Can Your iCloud Account Be Hacked in 2025?

Sophia Taylor

By Sophia Taylor

Updated:

Remember the 2014 celebrity iCloud hacks that shocked the world? They weren’t just a fleeting scandal but a turning point in the battle for digital privacy.

Cybercriminals realized the goldmine of personal data hidden within iCloud backups and a new era of “no-jailbreak” spyware was born.

However, as hackers got smarter, so did Apple. The question now is, can your iCloud still be hacked in 2025?

Let’s dive deep into iCloud security, the tactics still used by hackers, and the critical steps you need to take to protect yourself.

How iCloud Can Be Hacked

While Apple has significantly improved iCloud security since those headline-grabbing breaches, the threat hasn’t disappeared entirely.

The ease with which iCloud accounts could once be compromised fueled the rapid growth of spyware, and remnants of those tactics persist today.

Here’s how the hack typically unfolds:

  1. The hacker purchases a spyware license for as little as $20.
  2. The hacker needs the victim’s Apple ID and password, which they enter on the spyware provider’s website.
  3. The spyware company will then use the provided details to log into the victim’s iCloud account and download data synced from their iPhone/iPad. This can include messages, photos, contacts and more.
  4. This data is processed and made available to the hacker via an easy-to-use web portal, updated each time the victim’s phone syncs with iCloud.

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Apple’s evolving security measures

In an effort to combat breached iCloud accounts, Apple has made several security improvements to its services over the years, which have helped to make iCloud more secure.

First, two-factor authentication (2FA) for Apple IDs was introduced, and over time, this has become the default setting for Apple IDs.

With that enabled, even if a hacker knows the victim’s Apple ID and password, it’s not enough for them to hack their account. They would also need the unique six-digit code sent to the victim’s phone to authorize the connection to iCloud.

Secondly, Apple has recently implemented further restrictions on iCloud. This makes it much more difficult for external services, such as spyware, to retrieve backup data from iCloud, whether the account has two-factor authentication or not.

Putting iCloud Spyware to the Test: Our Findings

Despite Apple’s security enhancements, several spyware providers still advertise “No-Jailbreak Monitoring” solutions, claiming access to iCloud data. We decided to test these claims, investigating whether they pose a genuine threat in 2025.

Here is our methodology for this experiment:

  • We compiled a list of the top 25 spyware providers offering iPhone monitoring solutions.
  • We identified those specifically claiming to access iCloud data through full backups or synced data.
  • In a controlled lab environment, we tested these products using two Apple IDs, one with two-factor authentication enabled and one without.

Key findings: Can iCloud get hacked?

1. Full iCloud backups are now protected from hackers

Out of 25 providers, only three claimed to offer full iCloud backup access.

None of these products successfully retrieved data from our test accounts, likely due to Apple’s strengthened security measures.

This suggests that these companies are either outdated or misleading potential customers.

2. Limited access to synced data remains possible

Seven providers claimed the ability to access specific data synced to iCloud. Only two of these seven managed to actually download synced data (e.g., iMessages, contacts, photos, and location) from our test accounts.

It’s worth noting that on our test Apple ID account with two-factor authentication enabled, we needed to provide the 2FA code during setup.

 

The implications

Based on the two key findings, we can conclude the following:

  • iCloud security is improving: While not foolproof, Apple’s efforts to protect iCloud data are effective against many spyware tools.
  • Spyware providers may make false claims: Some spyware companies exaggerate their abilities to access iCloud data. While they may claim to access synced data, our testing revealed that most of these claims are inaccurate.
  • Synced data still at risk: Users should be mindful of what data they sync with iCloud, as some spyware could still access this information.

Remember, even with improved security, it’s crucial to remain vigilant and follow best practices to protect your iCloud account. We’ll discuss how to secure your account below.

iCloud Security Advice

To safeguard against iCloud attacks, it is essential to take the following proactive measures:

Create a unique iCloud Password

One of the most effective ways to secure your iCloud account is by regularly changing your password. By keeping your password complex and unique, you make it harder for hackers to access your Apple ID.

Additionally, if your account has already been compromised, changing your password can help lock out the hackers and secure your account again.

