How To Deal With The iPhone Has Been Hacked Pop-Up? [Ensure Topmost Security]

Your iPhone has been hacked! Sounds terrifying, right? But trust me, it’s not as it seems. Just close the pop-up message immediately to prevent any chances of further complications. And that’s the very first thing you should do when you see the pop-up.

Apart from this, you can deal with the issue in more smarter ways such as, clearing browser history, resetting your device, and installing anti-malware apps from the app store.

Let’s deal with this iPhone scam with us throughout the rest of the guide.

What Is The “iPhone Has Been Hacked” Pop-Up?

The pop-up “Your iPhone has been hacked” is typically a hacking trick that pops up over the webpage you’re browsing. Advertisers and online fraudsters use this trick to hack your device to charge money in an illegal way.

This pop-up may occasionally impersonate popular websites in order to entice you to click on it and visit one where you perceive it to be legitimate.

So, whenever you get this pop-up, just click the X mark or do not touch anything in that pop-up. Because, it’ll send you to another site and convince you that your iPhone has been hacked.

How Does This Pop-up Work?

In order to take that information, these pop ups may ask you for your personal and financial information.

It can even redirect you to the Apple Store to install a false antivirus app that might be adware, malware, or browser hijackers.  

So, don’t even interact with the pop-up and close the tab or the browser immediately. This is just a toss-up between fake ones and real ones.

How Does The Pop-Up Appear On Your iPhone Screen?

The pop-up on your iPhone’s screen is a small window that will appear automatically. It can appear anywhere on the web page (from the top to the center or bottom).

These fake pop-ups usually pretend to appear on fake or non reputable websites. When you visit such websites, spam reinforces the fake advertisement with false messages.

What Should You Do If You See The Pop-Up?

When you get the pop-up “Your iPhone has been hacked”, don’t panic, as you know it’s totally a fake message. You can get rid of it for free. If you get this message on your iPhone, here’s what you have to do:

Do not Interact with Popups

Usually, the fake pop-ups on iPhone use fake buttons to deceive users and redirect them to other malware sites.

So, first of all, do not respond to the message by clicking on the “Close” or “OK” buttons. Moreover, it’s a good idea not to touch any part of that pop-up. 

Close the Tab or Browser

Since you have not touched any part of the pop up, all you need to do is take leave from the tab or close all the tabs from Safari. To close a single tab or all the tabs, follow the following guidelines:

Step 1: First, touch the tab switcher icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Step 2: Next, tap the Close button in the upper right corner of the tab to close it.

But if you want to close all the tabs:

Step 3: Tap the tab switcher icon as before but hold it for a while.

Step 4: It will open a new menu. From there, select Close All Tabs.

Step 5: Again, tap the same option and confirm it.

Clear Browser History and Data

Once you’ve closed the tab, you should try to remove the pop-up from the browser.

While there are many options, the most effective way to remove it from your browser is to clear the browser history and data.

Step 1: Open the Setting app and select Safari or other web browser that you’re using from the menu.

Step 2: Then, click on the “Clear History and Website Data” option.

Step 3: Again, tap the “Clear History and Data” to confirm you really want to clean the cache from your browser.

Once you’ve done this, open your browser again and see the pop-up has been removed.

Turn Off JavaScript

This is another way to draw out a hacking pop-up from your iPhone. When you deactivate JavaScript, the pop-ups won’t be able to bother you anymore.

Here’s how you can turn off JavaScript on your device:

• Go to the Setting > Advanced.

• From Advanced, toggle the JavaScript off.

Now, open the browser and check if the problem is resolved. Hopefully, it will be.

Clear the Browsing Data

Like the “Browser History and Data”option, this is another method you can use to remove harmful data and cache from your browser. To apply this method, follow the steps below:

• Go to “Settings” and tap “Privacy”.
• Now, select the “Clear Browsing Data” option.

• Again, tap on the same option from the menu to confirm the process.

This process will potentially delete all the harmful data from the browser. So, you can reopen the browser to see if the pop-up has been removed.

How To Know If An iPhone Has Been Hacked By A Pop-up?

There are some telltale signs, like sluggish performance, or the fact that your iPhone’s battery life is depleting more quickly than usual. These signs, along with the sign mentioned below, will tell you if your iPhone is hacked:

• Your iPhone is overheating while charging or not even using.
• Mysterious pop-ups and messages.
• Higher data usage than usual.
• Some systems on your iPhone work slowly.
• Receiving weird messages from unknown contacts or sites.
• Strange outgoing messages or calls.

Suggestion

If you encounter these suspicious symptoms on your iPhone that claim your iPhone has been hacked, contact Apple directly to solve the issue. Send them emails at this address: reportphishing@apple.com. or call 800-275-2273.

What Type Of Hacking These Pop-Ups Can Lead To?

