPhones.
As many hackers gain access to iPhones through phishing links and malicious websites, I was pleased by how effectively Norton 360 blocked shady links and sites on my device. During tests, all malicious sites were blocked instantly — Norton 360 even blocked some scam sites that Safari loaded, proving that Apple’s defenses alone aren’t enough to protect you from hackers.
I found Norton 360’s Password Manager is highly effective at improving the security of my online accounts, including iCloud and Apple ID. It detected that one of my passwords was vulnerable and offered to change it for a more secure option, all with a single click. I like that I only have to remember my master password — I could even sign in to my accounts using Apple’s Face ID and Norton 360.
While Norton 360 does have a dedicated mobile security app, I recommend you subscribe to Norton 360 Deluxe as it provides the best overall value. With the Deluxe package, you can protect your iPhone and 4 other devices, plus access Norton 360’s full range of security features. If you want to test the service, Norton 360 offers a 60-day money-back guarantee you can use to try every feature on your iPhone. If you’re not entirely satisfied, it’s easy to get a refund — an agent processed mine over the 24/7 live chat in just a couple of minutes, and I had my money back in 5 days.
Protect your iPhone with Norton 360
3. McAfee — Lightweight iOS App Provides Effective Security Against Hacking
Key Features:
- Provides safe browsing, dark web monitoring, WiFi scanning, and secure VPN
- Super lightweight at just 67MB for powerful iPhone security
- Supports iOS 13.0+ for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch
- Protects up to 10 devices with one subscription
- 30-day money-back guarantee
McAfee’s iOS app is lightweight at just 67MB, providing powerful security without taking up lots of space on your iPhone. This means you have more storage for your important files, photos, and other apps — plus the lightweight nature of McAfee means it performs quickly. During device scans, I found McAfee didn’t impact my iPhone’s performance and having the app running in the background wasn’t a drain on my battery. I had constant protection from hackers without having to worry about charging my iPhone more regularly.
Despite McAfee’s small app size, it has several key security features to guard against hacking and malware. While out with my iPhone, I used the WiFi scanning feature to ensure my network connections were secure, and McAfee’s safe browsing blocked any shady websites. I also made use of McAfee’s secure VPN to keep my online activity anonymous — this feature is available on all plans, but only if you sign up for subscription auto-renewal.
I was impressed by McAfee’s secure storage feature, which meant I could keep my important files and photos safe from hackers. The Media Vault is protected by a PIN, securing my personal items from malware and uninvited third parties. While McAfee doesn’t have cloud storage, I was pleased I could keep my sensitive details private, protecting my login information for iCloud, my Apple ID, and other accounts.
I’d recommend that you choose McAfee’s Total Protection for the best subscription value. This lets you secure up to 10 devices and gives you access to the majority of its features if you agree to auto-renewal. Plus, you can try McAfee risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Protect your iPhone with McAfee
Secure Your iPhone Against Hackers With Antivirus Software
Even with Apple’s integrated security, your iPhone is still at risk of being hacked. All it takes is one click on a shady link or accidental app download to compromise your data security. Fortunately, you can block hackers and malware easily with high-level antivirus software for your iPhone.
Of all the apps I tested, TotalAV is the best option for protecting your iPhone, iCloud, and Apple ID. You get full security from a range of online threats, plus a password manager, cloud storage, and a free VPN. Best of all, TotalAV gives you 30 days to test the software and make sure you’re completely satisfied. If you change your mind, getting a refund is easy — I tested the process myself and an agent processed my request quickly over the 24/7 live chat. I had a full refund in less than 5 days.
Summary — Best iOS Apps to Prevent Hacking in 2024
