So you want to learn how to detect and remove a keylogger from your iPhone but are unsure about how to do so. This is a very common problem because not all signs of a keylogger are easy to see or notice. While some keyloggers are used as authorized phone tracker apps like these one, others are used as malicious keyloggers. Read on to discover some signs that will help you in identifying a keylogger on your iPhone and remove it for good.
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Signs That Your iPhone Is Infected With a Keylogger
Increased Battery Usage
Let’s first look at the most obvious sign – power use. If you notice your phone using more power to run the apps you use, you probably have a malicious keylogger installed on your phone. This software uses the phone’s battery to record all keystrokes and upload them to the software’s server for some malicious individual to access and exploit.
One way to check whether or not your iPhone’s battery is depleting faster than usual is to check its battery usage in the Settings. You’ll see a log of how much of the device’s battery was consumed by each app on your device. However, if you notice a disparity between the total battery used and the total of all the apps combined, this could be a sign of some malicious app working in the background.
Your iPhone’s Data Depletes Faster Than Usual
Another crucial sign to look out for is when you notice that your device’s data is getting depleted faster than usual. Every iPhone user knows how much data they get with every billing cycle and is also aware of how long that data lasts them. This makes it easier for them to spot an instance in which their data gets over much quicker than it usually does.
Sometimes, this could be completely innocent; the quicker data usage could be the result of a lot more Netflixing and gaming than usual. However, if this isn’t the case, it’s a good idea to check for the device’s data usage in the settings. Once again, if you notice a disparity between the total data used by your device during the current billing cycle and the total data consumed by all the apps combined, this could be a sign of a hidden app eating away at your data.
Your iPhone Heats Up Even When You’re Not Using It.
Keyloggers can often be very heavy apps, especially since they relay all the phone’s information to a server continuously. As a result, this can result in the phone heating up, just as it does while charging or heavy gaming.
However, if you notice that your iPhone is heating up even when it isn’t in use or isn’t being charged, this could be a sign of an app continuously running in the background, and this app will most likely be some form of malware or a keylogger.
You Notice Strange Changes on Your Phone
Another crucial sign to look out for is to keep an eye on any strange or unauthorized changes on your device. IF you suddenly notice an app on your device that you never installed or see some change in your device’s settings, this could be the result of someone using a keylogger to remotely control your device.
For example, some keyloggers give users complete access to the target’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. This enables them to change settings, make friends, follow accounts, chat with your connections, and much more. So, if you suddenly come across a conversation with a friend on your phone that you never had, you can rest assured that someone’s remotely tampering with your device.
Your Phone Turns On Even When You’re Not Using It
The last sign to look out for is when your iPhone’s display automatically turns on or unlocks itself without you even touching it. This is the best way to be certain that someone is definitely remotely controlling your iPhone with a keylogger.
How to Remove Keyloggers from iPhones
Once you’re sure that there’s a keylogger on your iPhone, you must do everything necessary to remove it. This is because keyloggers can be serious danger to your privacy, sensitive information, and other financial details stored on your phone. Here are a few ways to remove keylogger once you’ve detected it –
Install an Anti-Malware Program
The first thing you can do is install an anti-malware program on your iPhone. There are several reliable and trusted options available in the market, such as Malwarebytes and Norton. These programs are constantly updated based on changing keylogger and malware technology and are thus capable of detecting and removing keyloggers from iPhones.
Perform a Factory Reset
If an anti-malware program is unable to remove the keylogger, the only option available is to completely erase all the data on the device by performing a factory reset. You can do this via the device’s settings. However, you must ensure to take a backup of all your data on iCloud or Google Drive before you erase your phone clean.
One mistake people often make is that they don’t take a backup of their WhatsApp and end up regretting it when they reinstall it later, only to find out that their chats have been permanently deleted.
How to Keep Your iPhone Safe from Keyloggers
Never Share Your iCloud Credentials With Anyone
Most keyloggers can be installed on iPhones simply with your iCloud credentials. Unlike Android phones, which need to be physically accessed to install such programs, iPhones are often easy targets. This makes it essential that you never share your iCloud credentials with anyone whatsoever. This includes your partner, as often, it is partners and spouses that install such apps on your phone to spy on you and see who you’re talking to.
Don’t Leave Your iPhone Lying Around.
The next thing to do is never to leave your iPhone lying around, as it can often be picked up by someone who then installs a keylogger on it. More often than not, this will be someone who might even know you and your iPhone’s password. Always keep your device within your sight or in your pocket.
Set a Strong PIN
The first barrier to entry to your device is your PIN. It keeps everyone from entering your device to install malicious apps. As a result, setting up a strong PIN or password is crucial. Make sure that your PIN isn’t your birthday or that of your partner’s or any other such easy-to-hack date.
When setting up a password, create one that’s long, alpha-numeric, and uses a combination of upper and lower-case characters to make your phone as resistant as possible to a brute-force attack.
Install a Good Anti-Malware Program
Sometimes, an anti-malware program might not be able to uninstall an existing keylogger, but they work very well to keep them from being installed in the first place. As a result, you must always install a good anti-malware program on your phone from the moment you buy it. Additionally, installing a good anti-virus program can also help.
In Conclusion
As you can see, there are several signs that you can look out for if you suspect that your iPhone has been infected by a keylogger. This guide has mentioned five such signs, along with ways to remove these malicious programs and keep your iPhone free from them in the first place.
Remember that your privacy is of the utmost importance and must never be violated, so read through this guide carefully to keep yourself safe from any form of unforeseen distress.
