Don‘t Let Your iPhone Get Hacked! Here are the 7 Most Common Threats (and How to Avoid Them)

Your iPhone contains tons of sensitive information – your emails, bank accounts, personal photos, and more. While iPhones have excellent security, they can still be targeted by hackers in clever ways.

In this guide, I‘ll overview the most common iPhone hacking threats seen in the wild and provide actionable steps you can take to lock down your device. I‘ll dig into real world examples, expert insights, and data to break down exactly how these attacks work and how you can prevent them from compromising your most private data.

Whether you‘ve been using an iPhone for years or just got your first one, this guide will help you use it more safely and smartly. Let‘s get started!

Overview of the 7 Biggest iPhone Hacking Threats

According to data from Norton, iPhones are the safest smartphones, with just 5% encountering malware in 2020 compared to 16% of Androids. However, they are still vulnerable in the right circumstances.

Here are the most common ways iPhones get hacked and steps you can take to avoid them:

Threat	Risk Level	How to Prevent
1. Clicking Malicious Links	High	Inspect links carefully before clicking, enable phishing filters, update software frequently
2. Malicious Apps	Medium	Only download reputable apps, monitor app behavior, limit app permissions
3. Outdated Software	Medium	Enable auto updates, install iOS updates immediately over WiFi
4. Weak Passwords	Medium	Use a password manager, enable two-factor authentication
5. Unsecured WiFi	Medium	Avoid sensitive accounts on public WiFi, use a VPN, enable Personal Hotspot
6. Physical Access	Low	Don‘t leave your phone unattended in public, use Apple certified cables and chargers, secure your accounts
7. Sideloading Untrusted Apps	Low	Get apps only from the App Store, don‘t install apps from unknown sources, don‘t jailbreak

Now let‘s explore each of these threats in more detail, look at real-world examples, and outline the steps you need to take to keep your iPhone secure.

1. Clicking on Malicious Links

The #1 most common way hackers gain access to iPhones is by tricks users into clicking on malicious links. Also known as phishing links, these misleading URLs are designed to look legitimate and lure victims into clicking by offering enticing content.

According to a 2022 Norton study, 37% of mobile users encountered a phishing link – a substantial number! Phishing on the rise for both desktop and mobile as hackers develop increasingly clever techniques.

These hazardous links can arrive via:

Email
Text Messages
Social media posts
Scam websites

And promise exciting or alarming things to bait you into clicking like:

Exclusive content
Breaking news scoops
Scandalous celebrity gossip
Too good to be true shopping deals
Delivery notifications
Password reset prompts

But phishing links have one goal: install malware, steal data, and take control of your device by exploiting human curiosity. According to Verizon‘s 2022 Data Breach Report, phishing was involved in 36% of reported breaches, making it the top digital threat facing both consumers and companies.

Once clicked, these links can:

Trigger ransomware that locks your data until you pay a fee
Steal your login credentials and financial information
Turn on your microphone or camera to spy on you
Brick your device by installing corrupt software

It only takes one tap on one bad link to compromise your privacy, security, and even your hard earned money!

Avoiding Phishing Links

Thankfully there are steps you can take to avoid falling victim to malicious links:

Inspect links carefully before clicking: Hover over any link to preview the actual URL destination. Look for misspellings or strange looking domain names.
Don‘t click on links from unknown senders: An out of the blue email or text with a link? Don‘t click it! Links from contacts you don‘t know should always be considered suspicious.
Enable phishing filters: Browser extensions like Bitdefender Traffic Light and the Netcraft Extension will flag potential phishing links and block known malicious sites.
Keep your iPhone software up to date: Apple issues frequent iOS updates to patch newly discovered phishing attacks. Don‘t let them linger! Install updates as soon as they become available.

With vigilance and common sense, you can identify and avoid iPhone phishing attacks. Don‘t let temptation or curiosity put your data at risk!

2. Downloading Malicious Apps

While every app in the App Store is vetted by Apple before listing, sometimes compromised apps containing malware sneak through. Clever hackers use a technique called "bait and switch", submitting a seemingly safe app that passes Apple‘s checks only to update it later with malware payload.

According to stats from SecureMac, over 20% of Mac malware comes from trojanized apps. This represents a substantial risk vector! Bad actors know that infecting popular apps is an easy way to distribute malware at scale.

Some infamous examples include:

XcodeGhost: A malicious version of Xcode infiltrated the App Store that corrupted apps coded with it, spreading malware rapidly.
ZergHelper: This compromised Chinese app infiltrated the App Store multiple times under different names, infecting millions of users with data stealing malware.
Jekyll: This malware infected over 100 apps on iOS and masqueraded as a developer tool while secretly stealing financial information.

