How to Tell If Someone is Accessing Your iPhone Remotely

Technology is transforming the world, with mobile phones playing a significant role. Nowadays, almost everybody owns a smartphone to store personal information and perform their financial transactions. As the dependency on mobile phones rises, ensuring security becomes more critical. Even though Apple’s security mechanism is one of the best, hackers can still remotely access your iPhone. 

Malicious individuals use different techniques to bypass your iPhone’s security. Once they get in, all the data and the bank accounts managed through the device could be at risk. Fortunately, solutions exist to prevent the danger. In this article, you will find methods to check if someone is remotely accessing your iPhone and learn how to block unauthorized access.

Can Someone Access My iPhone Remotely?

People can remotely access an iPhone from another iPhone without permission. However, they need to be skillful to find the vulnerability. Apple ensures security by developing nearly everything in-house, from software to hardware, so the user does not need to rely on external sources. Moreover, the iPhone’s defense mechanism actively blocks unauthorized access.

Apple regularly sends iOS updates to enhance the iPhone’s security against the new hacking techniques. Not updating the device on time is one of the many factors that could make your iPhone vulnerable.

How Do I Know If My Phone Is Linked To Another Device

When someone accesses your device remotely, there are a few signs that you can encounter. If you see them happening on your iPhone, it confirms your phone is compromised. Here are some indications:

• Surprise Notifications: Remotely Controlled iPhones could start receiving unusual emails and SMS. You may encounter an unauthorized purchase notification or a change in your password. 
• System Malfunctions: Your mobile device could show operational issues, such as unusual crashes, errors like no SIM on iPhone, screen freezes, and abrupt shutdowns.
• Decreased Performance: Hackers usually install different software and run operations on the device, which makes it slow.
• Increased Consumption: When someone accesses your iPhone remotely, you may see an increase in Data and Battery usage. It happens as they transfer files over the internet, which drains the battery quickly.
• Usage Restrictions: An intruder could restrict your mobile usage. You can face denial while trying to access an app or a site.
• Unknown Apps and Settings: If you see unfamiliar apps on your device, someone could be downloading them on your iPhone remotely. Moreover, there might be changes in the mobile settings.
• Processes Running in Standby Mode: Unknown background processes keep running in standby mode. iPhones can start heating up even when not being used.

If you are facing any of these issues with your iPhone, check out the solutions.

How to Stop Someone From Accessing Your iPhone Remotely

Besides utilizing unofficial means to access your iPhone remotely, intruders can benefit from in-build solutions. Here are the techniques that will enable you to stop someone from accessing your phone:

Method 1) Remove Unrecognizable Devices Linked to Your Apple ID

Apple’s iOS and macOS users create an account that enables them to access their data on any device. One account can be active on multiple devices simultaneously. 

However, people sharing your Apple ID can use it to access your iPhone without permission. You should check the devices linked to your iPhone, especially when you purchase a second-hand phone.

Here are steps to remove unknown devices accessing your iPhone remotely: 

Step 1) Enter the settings on your iPhone and tap on the Apple ID at the top.

Step 2) Scroll down to see the devices linked to your account.

Step 3) Tap on the unknown devices and select Remove from Account.

Step 4) Confirm your action by choosing Remove.

Method 2) Delete Unfamiliar Face or Touch ID

While purchasing a phone, you must ensure the previous owner removed their face or touch ID. Resetting the second-hand iPhone before buying is ideal for avoiding any issues.

Even if you do not own a pre-used device, you must be careful when giving it to others. Someone with bad intentions could easily add their Face or Touch ID to your phone and access it without your knowledge.

Remove Face ID:

Step 1) Open Settings on your iPhone and navigate to the Face ID or Passcode section.

Step 2) Click on the Reset Face ID option.

Step 3) Tap on Set Up Face ID to add your own.

Remove Unknown Fingerprints:

Step 1) Go to your iPhone settings’s Touch ID or Passcode section.

Step 2) Put your fingers one by one on the reader to identify the trespasser’s ID.

Step 3) Tap on the fingerprint you want to delete and select Delete Fingerprint.

Method 3) Enable Two Factor Authentication

Turning on two-factor authentication on your iPhone will allow you to stay informed when someone tries to breach security. With this feature, you will receive permission requests to access your device. If you get a request from an unknown device, deny it and report it to Apple.

Here are steps to enable two-factor authentication on iPhone:

Step 1) Access the Apple ID in your iPhone settings and navigate to the Password & Security tab.

Step 2) Turn on the Two Factor Authentication and add a trusted Phone number.

Step 3) Select the country code and enter the number. You can select Text or Phone Call to receive the code.

