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Being the victim of a hacking or hacker’s attempt to retrieve your data and use it for nefarious purposes is every tech user’s worst nightmare. Unfortunately, some users who are hacked aren’t even aware that it happened. And the longer you wait to address the problem, the more personal information the hacker is able to acquire from you — so it’s important to know the signs of a hacking and act fast. We spoke with Nebojsa Calic, founder of CyberCrew, who shared insights on the five scary ways to know if your iCloud account has been hacked — and what to do if you have been hacked.
“Mobile phones revolutionized the way we communicate,” Calic says. “We get the information we need much faster, and we’re able to communicate better now when we have the power to call whoever we want and whenever we want it. Mobile phones became a part of our lives so much they became our extended hand. We use them so extensively that we’re used to keeping the most private, and the most sensitive information on them. That’s why our phones are so interesting to malicious attackers who will, in search of credit card info, or any other information that can be used to extort money, reach out and try to take away our private information. Here are some of the signs you should be wary about that show your iPhone might be hacked.”
Turn On Low Power Mode
“Save battery life on your iPhone by turning on Low Power Mode,” Chan says. “This mode is a battery lifesaver, especially when running low on battery charge and can’t find a charging spot. Yes, you might experience low performance, but better battery life is a good trade-off. Turn this feature on by heading to Settings, navigate and tap on Battery, then toggle Low Power Mode On.”
You notice someone has jailbroken your phone.
“One of the most obvious signs your iPhone has been hacked is when you notice the apps you never installed presently on your iPhone,” Calic says. “This means someone managed to jailbreak your iPhone and that it has been successfully hacked.”
You are experiencing some camera issues.
“Our iPhone cameras are popular targets for hackers, especially now when the popularity of video calls has increased,” Calic says. “If you notice that someone else is using your camera - for instance, if you find some pictures in camera roll you don’t remember taking - it’s a sign your iPhone has been hacked.”
So, you suspect your iCloud account may have been hacked and you’re scared. To prevent hackers from inflicting any more damage, Calic recommends taking the following steps:
**Change your passwords as soon as possible. Make sure to use longer passwords and make them complex, using both numbers, signs, lower and upper case letters.
**Turn off Wi-Fi and your mobile data when you’re not using them to prevent hackers from running when you’re not paying attention. Also never use a public hotspot and be careful when you use the coffee shop’s WiFi.
**Delete any suspicious app you find on your phone. Furthermore, it’s important to use only the apps and sites you trust to avoid getting hacked.