How to create strong passwords

Create a long, complex password for your iCloud account that you don’t use anywhere else. Include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Consider using a password manager to generate and store secure passwords.

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Create App-Specific Passwords

Generate and use app-specific passwords for third-party apps that need to access your iCloud data. This prevents them from having your main iCloud password.

Use two-factor authentication (2FA)

By far, the most important security advice regarding iCloud is to enable two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access to your account.

With two-factor authentication enabled, a hacker would have to know your Apple ID/password AND have access to your device to get your two-factor code to compromise your iCloud account.

Changing your Apple ID password will lock them out, and they will then need to work out your new password AND get hold of your phone again to receive a new two-factor code. So, ensure you have a strong iPhone unlock passcode that only you know.

Here is how to enable 2FA on your iPhone:

  1. Tap the Settings icon on your iPhone’s home screen.
  2. At the top of the Settings screen, you’ll see your name and profile picture. Tap on this to access your Apple ID settings.
  3. In your Apple ID settings, scroll down and tap on Sign-In & Security.
  4. If you see it’s turned off under the “Two-Factor Authentication” section, tap Turn On Two-Factor Authentication and follow the steps.
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Pro Tip: Setting up recovery options

You might be prompted to set up additional recovery options, such as recovery email addresses or security questions. These can be helpful if you lose access to your trusted phone number.

Don’t share personal information online

The details you share online, especially on social media, can inadvertently give hackers clues about your passwords and habits. Be mindful of what you post publicly, and avoid oversharing personal information that could be used against you.

Secure your email account

Your iCloud account’s security hinges on your email address when logging in. If hackers gain access to your email, they can potentially reset your iCloud password to gain access.

Choose a strong, unique password for your email, enable two-factor authentication, and consider adding a secondary recovery email address as a safety net.

Limit the data you sync

Another simple and effective way to protect your privacy is to limit the data you sync to iCloud. While syncing is convenient for accessing files across devices, it also increases the potential impact of a breach.

Prioritize syncing only what you need. For example, if you don’t need your photos available on multiple devices then don’t sync them. This approach minimizes the amount of sensitive information available to potential hackers, even if they manage to compromise your account.

Remember, if you have iCloud backups enabled then you will still have an off-device backup of your important data. Full backups are safe from iCloud spyware and monitoring tools.

Beware of phishing attacks

Be cautious of emails or messages claiming to be from Apple and asking for your account information. Apple will never ask for your password or other sensitive details in an unsolicited communication.

Fig 1. Example of an Apple phishing SMS message and website.

Other ways to secure your iCloud account

Aside from updating iCloud passwords and setting up 2FA, here are some additional tips to help you secure your iCloud account:

  • Regularly review account activity: Check your iCloud account activity regularly for any unrecognized logins or changes.
  • Keep recovery information updated: Ensure your recovery email address and phone number are up-to-date and secure.
  • Keep software updated: Always keep your devices’ operating systems and apps updated to the latest versions to benefit from the latest security patches.
  • Find my iPhone: Enable Find My iPhone to help locate and protect your devices if they are lost or stolen.

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Conclusion

Can your iCloud account be hacked in 2025? The short answer is yes. However, our research has shown that iCloud hacking is not possible in the same way it used to work.

Spyware cannot download a full backup of a victim’s device from iCloud. Instead, it now works in a more limited way by acquiring iCloud Synced Data. This is reflected in the reduction of spyware providers offering iCloud monitoring solutions.

In 2016, around 90% of spyware providers offered a solution for iCloud monitoring, while in 2025, only about a third of these companies are still offering that solution, of which only two actually work.

As Apple continues to improve the security of their users’ iCloud accounts, it may not be long before hackers and spyware companies can no longer access iCloud.

This does not mean that you are completely safe from hacking as an iPhone/iPad user, however.

In recent years, hackers have shifted their focus away from iCloud. Instead, they’re using other spying methods. These include traditional spy apps that require a jailbreak and, more recently, spyware that exploits custom keyboards to capture everything you type..

If you have any doubts about your phone’s security, use Certo AntiSpy to check your device for spyware, keyloggers, tracking apps and other threats. Utilizing all these safety measures will reassure you that your data is safe.