Why Is Spyware on Your iPhone Dangerous?
The risks and consequences of having spyware on your iPhone
In 2021, Apple filed a lawsuit against NSO Group, an Israeli vendor that says it helps governments track terrorists and major criminals.
In what Apple said was an attempt to seek accountability from the company, the lawsuit alleges NSO’s development of spyware called Pegasus, a well-known example of spyware’s vast capabilities, allowed Apple customers to be targeted by the spyware.
New York Times reporter Ben Hubbard learned his phone had been targeted a total of four times by the spyware while covering Middle Eastern affairs as part of his job, and other prominent journalists and advocates around the world have alleged Pegasus was used on their phones as well. NSO denied responsibility, and these cases gained international attention.
This is just one way spyware on your iPhone can be dangerous, walking a thin and ever-evolving line between “necessary” and “oppressive” at times, if not directly malicious.
Spyware on iOS can also be used by and for ordinary people doing ordinary things, like a scorned ex, an angry co-worker, or simply a malicious actor looking for a no-frills way to make easy money or take down a corporation.
Spyware is a form of malware, software that can cause harm to a device and its user. It can be both complex and sophisticated or relatively simple to deploy, sometimes requiring a little bit of social engineering to do the trick.
Spyware is often used to target specific individuals. It effectively operates like a stalker in the smartphone space, learning the iPhone user’s behavior and secrets. This allows hackers to obtain access to the user or exploit the information uncovered by the spyware in some way.
The risks and consequences associated with spyware in iPhones are many: spyware can act as a window into an individual’s daily activity, and even give insight into how an individual thinks and operates. If our iPhone is a tool we use for everyday tasks, it’s also a window into our minds.
Can you tell if someone has access to your iPhone? Not necessarily without a professional's help at first. But there will be signs, and we’ll cover those and more in this article.
How spyware can compromise your privacy and security
Since some spyware can access the mic on a smartphone and allow cyber criminals to view everything a user types, privacy and security can be deeply impacted. Criminals can know your location, access information from your apps, and even uncover your passwords. Nothing is safe is spyware is installed on your device.
The potential damage that spyware can cause to your personal and financial information
In April of 2024, for example, Apple users in 92 countries (mainly in India and Europe, at the time) were notified that they may have been targeted with spyware. While iPhone security boasts some of the most powerful technology in the world, all technology implies some vulnerability, and the potential damage caused by spyware can have far-reaching financial and personal impacts. Apple isn’t the only company with these issues– Android users also experience spyware infections with similar results.
For victims of targeting by spyware, nothing you do on, with, or even near your phone is private.
This includes personal and financial information.
Some spyware is installed through accidentally clicking on a link, or being fooled into doing so, but more concerning recent spyware like Pegasus, discussed above, involves the use of a zero-click exploit: the user does not have to click a link for the spyware to be installed. As technology progresses, so do threats.
Further, laws differ from state to state and country to country, and the technology used is covert by nature, making it hard to obtain clear answers describing how to receive help if you suspect your device has been compromised. Criminals often get away with no consequences applied because of small details not yet outlined in the law as technology changes. Perhaps the method they used to deploy the spyware, the amount of money they obtained, or their personal relationship to the victim were not enough to convict or even bring charges.
Still, others get away simply because technology piggybacks off creative endeavors, and proving proof beyond the shadow of a doubt that one software was used over another can be difficult– if not impossible.
The best strategy is to avoid the problem of spyware altogether by having a bulletproof security posture, and to stay highly aware of the most up-to-date signs of a compromised iPhone so that quick action can be taken. It's never a matter of if a security concern arises. It's a matter of when.
Signs of Spyware on iPhone
Unusual battery drainage and device performance issues
Many people attribute their battery drainage or device performance issues to having an older model phone, a frustrating update, or not having enough storage. And they could be right. They could also be dealing with a spyware infection on an iPhone.
Paying close attention to battery use and device performance issues can give important insight into the security posture of an iPhone. When spyware is running in the background, an iPhone could experience lags, slow transitions, and endless buffering, and the battery could inexplicably drain quickly.
Similarly, other performance issues could indicate a dramatically declining security posture on an iPhone. Look for background noise or strange sounds on calls, even an echo, which could be a sign of being recorded, or phones that overheat with very little reason to do so. While these can have other underlying causes, they can also be warning signs.
Unexpected data usage and network activity
Checking active connections and monitoring data transfers on an iPhone is a good way to check for suspicious behaviors within your system. For example, are there new connections you don’t recognize, or unusual patterns of data transfer occurring? Unexpected data usage and network activity can indicate a spyware problem. Have you recently received unusual messages or texts? Start by checking network activity and keeping an eye on data usage to gain insight into any potential threats or active spyware infections.
Strange behavior such as random pop-ups or apps crashing
Apps crash, and pop-ups happen. When this happens consistently, there is cause for concern.