If you’re wondering what happens when your device gets a fake hacking massage, here’s a table to see everything about this scam at a glance:

Scam Name	Your iPhone has been hacked
Scam Type	Phishing
Claims	The iPhone has been hacked, and all your data and actions are at risk
Symptoms	Pop-ups continuously redirect you to other malicious sites
Distribution	Through militia pop-ups, ads, and social networking.
Damages	Loss of personal information and data or getting unwanted apps
Removal	Using ad blockers or anti malware software.
How to prevent	Do not touch deceptive messages, links, or attachments
Removing malware	Scan the device with legitimate anti malware software
Legal actions	Taking advantage of legal cybercrime laws.

Tips To Prevent The Pop-Up From Appearing In The First Place

As an Apple user, you should follow some probable precautions to prevent the pop-ups from appearing while browsing. But what should you do to prevent it? Well, we’ve also come up with the 7 most effective tips and tricks to prevent harmful pop-ups from the browser.

Turn on The Safari Security Setting

Safari security settings are the most important thing you have to do to prevent pop-ups and protect your iPhone from hacking. Security preferences in the Safari app on your iPhone allow you to turn on or off security warnings.

To change these preferences, follow the steps below:

• Go to Settings > Safari.
• Navigate to Privacy and Security.
• Now, turn on the Prevent Cross-Site Tracking and Fraudulent Website Warning sections.

You can also enable JavaScript to make this security setting more impactful. The table below will show you the purposes of these security preferences:

Option	Description
Prevent Cross-Site Tracking	It allows Safari to block Cross-Site tracking.
Fraudulent Website Warning	Safari will display a warning while you’re scrolling through a suspected malicious website.
JavaScript	Enable JavaScript to visit the websites using forms, contents, and buttons.

Block pop-ups

This is another option in the Safari security settings. It allows Safari to block the annoying pop-ups or ads. Do the following to activate it:

• Go to Settings and open Safari.
• Tap and turn on Block Pop-ups.

Update Device’s Software

Sometimes, your iPhone won’t support the old software. So, the software on your device should be up to date. Follow the procedure below to update the software on your iPhone manually:

• Tap the Settings icon and open General > Software Update
• Now select Download and Install.

• Next, enter your passcode if asked.
• Tap Install Now.

• Then, finally tap Install.

To update the software on your iPhone automatically:

• Go to Settings > General.
• Tap Software Update and select Automatic Updates.

Turn on Two Factor Authentication

If you are not using two factor authentication yet, turn it on to prevent harmful pop-ups appearing on your iPhone. Here’s how it goes:

• Go to Settings.
• Enter Your name > Password & Security.

• Next, tap Turn on Two Factor Authentication.

Delete Unwanted Apps

If you suspect any suspicious app on your home screen that you didn’t wish to download, delete it immediately. To do so, tap and hold the app on the home screen. Then, select the Delete App to delete it from your iPhone.

Install an Adblocker

An ad blocker on your iPhone allows Safari to block fishing ads, contents, or websites from your browser. To install an ad blocker:

• Go to Settings > Safari > Extensions.
• From the menu, click on More Extensions. It will take you to the App store.
•  Now, scroll down a bit until you find the ad blockers.
• Swipe to the side until you see AdBlock Plus for Safari.
• Then click on it and install. 

Install an Anti-Malware or Antivirus Software

Anti malware or antivirus software is a great tool to protect your iPhone from being hacked. They will help you protect your iOS device from phishing ads, emails, and other online frauds.

So, install a top-rated antivirus app with a positive reputation that has been approved by Apple. Some of the most reputable antivirus software will include Norton 360, Avira Antivirus, Avast, McAfee etc.

Frequently Asked Question

Do you have more questions about the “iPhone has been hacked” pop-up? If yes, this section might have an answer to those questions. 

Is the “iPhone has been hacked” pop-up real?

No, this is not real. This is a scam. It is a common scam for both iOS and Android users that claims that the user’s device is hacked or infected.

How do I encounter fake pop-ups?

The best way to encounter a fake pop-up is to know its possible characteristics. Fake pop-ups usually claim that your device is infected and you have to pay or enter your personal information to get rid of it. Sometimes, they also have phone numbers and ask you to call them to resolve the problem.

How do I scan my iPhone for malware?

Generally, you can scan your iPhone for malware by using antimalware software. You can also check the power consumption and data usage of your device if it is higher than normal.

Which app causes the “iPhone has been hacked” pop-up?

Third-party apps, including malicious advertisements and messages, may cause the “iPhone has been hacked” pop-up. They can also include phishing emails, links, or numbers.

Conclusion

Nowadays, it is very common for iOS users to get a hacking alert when using a web browser. Unfortunately, it is nothing but a false claim.

When a pop-up suggests you pay for a security service or claims you have a virus on your device, don’t believe it and close that pop-up. Using ad blockers, extensions, and antivirus software is a good idea to protect your iPhone.

Also, keep your device up to date and use strong passwords for your personal social and financial accounts. It’s normal to face such scams online, but you need to be careful.