Method 4) Check the Apple ID Associated With Your Phone

Apple ID associated with the iPhone lets you access the device without the passcode. Therefore, you must have a private account logged in to your phone. If you share the ID with someone, ensure they are trustworthy. It could be possible that someone steals your password to control your iPhone remotely.

Here are steps to change Apple ID or password on your iPhone:

Step 1) Navigate to Settings > Apple ID and choose Sign Out.

Step 2) Go to the Password & Security tab in the Apple ID section.

Step 3) Tap on Change Password and enter your iPhone passcode to set a new password for Apple ID.

Method 5) Look For Problematic Apps

Someone might have installed spyware on your device to get remote access to your iPhone from another iPhone. Such apps can help them control your mobile from far away. You should check your iPhone thoroughly to find a program that looks problematic.

To keep your device secure, you must remove all the inactive subscriptions and apps, as malicious actors could misuse them. Additionally, avoid downloading unreliable programs on your iPhone. 

Method 6) Change the Internet Router

Hacking through the internet router is very common because it is easy to compromise. Routers with weak passwords, outdated firmware, or low-standard encryption are more likely to become the gateway for cyber attacks. 

Always buy a Wi-Fi router with the latest encryption protocol, like WPA3. Moreover, you should reset the network login credentials and Wi-Fi password when purchasing a new router.

Method 7) Remove The Payment Details

Remote access to your iPhone can also put your bank account or credit card linked to the App Store and Apple ID at risk. Especially when you get a notification regarding a purchase you are unfamiliar with, it becomes necessary to remove the payment details. 

Here are steps to remove a credit card from Apple ID:

Step 1) Open Settings and go to the Apple ID section.

Step 2) Tap the Payment & Shipping tab and select the payment details you want to remove.

Step 3) Choose the Remove Payment Method option.

Once you delete or replace the payment method, remove the subscriptions from the settings. This will prevent automatic recurring payments in the future.

Method 8) Report Scam to Apple Support

The American tech giant prioritizes the security of its users over everything else. Its support team quickly responds to such reports and takes action in no time. However, before reporting a scam to Apple, you must be able to identify one.

Nowadays, marketers adopt weird methods to promote their products. Since many scammers pose as promoters, distinguishing legitimate opportunities from fraudulent ones is not easy.

Here are a few signs to recognize a potential scam:

• Too Good to Be True: Fake promotions are usually excessively attractive or beneficial, making them seem unrealistic.
• Shady Email Address: Marketing emails from non-business addresses should be approached cautiously. A genuine marketer never sends you a promotional email from a personal ID.
• Sense of Urgency: Scammers are often in a hurry, creating a sense of urgency with limited-time offers to prompt immediate action.
• Reluctant to Provide Details: If someone approaches you with an offer but is unwilling to get into details, it may be a red flag.  
• Unprofessional Communication: You will observe unprofessional behavior in the communication with a faker. It could include casual or even aggressive language.

Apple prioritizes user security, so when you are approached by a scammer, immediately contact Apple Support and report the incident.

Protect Your iPhone From Unauthorized Remote Access In the Future.

Here are a few precautionary measures that you can take to avoid remote access iPhone from another iPhone:

Never Connect to Unprotected Internet:

Connecting to public Wi-Fi can result in getting your iPhone hacked. Therefore, you should never connect to an unreliable device, whether free Wi-Fi in public places, a hotspot, or any other iPhone internet sharing method.

Go Online With VPN:

Several virtual private network services are available that you can acquire to protect yourself online. VPNs hide your real identity and encrypt all the internet traffic.

Up to Date Apps & OS:

Outdated apps and operating system can cause compatibility issues, resulting in system vulnerabilities. Ensure you update them often or enable automatic updates. 

Never Leave iPhone Unattended:

Leaving your iPhone unintended poses a significant security risk for its data. Someone can access it and plant a spy tool. Whenever you forget your mobile somewhere without locking it, check the deleted iPhone browser history and ensure no new app is installed.

Change Passwords More Often:

Remote access to the iPhone becomes easy when you simply know the passwords. A person can retrieve the passcode of your iPhone, financial apps, or social media services through different malicious tricks. Therefore, it is advised that you often change all your passwords.

Conclusion

A secure mobile device is essential to protect yourself against evil. Data breaches, malware attacks, and unauthorized access could compromise personal information and lead to severe consequences. You will know your phone is remotely accessed if it behaves abnormally, like randomly turning on the RTT feature, decreasing performance, or running processes in standby mode.

Therefore, you must use the solutions in this article to protect if someone is accessing your iPhone remotely. Check out more helpful guides to fix iOS errors you may face while using the device.