Can iPhones Get Hacked?

Apple has built one of the most secure mobile operating systems in the world, but that doesn't mean iPhones are unhackable. From zero-click spyware to phishing texts that arrive in your iMessage inbox, real threats exist for everyday iPhone users. The good news? Understanding how iPhones get hacked is the first step to keeping yours safe.

The short answer: yes, iPhones can be hacked

iPhones are far more secure than most smartphones, but "more secure" doesn't mean "immune." Apple's iOS is designed with multiple layers of protection (a sandboxed app environment, encrypted data storage, strict App Store review policies, and regular security patches) yet attackers have found ways to exploit gaps in all of these at one point or another.

In 2024, Apple confirmed two actively exploited zero-day vulnerabilities (CVE-2024-23225 and CVE-2024-23296) that allowed arbitrary code execution on compromised iPhones. In 2025, Apple patched 27 additional defects with the release of iOS 26. No operating system is a perfect fortress, and iPhones are not an exception.

The risk to the average user is relatively low compared to Android, but it is not zero, and it is growing as attackers grow more sophisticated.

How do iPhones get hacked? The most common attack methods

1. Zero-click exploits

Perhaps the most alarming type of attack, zero-click exploits require no action at all from you. A hacker can send a malicious iMessage, email, or other data packet that silently compromises your device, no tapping a link, no downloading an app.

The most notorious example is Pegasus spyware, developed by Israeli cyber-arms company NSO Group. Pegasus uses zero-click vulnerabilities to silently install itself on iPhones, giving attackers access to messages, calls, photos, microphone, and GPS, all without the victim ever suspecting a thing. The ForcedEntry zero-click exploit, analyzed by Citizen Lab in 2021, was used specifically to target journalists and civil society members through Apple's Messages app.

These attacks are typically reserved for high-value targets (journalists, activists, executives, politicians) but the underlying vulnerabilities affect every iPhone until a patch is issued.

2. Phishing and smishing (text/email scams)

For the everyday user, phishing is the most common way iPhones get compromised, not through the device itself, but through its owner.

• Smishing (SMS phishing) involves fake text messages that impersonate banks, delivery services, Apple Support, or government agencies, tricking you into entering your credentials on a fake website.
• Email phishing works similarly, often crafting urgent-looking messages about iCloud account problems, Apple ID suspensions, or unauthorized purchases.
• iMessage phishing exploits Apple's own messaging platform, sometimes bypassing carrier-level spam filters.

The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) tracked 3.8 million phishing attacks across 2025, with Q2 2025 alone recording over 1.1 million attacks, a 13% quarter-over-quarter increase. Your iPhone's hardware isn't the vulnerability here; your attention is.

3. Malicious or fake apps

While Apple's App Store review process is rigorous, it is not perfect. Malicious apps occasionally slip through, disguised as legitimate utilities, games, or productivity tools. Once installed, they can:

• Harvest personal data and contacts
• Track your location
• Display intrusive adware
• Quietly drain your data or battery

The threat is significantly higher if your device is jailbroken (see below), since sideloaded apps bypass all of Apple's security checks entirely.

4. Jailbreaking

Jailbreaking an iPhone removes Apple's built-in security restrictions to allow the installation of unofficial apps and customizations. While appealing to power users, jailbreaking:

• Disables iOS sandboxing (which isolates apps from each other and from the OS)
• Voids Apple's security updates
• Opens the door to malware that could never run on a stock iPhone
• Can expose device root access to attackers

A jailbroken iPhone is fundamentally a different security proposition than a factory-default one.

5. Public Wi-Fi and man-in-the-middle attacks

Connecting your iPhone to unsecured public Wi-Fi (airports, coffee shops, hotels) puts you at risk of man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, where a hacker intercepts the data traveling between your phone and the internet. In 2025, these attacks have been increasingly automated, attackers use portable devices capable of capturing data from hundreds of users simultaneously.

This type of attack is more likely to compromise your passwords, session tokens, and unencrypted browsing data than to "hack" your iPhone at the OS level, but the damage to your accounts and privacy can be just as serious.

6. SIM swapping

SIM swapping is a scam where a criminal convinces your mobile carrier to transfer your phone number to a SIM card they control. Once they have your number, they can:

• Intercept SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) codes
• Reset passwords on your email, banking, and Apple ID accounts
• Lock you out of your own iPhone

SIM swapping doesn't exploit iOS at all, it exploits your carrier's customer service processes. But the end result is a hacker with full control over accounts tied to your iPhone.

7. iCloud compromise

Many iPhone "hacks" aren't really iPhone hacks, they're iCloud breaches. If a criminal obtains your Apple ID credentials (via phishing, credential stuffing from a data breach, or password reuse), they can:

• Access your synced photos, messages, notes, and contacts
• Track your device's location via Find My
• Remotely wipe or lock your iPhone
• Restore your backup to another device

Cybersecurity professionals who investigate suspected iPhone hacks report that the overwhelming majority of cases turn out to be iCloud account compromises rather than device-level intrusions.