Malicious apps put your personal data, location, camera, microphone, and even your money at risk. And according to a 2022 CheckPoint report, Apple‘s App Store remains the most targeted for malware attacks.

Avoiding Bad Apps

While complete prevention is impossible, you can minimize your App Store malware risk by:

Reading reviews before downloading any apps. Look for recent complaints of strange behavior or privacy concerns.
Only downloading apps from well known developers with long, positive track records.
Monitoring new app behavior closely. Delete apps that cause crashes, odd alerts, or high battery drain immediately.
Only granting the minimum permissions needed. Don‘t give apps access to contacts, camera, location, or photos without a compelling reason relevant to the app‘s purpose. Limit their access to your data.

The App Store offers millions of great apps, but also harbors some risks. With caution and awareness, you can have the awesome apps without the malware.

3. Using Outdated Software

Apple issues frequent iOS updates not just to add new features, but also to patch newly discovered security vulnerabilities. However, many users delay or even avoid these important updates!

Running outdated software leaves your device open to hackers taking advantage of known security holes. Just like you wouldn‘t leave your front door unlocked after hearing of break-ins on your street, you need to ensure your iPhone is running the latest iOS version with the most recently fixed exploits.

According to StatCounter, as of December 2022, over 15% of iPhones were not up to date, running older iOS versions with unpatched vulnerabilities.

This poses a massive risk, as new vulnerabilities are discovered constantly:

In 2022, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued 17 advisories about vulnerabilities in Apple products allowing arbitrary code execution, leak of sensitive data, and other exploits.
The same year, 51 CVEs – Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures – were reported and fixed by Apple through iOS updates.

Leaving these vulnerabilities unpatched by ignoring iOS updates leaves you exposed to hackers taking advantage and gaining access to your device and data.

Update iOS Promptly

Here are some tips to ensure your iPhone is always running the latest iOS version with the most secure protection:

Install iOS updates immediately when they become available by checking Settings -> General -> Software Updates. Always update using a safe WiFi connection rather than mobile data.
Enable automatic iOS updates by toggling on Settings -> General -> Software Updates -> Automatically Update. This will automatically install the latest updates overnight while your phone is idle, charging, and on WiFi.
If you see reminders to update your iPhone, do so without delay! iOS updates patches newly discovered exploits and are critical for security.

Never leave your iPhone‘s software outdated – prompt updates are essential to keep your data safe in our modern world of rapidly emerging digital threats. Don‘t let hackers take advantage of vulnerabilities that Apple has already patched!

4. Using Weak Passwords

Passwords stand guard between your personal data and the outside world. They are often the only thing stopping intruders from accessing your most private information.

And yet, many users continue relying on weak, easily guessed passwords to secure their devices and online accounts. According to Verizon‘s 2022 breach analysis, 80% of hacking breaches involved compromised credentials.

Common weak password pitfalls include:

Important dates like birthdays and anniversaries
Repetitive number patterns – 123456 or 25802580
Common dictionary words – "password" or "qwerty"
Personal info like addresses or phone numbers

These naive passwords are easily guessed through brute force attacks and put accounts at serious risk.

Strong passwords that would take centuries for computers to crack include:

Long random strings like Ks83%dwQJS88&dWQ1!2
Passphrases like ThisIsMyUniqueUncrackablePassword@2023

Use a Password Manager

Memorizing strong, unique passwords for every account is impossible – that‘s why experts universally recommend using a dedicated password manager like 1Password or LastPass to:

Securely store passwords encrypted behind one master password.
Generate strong random passwords up to 50 characters for new accounts.
Auto-fill passwords into apps and websites on your iPhone for convenience.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for important accounts like email, banking, and social media when available. 2FA requires providing an additional code from your phone or authentication app to login from new devices.

This protects against password leaks by giving hackers one more barrier to break through.

Don‘t let weak passwords put your data at risk. Use a password manager and two factor authentication to lock down your iPhone!

5. Using Unsecured Public WiFi

Free public WiFi is available everywhere – coffee shops, hotels, airports, malls. It‘s temptingly convenient to connect to when out and about. However, public WiFi also carries serious security risks due to lack of encryption.

On unsecured networks, hackers can spy on your browsing activity and data through man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. They position themselves between your device and the router to intercept flows of packets, viewing unencrypted data as it passes through.

Researchers at Nokia created an experiment tapping into public WiFi traffic, gathering 1.2 gigabytes of data including medical records, bank details, and passwords in just 2 hours. This demonstrates the alarming lack of privacy on public WiFi.

