How to Detect Spyware on an iPhone

How to Protect Your iPhone Against Spyware

Detecting spyware on your iPhone is a vital first step, but true security goes beyond detection — it’s about prevention. By actively protecting your device from threats, you can stay one step ahead of hackers.

Here are 8 simple ways to protect your iPhone from spyware and safeguard your most sensitive data from cybercriminals.

Update your iOS to the latest version

If your device’s operating system is outdated, you could be vulnerable to spyware attacks. System updates often include security patches that fix exploits used by spyware. Here’s how to check whether a software update for iOS is available on your device:

1. Go to Settings > General.
2. Tap on Software Update. Your device will check for updates
3. If an update is available, tap Update Now.

Fig 7. Updating the iOS version on iPhone.

Update your apps

Just like you should ensure your iOS is up-to-date, keeping all your installed apps current is equally essential. Developers regularly release security patches, so staying updated is one of your primary defenses against potential vulnerabilities.

To update your apps:

1. Open the App Store.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right.
3. Scroll down and tap Update All if any updates are available.

Use a strong passcode

Most iPhone spyware requires the hacker to physically access your device to install it. Therefore, a strong unlock passcode that’s difficult to guess can be one of the best ways to protect against a spyware attack.

Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols, and don’t base your passcode on easily guessed information, like your birthday.

Use two-factor authentication

Some iPhone spyware works by accessing your iCloud account and stealing data synced from your phone, such as photos and messages. Therefore, using two-factor authentication with your Apple Account is another important way to protect your iPhone from hackers.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security feature that enhances the safety of your accounts beyond just a password. Even if cybercriminals decipher your password, 2FA prevents them from breaking into your account.

To access your account with 2FA, you’ll need to provide two forms of authentication. This typically combines something you know (such as your password) with something you receive and input (for instance, a code produced by an application or a single-use password delivered through SMS or email).

Don’t open suspicious links

Clicking on suspicious links or attachments can give surveillance software, spyware, and malware direct access to your device.

Don’t click on links in emails or texts from contacts you don’t recognize; be careful about clicking on unknown links while browsing the internet.

Run regular anti-spyware scans

If your iPhone is infected with spyware, your messages, calls, photos, and other private information could be exposed.

Regularly scan your device for spyware and malicious software. Not sure how to do this? Certo AntiSpy makes detecting and removing spyware easier than ever and protects your phone.

Enable Lockdown mode

Lockdown mode is an optional, extreme protection measure that can be turned on to help combat targeted and sophisticated cyberattacks, such as Pegasus.

When enabled, your device will function differently. Some apps, websites, and features will be limited, and some experiences will be completely unavailable.

While this doesn’t protect against all hacking methods, it can help against certain types of advanced spyware.

Lockdown mode can be enabled as follows:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Privacy & Security.
3. Under Security, tap Lockdown Mode and tap Turn On Lockdown Mode.
4. Tap Turn On Lockdown Mode.
5. Tap Turn On & Restart, then enter your device passcode.

Fig 8. Enabling Lockdown Mode on iPhone.

Reset iPhone

If you’re concerned about spyware and other methods haven’t worked, you can factory reset your iPhone as a last resort to remove any hidden or malicious software. Just make sure you have a backup of important data before proceeding.

Here’s how:

1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
2. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
3. If prompted, enter your passcode and confirm the reset. You may need to enter your Apple Account password to turn off Find My iPhone.
4. The iPhone will reset and restart, erasing all data and returning it to factory settings.

Types of iPhone Spyware

Hidden spy apps

Hidden spy apps are the most commonly used type of iPhone spyware.

They are designed to remain hidden on your iPhone and give hackers access to huge chunks of personal data, including instant messages, emails, real-time location, photos, and more.

This type of spyware program requires the hacker to have physical access to the victim’s device for a few minutes to install it.

Once installed, the hacker can then remotely monitor all activity on the infected device. Sometimes, they may even turn on the microphone and camera to listen and watch remotely.

iCloud attack

Hackers can also use iCloud spyware attacks to steal data from iPhones by targeting information stored in iCloud rather than the physical device.

This type of attack doesn’t require direct access to the iPhone, but does require the hacker to have the victim’s Apple Account login details. And because it is carried out via the internet, it can be very difficult to detect.

To protect against this, enable two-factor authentication on your Apple Account. This adds an extra layer of security, requiring both your password and a six-digit code to be sent to a trusted device, which makes unauthorized access much harder.

Keyloggers

Keyloggers are a particularly invasive form of spyware designed to silently record everything you type on your device — passwords, messages, search queries, bank details, and more.

Unlike other spyware that targets data already stored on your phone, keyloggers capture information in real time, at the moment you enter it, making them especially difficult to defend against.

On iPhone, keyloggers are most commonly delivered through malicious third-party keyboard apps. iOS allows users to install custom keyboards to replace the default one, and while most are legitimate, this feature has been exploited by hackers.

Once a malicious keyboard is installed and granted “Full Access” — a permission that allows the keyboard to transmit data over the internet — everything you type can be secretly sent to a remote server.

Certo’s security researchers have demonstrated how this attack works in practice, showing how third-party custom keyboards were being manipulated by cybercriminals to secretly record victims’ keystrokes.

Malicious configuration profiles

Configuration profiles are used by companies and schools to manage settings on employees’ or students’ devices — things like email accounts, VPN settings, and network access. But in the wrong hands, they’re a powerful attack tool.

A malicious profile can grant an attacker sweeping control over a device: redirecting internet traffic, installing untrusted apps, or silently monitoring activity. Unlike spyware apps, profiles don’t need to hide — they sit in plain sight within Settings, disguised as something routine.

Victims often approve them without realizing what they’re granting access to, having been tricked into thinking it’s a legitimate software requirement.

This method is particularly effective because it exploits a trusted iOS feature rather than a vulnerability, meaning it works on fully up-to-date, non-jailbroken devices.

If you don’t recognize a profile installed on your device, it should be treated as suspicious until proven otherwise. See step 2 above for instructions on how to check.

Misusing legitimate apps

Pre-installed apps such as ‘Find My iPhone’ and ‘Google Maps’ can be misused by hackers to track the victim’s location. This requires the hacker to gain access to the victim’s device to set up the tracking.

Another example is WhatsApp’s Linked Devices feature. Certo’s research found that this legitimate feature is being exploited by hackers to gain ongoing access to all of a victim’s WhatsApp messages — simply by scanning a QR code on their phone.

A hacker can also change the logged-in account on the device’s web browser to collect browsing data history and account login details.

As no malicious apps or code are installed, these types of attack can go unnoticed for months or even years, during which time the hacker has gained a wealth of information.

Zero-day exploits

Zero-day exploits are rare but can be devastating. Hackers use these attacks to exploit previously unknown operating system or app weaknesses, often without the device owner’s knowledge.

For instance, the Pegasus spyware uses zero-day exploits to infect iPhones and Android devices, enabling remote access to messages, cameras, and more without the victim’s awareness.

Once a weakness is exposed, hackers act quickly to exploit it. Millions of users can be affected when zero-day attacks target popular devices or apps. In some cases, advanced zero-day exploits, like those used in Pegasus, can infect a device remotely without physical access to the victim’s device.