Warning signs your iPhone may be hacked

Not every sign below is definitive proof of a hack, some can have innocent explanations, but any combination of these warrants attention:

• Unexplained battery drain: Spyware and malicious processes run constantly in the background, consuming more power than normal.
• Overheating: A device that runs hot when idle may have unauthorized processes running.
• Unusual data spikes: Malware often sends stolen data to remote servers, inflating your cellular data usage unexpectedly.
• Sluggish performance: If your phone feels slower than usual without explanation, unauthorized background apps may be consuming resources.
• Unfamiliar apps: Apps you don't recognize appearing on your home screen or in Settings.
• Unexpected account activity: Password reset emails you didn't request, or notifications about Apple ID sign-ins from unfamiliar locations.
• Microphone or camera indicator active unexpectedly: iOS shows an orange or green dot at the top of the screen when these are in use, if it appears when you're not in a call or using the camera, something may be wrong.
• Strange texts or calls: If contacts report receiving suspicious messages from your number, your account may be compromised.

Apple's built-in defenses: why iPhones are still the gold standard

Despite the threats above, Apple has built substantial protections that make iPhones far more resilient than most devices:

• iOS Sandbox: Every app on your iPhone runs in its own isolated environment. Even if a malicious app gets installed, it cannot freely access other apps' data, the file system, or the OS itself.
• App Store Review: Apple reviews every app before it reaches the App Store, using automated scans for known malware alongside human review, significantly reducing (though not eliminating) the risk of malicious apps.
• End-to-end encryption: iMessage and FaceTime use end-to-end encryption by default, so even if data is intercepted in transit, it's unreadable without your device's keys.
• Face ID / Touch ID: Biometric authentication prevents unauthorized physical access, even if someone has your passcode.
• Regular security updates: Apple patches known vulnerabilities quickly, often releasing emergency updates within days of a zero-day being disclosed. Staying updated is the single most effective defense an average user has.
• Lockdown Mode: Introduced in iOS 16 and enhanced since, Lockdown Mode is built for high-risk individuals (journalists, executives, activists). It disables many attack surfaces, blocking most message attachments, restricting web browsing features, and preventing unknown USB accessories from connecting. It's an extreme measure but an effective one for those who need it.
• Advanced Data Protection: Apple's optional end-to-end encryption for iCloud data means even Apple itself cannot access your stored photos, backups, and notes if this is enabled.

How to protect your iPhone from hackers

You don't have to be a cybersecurity expert to significantly reduce your risk. These steps make a real difference:

1. Keep iOS updated. Always install Apple security updates promptly. Many patches address vulnerabilities actively being exploited in the wild. Go to Settings → General → Software Update and enable automatic updates.
2. Use a strong, unique Apple ID password + enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Your Apple ID is the master key to your iPhone. A compromised Apple ID is a compromised iPhone. Use a password manager to generate and store a strong password, and always enable 2FA.
3. Never click links in unsolicited texts or emails. Go directly to the source, if Apple or your bank needs you to take action, navigate to their website yourself rather than clicking a provided link.
4. Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive activity, or use a VPN. A reputable VPN encrypts your traffic even on unsecured networks, neutralizing most man-in-the-middle attacks.
5. Don't jailbreak your iPhone. The security trade-offs are not worth the customization benefits for the vast majority of users.
6. Review app permissions regularly. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security to audit which apps have access to your camera, microphone, location, and contacts. Revoke access for any app that doesn't clearly need it.
7. Enable Stolen Device Protection. Go to Settings → Face ID & Passcode → Stolen Device Protection. This feature requires biometric authentication (not just a passcode) for sensitive actions when your iPhone is in an unfamiliar location.
8. Enable Advanced Data Protection for iCloud. This turns on end-to-end encryption for your iCloud backup, photos, notes, and more, so a breach of iCloud servers doesn't expose your data.
9. Be alert to SIM swapping. Contact your carrier and ask about adding a PIN or passphrase to your account, which prevents unauthorized SIM transfers.
10. Monitor for unusual activity. Regularly check Settings → [Your Name] → Show All Devices to see every device signed into your Apple ID. Remove any you don't recognize immediately.
11. Get proactive scam alerts. Guardio's Critical Security Alerts monitors for high-risk scam activity in real time, and if you're targeted, Guardio's security team calls and texts you directly to help you stop it before you lose anything.

Who is most at risk?

While everyday iPhone users face a relatively low risk of a sophisticated device-level hack, certain groups face elevated threats:

• Journalists, activists, and dissidents, frequently targeted by nation-state spyware like Pegasus
• Executives and high-net-worth individuals, targeted for financial account access
• Anyone who reuses passwords, highly vulnerable to credential stuffing and iCloud compromise
• Jailbroken iPhone users, vastly increased attack surface
• Users who haven't updated iOS, sitting ducks for known exploits

If you fall into any of these categories, consider enabling Lockdown Mode and Advanced Data Protection, using a hardware security key for Apple ID 2FA, and consulting a cybersecurity professional.

Conclusion

Can iPhones get hacked? Yes, but context matters enormously. The risk for an average user who keeps their iOS updated, uses a strong Apple ID password with two-factor authentication, and avoids obvious phishing traps is quite low. The risk for someone running an outdated OS, using weak credentials, or connected to untrustworthy networks is meaningfully higher.

Apple continues to invest heavily in iOS security, and the platform remains the most secure consumer mobile OS available. But no technology eliminates risk entirely, your habits, awareness, and settings are as important as the device in your hand.

Stay updated. Stay skeptical. And treat your Apple ID like the master key it is. Get a free security scan with Guardio today and stay protected from phishing texts and malicious links.