How to secure your iPhone from hackers

It seems that with every month that goes by, technology becomes an even more important part of our lives. The vast majority of people work on a computer or have one in their house and smartphones have become so ubiquitous it would be difficult to live in the modern world without one.

Apple have traded on this ubiquity, and you can now access your personal and work emails, banking details, mortgage, payment methods, social platforms, and almost every other aspect of your life through your iPhone. No small surprise then that hacking these devices is big business for criminals. So how do you protect your iPhone from hackers?

If you feel that spyware may have already been installed on your phone, the best thing you can do is to scan it using a dedicated tool like Certo AntiSpy.

If you just want to protect yourself for the future, there are some easy to follow do’s and don’ts we can guide you through to stop hackers in their tracks and protect your iPhone.

How to protect iPhone from hackers

Do – Use a strong passcode and change it often

This may seem obvious, but your passcode is the first line of defence to stop someone getting into your iPhone. Choose a random passcode that only you will know, and make sure to avoid anything that could be easily guessed. This includes memorable dates like your birthday, your child’s birthday, your anniversary or even the date you got your pet. You should also change your passcode regularly, especially if you are often observed when you type it in.

Very often a hacker will need physical access to your phone to install and set up spyware or malware so a strong passcode can make this more difficult. If you can, you should also use biometric features to lock your phone like Face ID and fingerprint access.

Do – Keep your iPhone up to date

We like to think that iPhones are intrinsically protected from hackers, and while Apple does what it can, it will only work for you if you install all the updates as soon as they become available.

Security vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers are regularly fixed in updates to iOS so don’t put it off, even if it’s not convenient. If available, you should turn on automatic updates to make this process even easier for you.

The need for regular updates also applies to your app library. Recently some hackers have been able to target vulnerabilities in specific apps, such as WhatsApp. So, make sure that you are keeping everything updated to stop hackers getting into your iPhone.

Do – Use two-factor authentication

A lot of people choose to automatically back their iPhone up to the cloud. This is really convenient and a great feature to have in case your phone is broken or lost, however it also means there is a second full copy of your iPhone out there that could potentially be accessed by hackers.

To protect your iCloud, you should always use two-factor authentication to access it. This means that even if a hacker manages to crack your password, your account will still be safe and your backed up data will be secure.

Do – Download a good security app

Unlike Android devices, security apps aren’t allowed to do a virus scan on devices using Apple iOS. However, there are several apps that can check your security settings for you and identify some signs of device tampering. If you do need a complete device scan, you can use Certo AntiSpy.

Do – Use a VPN

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) will encrypt any and all traffic and data between your phone and any online resource that you access. This works for everything, whether it’s your email account, social media or any website you’re visiting. Like anything, you should look into different VPN providers before choosing and only use a reputable VPN with your device. This will ensure someone cannot eavesdrop on your online activity.

Don’t – Jailbreak your iPhone

Jailbreaking is the process of removing Apple’s manufacturer restrictions from the device. This allows you, or anyone else, to customize the device and opens up new options that fall outside of Apple’s restrictions. While this might sound interesting, those restrictions are in place to keep security tight, and by removing them you are essentially leaving your front door open to hackers. An iPhone that has been through the jailbreak process is more malleable for the user but also much more vulnerable to spyware and malware.

Don’t – Download apps from third-party app stores

Third party app stores can offer free versions of paid apps, which can make them tempting. But you should always be on your guard as many of these apps can contain malware. Ask yourself what possible benefit there could be for them to offer you something for free, and often the answer is that you will pay in another way.

For safety you should stick to the official App Store from Apple which thoroughly reviews and vets all apps before making them available on the store. Even if you have to pay for them.

Don’t – Tell anyone your passcode

It can be upsetting to think about, but you are actually much more likely to be hacked by someone you know, rather than some anonymous hacking organization. This means that keeping your passcode private, even from people you feel you can trust, is a crucial part of device security.

Don’t – Connect to any unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots

We can easily be tricked into thinking an unsecure Wi-Fi network is safe if it is using a familiar, official or otherwise trustworthy sounding name. While many of these networks could be safe, you often have no way of knowing who controls the network or who else is connected to it. If you do have to join an unsecured Wi-Fi hotspot then make sure you are using a reputable VPN to keep your iPhone protected from hackers.

Don’t – Click links in unsolicited emails or text messages

Device security is improving all the time, and as such, hackers are resorting to sending malicious phishing emails or texts directly to your inbox to try and steal your data. These links could be specifically crafted to either infect your device with malware or to trick you into handing over personal information. Be suspicious of anything that claims you have won a competition you didn’t enter, or any unsolicited, but convincing looking message threatening to lock you out of your account with a link to login. You can read more about these types of messages here.

Using these tips should mainly keep you protected from hackers, however, if you have any suspicions about someone accessing your iPhone or device the safest thing to do is to scan for viruses and malware. Download Certo AntiSpy for protection and peace of mind, or contact us today to find out how we can help you.