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I've a friend who is worried that an ex-partner may have installed tracking / spying stuff on her iPhone.
What precautions should she take?
I'm going to suggest:
1) An audit of installed apps: look at everything installed and remove any not recognised. There's no scope for any hidden apps on a recent iPhone I assume?
2) Checking devices signed in to her apple account - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT205064
3) Checking devices signed in to her google account - https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3067630?hl=en
4) Checking WhatsApp for Linked Devices
Any other suggestions?
Check family settings?
With the caveat that I know nothing about iDevices, I'd suggest doing a full reset and setting it back up from scratch. It's the only way to be sure.
Change passwords on accounts, make sure there's a screen lock on the phone. Don't both Apple and Google have a "log out all devices" option?
Settings - General - Background App Refresh: turn off background app refresh access to EVERYTHING except stuff that you might actually want to run in the background while the screen's locked. Audio players, maps (e.g. Google Maps, for driving directions) and Strava are the only things on mine. Or at the top of the screen you can simply turn it off for all apps.
Same with Settings - Privacy & Security - Location Services: almost nothing needs access to your location all the time. Including many of the System Services (at the bottom of the page).
With the caveat that I know nothing about iDevices, I’d suggest doing a full reset and setting it back up from scratch. It’s the only way to be sure.
Not bad advice, but if you then sign back in to the same iCloud account you might find that things like device location sharing are still enabled.
Apple has a service designed for this, take a look at Safety Check.
Great advice thanks all.
I’d suggest doing a full reset and setting it back up from scratch. It’s the only way to be sure.
Agree this would be better but it's a lot of work. What to do about bank apps that make setting up a new device without the old one a pain?
Safety Check linked to above and then this for google https://myaccount.google.com/security-checkup (check the people and sharing on the left too) and you'll be blocking all the normal behaviours where you might inadvertently be sharing stuff with an ex partner. Of course she may want to check Insta/FB/SnapChat/Strava/Garmin etc for followers etc which might be unwelcome - the amount of stuff people post there is often enough that you don't need any creepy apps if you just want to know what/where someone is...
Safety Check isn't designed to hunt out rogue/spying apps, it's to check who you are sharing information with in the event that you e.g. were in a relationship with (and therefore purposefully sharing location info, etc) but then wanted to break all contact with that person.Apple has a service designed for this, take a look at Safety Check.
"Spying" apps aren't a thing on iOS (without jailbreaking - that's a vague possibility I suppose but I'm years out of the loop with that, no idea whether it's even possible these days - but either way an update to the latest iOS would wipe it out anyway) as they wouldn't be allowed on the App Store, and you can't side-load, although it is possible I guess that they could've loaded something like OwnTracks (which is designed to help keep track of family members). Even so, it can't be "hidden" - it (or anything similar) would have a page in settings that details exactly what information it can access & share.
Signing all devices out of iCloud, Google etc is a good shout (probably a link to do it automatically) and then change all passwords (ideally from iPhone as you know there's no possibility of key logger etc unlike with a PC. As a bonus you can use the iPhone secure password generator/manager - she should definitely be using this if she doesn't already, especially if there's a possibility that anyone knows any of her passwords - doubly so if she doesn't use unique passwords!)
Not iPhone specific but some modern cars can now be located with their respective apps, I haven't set it up properly but I'm meant to be able to locate my Vauxhall van. So consider other devices that might need clearing, and stuff stuch as sports apps (my Wahoo emails my wife a tracking link when I start a ride and doesn't remind me it's doing it)
Not iPhone specific but some modern cars can now be located with their respective apps
Should be able to find every device that's connected to the car with two or three clicks, and delete them. (might need to be in the car to delete a device other than the one you're logged in through).
It's part of the anti theft legislation.
She should also check she isn't being tracked by hidden airbags....
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-find-airtags/
There is an android app that allows you to scan for these if you are not iphone
Start a new iCloud account would be a fail proof method
I think the safety check is the best starting point. You will be able to see what is being shared to other people and other devices.
But also change all passwords including the Apple ID password and Google.
Doesn’t google (so gmail) have a way of showing where you’ve been? Ahh, just had a quick look, Location History it’s called.
https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6258979?hl=en-GB&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS&oco=0
I’m no expert by the way. Just did a quick bit of googling.