Unsecured public WiFi dangers include:

Packet sniffing to steal data like passwords and messages
Spreading malware by redirecting users to phishing sites
Digital eavesdropping on your browsing activity
Manipulating content flows to plant false information

These MITM techniques allow easy theft of sensitive data transmitted over unsecured networks. Don‘t assume public hotspots are safe just because you don‘t have to enter a password!

Stay Safe on Public WiFi

Here are tips to stay secure when connecting through public access points:

Avoid accessing sensitive accounts like email, medical, or banking on unsecured networks. Wait until you are on a trusted network.
Use a trusted VPN service like ExpressVPN or NordVPN to encrypt your connection, preventing snooping and interference. VPNs provide a secure tunnel over unsecured pipes.
Turn on Personal Hotspot on your iPhone to route traffic through your carrier‘s network when possible. This bypasses sketchy public access points.
Never enter passwords or share private info over unsecured WiFi. Assume everything you do can be intercepted.

Free public networks are wolves in sheep‘s clothing. Stay alert and use a VPN to avoid becoming a data breach statistic!

6. Physical Access to Your iPhone

While hacking often refers to remotely breaching digital defenses, physical access allows much quicker and stealthier iPhone compromise.

If thieves can get their hands on your device, they can bypass many of its protections and steal your data. Having your iPhone lost, stolen, or briefly borrowed is all it takes.

According to NYC crime stats, over 40,000 iPhones were reported stolen in 2022. But it‘s not just phone theft – hackers exploit common physical access opportunities like:

Charging: Malicious charging stations in public spaces or fake Lightning cables can breach iPhones while charging. Use cables from trusted sources only.

Device Repair: Third party phone repair shops have repeatedly stolen personal photos while servicing cracked screens. Don‘t leave the device unattended.

SIM Swapping: Hackers social engineer mobile carriers to transfer your number to a device they control, intercepting two-factor authentication codes. Secure your accounts to prevent this.

Jailbreaking: While it enables customization, jailbreaking drastically reduces iPhone‘s built-in protections. Avoid it! Over 70% of jailbroken iPhones contain malware according to AV-TEST Institute.

Avoid Physical Breaches

Use common sense precautions to prevent physical iPhone access:

Don‘t leave your iPhone unattended in public places
Install a lock like Apple‘s FindMy to remotely wipe data if stolen
Use Apple certified Lightning cables and chargers only
Add screensaver passwords to prevent data viewing
Enable strong two-factor authentication on all accounts
Skip device jailbreaking to retain Apple‘s protections

While less high tech than remote hacking, physical access enables the fastest path to data theft. Keep your iPhone physically secure!

7. Sideloading Untrusted Apps

Apple‘s walled garden ecosystem aims to keep malware away from iPhones. Apps from outside the App Store bypass the code review, sandboxing, and threat scanning that keeps the App Store safe.

Sideloading apps – obtaining apps from third parties rather than the App Store – comes with substantial risk. Without Apple‘s protections, these apps are common malware vectors.

Recently, sideloaded apps distributed through enterprise developer certificates have spread malware at large scale. Because companies can bypass the App Store for internal app deployment, some abuse this for external distribution.

These sideloads masquerade as legitimate apps but contain adware or spyware payloads. Fleeceware, for example, infiltrated iPhones through sideloading and subscribed users to expensive services without consent.

Sideloading also increases through jailbreaking and disabling app verification, allowing unrestricted app installs. This opens iPhones to high malware risk.

According to Kaspersky, 8-10% of sideloaded apps contain threats. With billions of app installs, even a small percentage poses massive risk!

Avoid Non-App Store Apps

To stay secure:

Get apps only from the official App Store. Search for apps there before trying external sources.
Don‘t install apps from unknown or untrusted origins. This exposes you to malware.
Cancel any misleading prompts attempting to direct you to sketchy app installers.
Avoid circumventing OS protections through jailbreaking your device. This exponentially increases malware exposure.

Stick to the App Store for all your iOS apps to ensure they meet Apple‘s stringent app guidelines and security screening. The App Store is the only secure iOS app source.

Keep Your iPhone Safe!

While iPhones offer strong security, these 7 threats represent vectors that hackers exploit to compromise your device and data. Avoid falling into these common traps:

Use good judgment when clicking links and downloading apps. Apply skepticism before tapping!
Keep your device physically safe and your software up to date. Don‘t allow vulnerabilities!
Use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication to lock down your accounts. Don‘t take passwords lightly!
Limit risks from public WiFi and sideloaded apps. Stick to trusted networks and sources!

Applying security awareness in your iPhone usage habits substantially reduces your exposure to hackers. Use your iPhone safely and confidently knowing risks are minimized! Don‘t allow your precious personal data to fall into the wrong hands.