With all the modern safety features in place with smartphones, it’s a little harder for hackers to get into your iPhone. However, it’s also not impossible.
Today, it’s extremely important to make sure you keep your iPhone and the information that’s on it as secure as possible, as you never know when someone or some kind of bug is going to get in there. One of the scariest parts about having your device hacked by scammers is that you may not realize it’s happening right off the bat; therefore, it’s a good idea to educate yourself on the signs that your device might be infiltrated. We spoke with tech expert Amy Mortlock with Shadow Dragon about two “red flags” that indicate your phone might be hacked, and the best ways to keep it safe. Read more about it below.
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1. Your Battery Is Draining Very Quickly
Before you panic, there could be several reasons why your iPhone's battery drains very quickly. Things like using cheap chords, leaving your phone plugged in for too long consistently, and more can cause your battery life to dwindle. However, Mortlock notes that it can also be a sign that there's some shady activity going on within your apps.
"An iPhone with a fast-draining battery can be a big 'red flag,'" says Mortlock. "When your iPhone's battery suddenly starts draining faster without any change in your usage, it can mean that a malicious app is running in the background. These hidden processes can drain the battery and make your phone feel hotter than usual, and you can quickly review which apps are consuming the most power by opening Settings > Battery. It can be bad when there is an unknown app high on the list."
2. Seeing Unknown Apps On Your Home Screen
One of the most alarming red flags that something out of your control is going on within your phone is seeing iPhone apps you did not download on your home screen. After all, if you see an app that you have no recollection of downloading, it can be jarring.
"Unknown apps appearing on your home screen can be a huge 'red flag', and those apps that were not downloaded by you can mean that hackers have installed spyware to monitor your activities or steal your personal information, explains Mortlock. "You can find it hard to spot them at first glance, as these apps can have ordinary names."
How To Keep Your Device & Data Safe From Scammers
Before you get too stressed about having hackers on your phone and losing some of your valuable data, take comfort in knowing that there are simple ways to do your part in keeping your phone as safe as possible. Mortlock says that one of the first ways to do this is to ensure you keep your iPhone updated.
"You can keep your iOS updated with the latest versions," she notes. "These updates can include critical security patches that can fix newly discovered vulnerabilities exploited by hackers. Automatic updates can be used so that you don't miss any important fixes."
Additionally, she says it's essential to make sure you keep passcodes and FaceID recognition on your iPhone, as these add another layer of protection to not just opening and accessing your phone, but also passwords, notes, and more.
"You can use strong authentication methods such as the 6-digit passcode instead of the 4-digit one, and enable 'Face ID' or 'Touch ID,' and you can turn on two-factor authentication for your Apple ID account," adds Mortlock. "This gives you multiple layers of protection, so even if someone gets your password, they still can't access your accounts without the second verification step."