But this also came up in my search, a tad worrying if it’s genuine.
She should also check she isn’t being tracked by hidden airtags….
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-find-airtags/
/a>There is an android app that allows you to scan for these if you are not iphone
Only problem there is that there are other small, discrete tracking tags that Find My can’t see, they can only be seen by an app appropriate to the specific tracker, like Chipolo, Tile, Google; there’s at least one more I can’t remember the name of. I get Chipolo alerts whenever I leave home without certain items, but only because I have the app installed. The manufacturers of each of those haven’t yet announced any means for anyone being tracked by a stalker to determine if a tracker has been hidden on or in anything belonging to them. At least two of those companies were making their trackers before Apple released AirTags, and complained bitterly about Apple muscling in on their particular niche market.
Insert name of media bad guy encouraging stalking here …….. 🙄
Depending on how far they want to go, you can also back up the phone to a linux device and use Mobile Verifiction Toolkit ( https://docs.mvt.re/en/latest/) on it to check for traces of spyware (automatically) and other telltales (manually).
It has a straightforward installation guide (which assumes some technical competence), but does require you to have the phone's passcode if you want to do a full analysis. And time. You'll need time. It takes a while to do the more in-depth searching of messages and chat history if you are looking for malware or spyware telltales.
Change your passwords starting with the apple one.
Agree this would be better but it’s a lot of work.
It is very straightforward as all your information is saved in the cloud account, which may be the undoing of this.
Besides either she is bothered or she is not, it really isn’t much work and a guess a sign of how bothered she is
New iCloud account and start again.
She should also check she isn’t being tracked by hidden airbags….
Ah iPhone warns you a device is nearby.
Simple and effective way (but obviously an embuggerance), ditch the phone. Buy a Nokia burner and a payg sim, only use that when you want to protect your location. If one can’t bin the iPhone put the iPhone in a faraday bag when not being used / at a sensitive location - or don’t take it anywhere sensitive.
If one is worried about AirTags etc then you have to start sweeping cars and bags, but they also rely on some physical contact from stalker to deploy tag.
If really concerned, firstly speak to the police, Vary routes home and use simple anti & counter surveillance on journeys (on and off tubes/ buses, department stores with multiple exits, wandering slowly through lingerie section is an old favourite, etc), choke points, covert camera in home windows looking out on street etc.
Short term use lockdown mode in privacy & security settings. Then look at new SIM, turn off all account 2 factor authentication that the phone provides before resetting it and using the new SIM.
Lots of well-intentioned but frankly crazy advice here! There's no need to ditch the phone, new iCloud account etc - in fact these things won't even help if it's her Google account and/or email etc which have been compromised. There won't be any hidden spyware on the phone (unless it's years old and has not been updated for years in which case there's a tiny chance it's been jailbroken, but an update to the latest iOS would sort that). All you need is a trusted friend who actually understands iOS to go through the Apps/settings (which are plainly visible) on the phone to check there's nothing untoward. If you don't know anyone like that then book an Apple Genius appointment & explain the situation, I'm sure they will help you do it. Then just new/unique/strong passwords all round.
Lots of well-intentioned but frankly crazy advice here!
Nothing crazy about changing the number if there's a stalking risk. Speaking as a father that has had to assist a daughter escape an abusive marriage one cannot take too much care.
! There’s no need to ditch the phone, new iCloud account etc – in fact these things won’t even help if it’s her Google account and/or email etc which have been compromised
It will if you read the bit I wrote
Buy a Nokia burner and a payg sim
Simple dumb phone, no email or google accounts, just make calls, receive calls, up to the victim to decide if it’s a valid risk mitigation measure for them. If I go somewhere I don’t want to be tracked the smart phones get left at home, it’s an easy win.
of course. The question asked by the OP was specifically about securing an iPhone though, so that’s all I was talking about. Btw The number’s only tied to the SIM for PAYG phones anyway. If you’re on a contract & want to change your number just speak to your provider. Quicker & easier.Nothing crazy about changing the number if there’s a stalking risk.
sure, it’s just not necessary with an iPhone though provided you actually know how to use it. They’re secure.It will if you read the bit I wrote
bit odd, but whatever you get up to in your private life that has this requirement is none of my business 😂If I go somewhere I don’t want to be tracked the smart phones get left at home, it’s an easy win.