How can you tell if someone has access to your iPhone? New apps appearing on an iPhone or apps downloaded from outside the App Store could be indicators of spyware. Strange, unexpected pop-ups are a tell-tale sign to look for, alongside apps appearing that the user doesn’t remember downloading, especially in the recently used apps tab.
Methods to Detect Spyware on iPhone
Using built-in iPhone settings to check for suspicious apps
How to find spyware on your iPhone? Start with the most obvious answer: iPhone comes with a number of settings to help check for suspicious apps and defend against them. It’s important to download the latest version of iOS in order to make sure your Apple device has the latest patches and security fixes. Check back often to make sure the device is still secured and stay up-to-date with any recommendations in your notifications.
Use Apple's Lockdown mode for extra security- it blocks a number of actions that could carry malware.
Scanning your iPhone with reputable anti-malware software
There are many good-quality antivirus software companies out there and each has a product that will prevent, detect, and remove malware on a smartphone. When wondering how to find spyware on your iPhone, an important consideration is which anti-malware software to use and how efficient it is once you start using it. The best antivirus software for mobile devices is designed specifically for smartphones and provides high quality scans and notifications. There are free and paid options and pros and cons to each.
Monitoring your device for unusual activities and permissions
Monitoring is an important aspect of a good security posture. Consider checking your iPhone’s analytics, looking at battery usage and recently opened or last used apps, and using the Screen Time feature to take a look at your iPhone’s activity and data. Regularly visit settings and check permissions, which can give valuable information related to access.
How to Remove Spyware From iPhone
Step-by-step guide to uninstalling suspicious apps
Wondering how to find spyware on your iPhone and trying to decide what to do when a suspicious app has been identified? Uninstalling the app is the best course of action.
Here’s a step-by-step guide: First press and hold the app icon, until a menu appears. Tap “remove” or “delete” (depending on which version of iOS is running) from the menu, and then confirm the action by tapping “Delete App” again.
Clearing the cache and resetting settings to eliminate spyware traces
Next, you’ll want to remove any trace of data connecting your device to the potential spyware. Go to settings and scroll until you see Safari (assuming this is the browser you are using.) Tap “Clear History and Website Data.” Confirm by hitting the “Clear History” button.
If spyware was found on your device, it may be necessary to reset your phone to factory settings in order to move forward without any further impact. This is made easier if an unaffected recent backup is accessible.
Ensuring your iPhone is always up to date with the latest security patches
As always, check for security and iOS updates and follow instructions to download and install the most recent patches and updates. These can positively impact your iPhone security and address many vulnerabilities as they become known.
Tips to Protect Your iPhone From Spyware
Avoiding downloading apps from untrusted sources
iPhone manufacturer Apple recommends using only trusted sources to download apps. The trusted source? The official App Store. Downloading apps from the App Store ensures the app has been vetted by Apple’s team. When learning how to find spyware on your iPhone, the first step is searching through recently used and downloaded apps and finding apps that were not downloaded through the App Store, making sure to uninstall them.
Downloading apps from outside the App Store nearly guarantees you’ll run into trouble somewhere, so the safe route in this case is to follow Apple’s recommendations and to only download apps from this location.
Enabling two-factor authentication for added security
2FA, otherwise known as two-factor authentication, is a critical component of a strong security posture.
Two-factor authentication is a method of identity and access management that requires two different forms of identification to enable access to data and resources. This added security measure is a simple way to defend against malicious actors. Although it can be bothersome to use for some, it dramatically improves security and should be used everywhere it is available.
Regularly backing up your iPhone data to prevent data loss
Cybersecurity professionals have long promoted the idea of consistent and regular backups, for good reason.
Set a schedule and do backups often. If a problem does arise, these backups are the key to preventing data loss. Remember that the more frequently a backup is made, the easier the transition will be if a problem arises.
Importance of Real-Time Spyware Security for iPhone
Benefits of using a reliable security solution to detect and block spyware
When wondering how to detect spyware on an iPhone, the obvious solution is to start by finding a reliable security solution that can detect or block malware of all types and detect and block spyware specifically.
The benefits of using this method are peace of mind, continuous monitoring, and letting someone else do the hard work of continuously focusing on detecting and blocking spyware so you can get back to doing what you do best.
Features to look for in a comprehensive spyware protection tool
What features are important in a comprehensive spyware protection tool? Operating system compatibility matters greatly, but there are other things to look for, as well. A good anti-spyware program should have real-time monitoring. A great one will also have automatic scanning and cleaning capabilities.
How real-time monitoring can prevent spyware installation and data breaches
Real-time monitoring is a key tool to use in preventing spyware installation, detecting spyware, and guarding against data breaches.
With real-time monitoring, a program provides continuous protection and instantaneous blocking of harmful software. This has the benefit of saving time, which is often lost in attacks. It takes time to pinpoint and detect the source of a problem that started long ago. Real-time monitoring has the benefit of pinpointing problems as they occur, and the added benefit of continuously adapting to the threatscape as it changes.
With all this in mind, understanding how to find spyware on your iPhone, block and remove it, and defend against future malware starts with a great security solution.
