Phishing scams are a constant nuisance, and most people have to deal with them regularly. However, while most scams are easy to spot, sometimes you may click on a well-disguised phishing link by mistake. So what do you do after opening a phishing link?
If the phishing link is meant to extract your personal information and you haven’t entered any yet, you should be safe. However, if the link installs malware on your iPhone, disconnect it from the internet, scan for malware, and consider restoring the device from a backup if available.
Let’s look at what happens after you click on a phishing link, how to minimize the damage and how to prevent your iPhone from getting hacked again.
What is Phishing?
Phishing is a method used by scammers to steal personal or financial data or hack your phone or other devices. Phishing often involves scammers mimicking a company by sending an email or message that looks very similar to the original message.
These messages usually contain a link that may require you to input personal information that the scammers can use for financial gain. In addition, some phishing links contain malware downloaded as soon as you click on the link and may give hackers access to your phone.
What it Looks Like
A typical phishing link may come in an official email from your bank requiring you to access your account through the link. This will take you to a portal similar to the login portal of your bank but not exactly the same. As soon as you enter your password, the scammers will use the details to attempt to withdraw money from your account.
Phishing scams can mimic any business and are not limited to banks. Many people have to deal with phishing scams from phone companies and other subscription-based services.
If you have an iPhone, it’s difficult for hackers to access your phone directly, but clicking on a phishing link gives them a better chance of stealing your data.
After the hack, you may notice the phone restarting a lot, or locking you out, which can look pretty scary. It’s also worth noting that there are some things that happen on your phone that may be confusing that aren’t signs of a hack, such as the “Find my iPhone” arrow being greyed out.
And note that if your iPhone is stuck on “iPhone unavailable” because of too many password attempts (which is covered more in the linked article above), that can simply be because of too many password attempts, and you can start by resetting your password. Now, though, back to the conversation on hacking!
Does the iPhone IOS System Prevent Hacking?
While the iPhone’s iOS system is much safer than Android in certain security areas, it’s just as vulnerable as other operating systems regarding phishing scams. iPhones are challenging to hack conventionally, and it’s difficult to crack the passcode of an iPhone.
However, human error (such as clicking on a phishing link) can make your iPhone vulnerable to phishing attacks.
Regarding phishing attacks, the iOS system is just as vulnerable as any other phone system. There have been many famous examples of iPhones getting hacked when a user clicks on a suspicious link through email or messaging apps.
Some iPhones also had a vulnerability where hackers could install malware even if you only open an email from the Mail app.
While Apple has since patched up this fault and many other vulnerabilities, this doesn’t mean your iPhone is safe from hacking attacks. Even if you have the latest iPhone, you’ll still have to take care not to click on suspicious emails or links to prevent your phone from getting hacked.
What to Do if You Click a Phishing Link on Your iPhone
Sometimes, phishing emails and messages can be so sophisticated that it’s impossible to identify whether an email is from a scammer unless you open it. Fortunately, you shouldn’t get hacked if you only open a phishing email or message on your iPhone. However, the instant you click on a phishing link, your iPhone will become vulnerable.
Fortunately, all isn’t lost if you act fast enough since only a fraction of phishing links can install malware that bypasses the permission settings on an iPhone. If you notice the link isn’t authentic or taking you to the wrong website, you’ll know immediately it’s a phishing link.
Here’s what to do when you accidentally click on a phishing link on your iPhone:
Disconnect Your Phone From the Internet
When you click on a phishing link, it takes time for malware to download. Therefore, you should be safe if you disconnect your iPhone from the internet before the malware downloads. Even if malware is installed on your iPhone, disconnecting it from the internet will prevent the hacker from accessing your iPhone (in most cases).
Ensure both the WiFi and mobile data are off, and remove your SIM card if the mobile data doesn’t turn off otherwise.
Disconnecting the device from the internet will also prevent your WiFi from being hacked (this is possible!) or other devices connected to the same network.
Create a Data Backup
Hackers install malware through phishing links and usually try to access your personal information. Before cleaning your phone from potential malware, create a backup so you can restore your data later on. For example, if you have a recent iCloud or iTunes backup, you can use that to restore your phone.
Otherwise, connect your phone to a computer or hard drive and create a physical backup of all the essential data. Avoid creating a Cloud backup or accessing any of your accounts after clicking a phishing link since attackers can trace the password you use if they’ve installed malware on your iPhone.
Take Your Phone to a Professional
If you’ve clicked on a phishing link, you might not realize when malware is installed on your iPhone until it’s too late. One way to scan for malware is to install a program like Malwarebytes or other malware detection software.
However, the best way to ensure your phone is free from viruses or malware is to check it with a technical expert. They will scan your phone for malware and may reset it to delete the virus. You can then restore your data from the backup you’ve created.
Report the Incident
If your iPhone’s been compromised, you’re at a higher risk of credit fraud. While it’s unlikely hackers will get access to your credit or bank information if you’ve only clicked a phishing link, it’s best to be safe and report the incident. You can report phishing attacks to any major credit bureau.
They will then place you on a fraud alert list and monitor suspicious transactions more closely. While this isn’t necessary in most cases, it’s best to be safe.
Change All Your Passwords
If you suspect that hackers have used a phishing link to get hold of your passwords, change them immediately. Start by changing your email password since most sites will require email verification for password changes.
After changing your email password, change your bank account credentials and other finance apps. Lastly, change the passwords of your social media accounts to prevent a hacker from posting something controversial or accessing your personal messages.
Tips to Prevent Getting Hacked on Your Phone
If you’ve managed to save your data and escape a phishing attack with minimal loss, you’ll have to take steps to ensure that your iPhone doesn’t ever get hacked again.
Being cautious not to click on suspicious emails and links will help most of the time, but preventive measures like updating your iPhone regularly can also help.
Here are some tips to prevent your iPhone from getting hacked:
Recognize Suspicious Links
While hackers will make every possible effort to mimic a legitimate company, they can’t replicate exact details. So if you get an email from an address other than the official company address, avoid clicking on any links inside it. The same goes for recognizing official messages and phone numbers.
To be 100% safe from phishing attacks, avoid clicking on links through your email, especially if it claims to redirect to your account login page. Instead, type in the exact URL in your browser and log in as you would typically do.
Also, remember that legitimate companies will never request personal information or login details through email or call. If you receive such a message, you can contact the company directly to confirm whether they contacted you or not.
Don’t Jailbreak Your Phone
iPhones are only allowed to download apps from the official App store. When you jailbreak your iPhone, you’re compromising its security, which increases the chances of a successful phishing attack.
Apple’s latest iOS updates make it very difficult to jailbreak the latest iPhones, and you’ll have to install shady software.
Don’t Install Shady Apps
Even if you have a jailbroken iPhone and can install apps from third-party sites, avoid doing so. The App Store is safe because of the extensive checks the apps go through before being listed. However, installing apps from anywhere else puts your phone at a much higher risk of being hacked.
Update Your iPhone
While iPhones aren’t invulnerable to hackers, they are much safer than other phones due to the constant security updates released by Apple. As soon as Apple becomes aware of a security flaw or software bug, they’ll release an iOS update to patch it up.
Always ensure you’re running the latest iOS version to keep your phone secure.