Security is one of the main advantages of Apple’s iPhone over its competitors. The company reliably protects its users from intruders and uses security as an argument to keep the code of its OS closed.
However, attacks using Pegasus spyware on the iPhone of journalists and politicians around the world have made it clear that even Apple’s security systems cannot protect against everything.
In this article, we will tell you how to detect and remove spyware from your iPhone, as well as analyze possible methods of protection against programs like the infamous Pegasus.
What are the characteristic features of spyware?
Low iPhone performance. This may indicate that some malicious application is constantly running in the background. However, remember – if you participate in the iOS beta testing program, the performance of your device may be slightly lower and it has nothing to do with malware or spyware;
Strong heating or rapid discharge of the accumulator;
The appearance of unusual text messages, often in a language you don’t understand;
The appearance of applications that you did not install.
Remember – these signs may appear not only because of spyware. To find out exactly whether your device is infected or not, you will need special tools.
What can I arm myself with to hunt for spyware?
We will analyze the two most popular options. The first one is paid, the second one is not.
Certo AntiSpy is a tool with a simple interface that performs a full scan of the iPhone and provides a list of potential threats. The application does not run on a phone, but on a computer with an iPhone connected via USB. Certo AntiSpy is distributed by subscription, which costs $49.95 per year.
Mobile Verification Toolkit (MVT) is a free, open source diagnostic tool used for forensic analysis. Fortunately, there is a step-by-step guide to finding spyware on your iPhone. You can also use the video tutorial from censiCLICK on YouTube to make the process more understandable. MVT works by creating an iTunes backup of your iPhone and then scanning the backup for spyware. Be prepared to download and use the Python programming environment (and eliminate unexpected errors in the process).
And how to remove malware from the device?
There are two possible scenarios here:
The program you are using will suggest the steps you can take to remove the malicious file, module or application.
The tool will display a list of files and installed applications that may be infected with spyware. You will have to delete them yourself, not through the application interface.
After scanning, we recommend paying attention to suspicious applications and deleting them. Also, delete those files that look unfamiliar or malicious. If the program you are using has marked one of the files as dangerous, quarantine it and transfer it to your computer to check using the desktop version of the antivirus.