How to Find Spyware on iPhone Within Minutes

Thanks to this guide you will be able to find and remove spyware on iPhone (iOS 15 updated).

But wait, there’s more. 

In fact I won’t just – as most of the websites you can find on Google do – tell you how to recognize red flags for installed spyware on your device, but I’ll share with you a surefire technique I’ve developed over the years to detect spyware on an iPhone: the Hansel and Gretel Method. 

I will also explain you how to get rid of spyware and clean your iPhone (or iPad) even without using antivirus or other paid software.

Hello! my name is Frankie. If this is the first time you came to my blog let me introduce myself: I’m an expert in messaging apps and for several years I’ve been studying and practicing a variety of ethical hacking techniques for chat apps and mobile phones.

But back to us. 

I should tell you that I understand your state of mind right now. Your phone is a digital copy of your life through photos, videos, and messages. If someone can access this information, you can feel exposed and vulnerable.

I hate that feeling.

It is even worse when the person spying on your iPhone isn’t a classic hacker who wants to steal credit card details or somebody who wants to find out more about the inner workings of your business. It cuts deepest, when it is someone that should trust you more like a partner.

Let’s not waste any time.

Enjoy the read.

Is Someone Spying on Your iPhone? Try the Hansel and Gretel Method

Frankie, what do Hansel and Gretel have to do with any of this??

Sure, it might seem like a silly name to give an investigative tool, but it was the first thing that came to mind when I thought of traces left behind by spy apps used on iPhones.

Much like Hansel and Gretel, who left tiny pebbles or breadcrumbs on the way through the forest to mark and return their way home, spyware can leave little clues inside of your iPhone as well.

Identifying these clues is very important to discover if there is spyware on your phone at all.

But enough talk about this let’s find out how to discover the clues.

I have listed these clues in order of importance, from the least obvious to ones where you might need to pay closer attention.

1. Your Battery is Overheating

While this typically applies to older generations of spyware, it is still worth mentioning.

An overheating iPhone could be caused by spyware. In fact, spyware constantly runs and causes batteries to warm excessively, and increases their consumption.

Frankie’s Take:

This is not the most accurate of clues. An overheating battery on the iPhone, can be caused by a lot of things. Many more feasible causes of this situation involve app updates, heavy use apps, and iOS updates.

2. Abnormal Consumption of Battery

Another noticeable clue is the reduction in the battery’s performance on your phone.

Allow me to explain.

Some of the spyware apps, especially ones that are less advanced, are constantly open in the background. Therefore, they consume your battery quickly.

One thing that you can do is to check the lists of apps that require more power to function. By going to your Settings and then Battery, wait a few seconds for your app list to load and see if you identify any suspicious apps.

Frankie’s Take:

It is important to note that this method might not indicate a spy app. As I’ve said, some of these methods do not leave any breadcrumbs. Flexispy, Spyzie, and mSpy all have such solid construction that they do not impact your battery consumption at all.

3. Higher Consumption of Data Traffic

Still another clue to consider is an uptick in data usage. Spyware often requires a steady connection to report key stokes or information back to its controlling interface. Constant connections can lead to higher data traffic.

Checking the amount of data used by installed apps is easy to do, just go to Settings > Mobile Data. Scroll until you find a list of apps that are using mobile data.

Frankie’s Take:

I might suggest that you download a free app called My Data Manager VPN Security. The app protects your information with VPN technology, which encrypts unprotected data. The software also tracks data usage for all apps installed, increasing your security on the device.

4. Has a Jailbreak Happened?

Jailbreaking allows users to gain access to many of the ‘secret settings’ on their iPhones. In simpler terms, it removes some of the software blocks standard to Apple devices.

Running a jailbreak program is not easy or even something that is within everyone’s understanding to accomplish. There are several programs that can help with this process, though. To employ a spying technique, someone could take your phone, connect it to a PC or Mac, and install an application called Cydia.

It is worth noting that it is possible to hide Cydia from the phone’s home screen, but it cannot get removed from the list of all installed apps. Go to Settings, and scroll until you see the app list to access.

If Jailbreak was performed on your phone without your knowledge, I would suggest worrying. This is a clear sign someone has tried, or worse yet succeeded, in hacking into personal iPhone information.

Jailbreaking is not something that can happen remotely, so the culprit in this case would need to be someone close with access.

As we say where I’m from: the relatives.

Deactivating this jailbreak is often as simple as formatting your iPhone and resetting it to factory defaults.

Frankie’s Take:

Apps like mSpy do not need to run jailbreaks because they access iCloud backup data. If you believe you have been affected by a hacking attempt, I would suggest changing your iCloud password and tell no one about it.

5. Apple ID Login Requests

Requests for access to your Apple ID should be a blatant red flag that something is amiss.

If someone attempts to connect to the Apple ID from a new device or a different location in the world than you normally do, you will get a notification that an attempt was made to access your information.

When this is not you, always click Don’t Allow. 99% of the time this is someone attempting to access your iCloud backup. Spyware like mSpy uses your iCloud backup, so denying this access can prevent this spying software from accessing your information.

Frankie’s Take:

Really pay attention to Apple ID access requests. This is the most efficient method for preventing attacks and information access to your iCloud.

How Can You Remove Spyware Apps from Your iPhone?

With your good sense and the information that I have just given you, you should be able to tell if someone is spying on your iPhone or not.

You are probably still wondering:

How do I remove this spyware from my phone, Frankie?

You need not worry – I have put together 5 approaches for you to clean up your iPhone and remove all traces of spyware from your device.

Allow me to show you these one by one.

1. Use Antimalware Programs

You feeling okay, Frankie? Antimalware programs for iPhone don’t exist!

Actually, they do my friends. I was speechless when I first learned about it too.

Personally, I would recommend you checking out Avira Mobile Security. Premium is only $2 for a year, and it is well worth the prices. For the price of a coffee you can better protect your iPhone for the whole year.

There are other anti-malware applications that can help as well, products from Norton, McAfee, and Lookout Mobile that can offer comparable security. These are a little pricier than Avira, but equally as helpful.

Frankie’s Take:

No matter what spyware exists on your phone, adding some protection is never a bad idea. You can protect your phone from new installations of hazardous apps or hacking attacks, adding more privacy and security.

2. Change Your iCloud Password

Why didn’t I think of that?

Ok yes, I imagine changing your password is not exactly new information, but it can help.

I know it might seem a bit trivial, but every often it is the most direct path to preventing spyware hacking. As I mentioned before, some spyware software targets your iCloud account to steal information.

If you change the password for iCloud, you can prevent any spyware app from accessing it.

Frankie’s Take:

Even without the threat of spy apps, it is smart to change up your iCloud password twice a year.

3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Say what now Frankie? What the heck is that?

Hey now, its okay. Let me explain. With iOS 13, two-factor authentication is automatically enabled and unable to get turned off. This decision protects customers from spyware and hackers attempting to steal any data.

To better explain what 2FA is and how it works, I have made a video. Take a look for more information.

If someone is trying to put a spy app on your iCloud account, you will likely be required to enter an unlock code to grant access.

Do you remember doing this at any time? Have you ever encountered a screen that looked like this?

If you entered this code somewhere, or gave it to someone, you probably gave them permission to install spyware programs through iCloud.

Don’t kick yourself, though. You didn’t know and millions of people have fallen into this trap.

Frankie’s Take:

Even with two-factor authentication running, you are not completely safe from spyware. mSpy is one of the most widely used programs and has invented a way to work around this block. Have a look at this guide for more information.

4. Factory Reset Your iPhone to Default Settings

But wait – that’s SO time consuming and there is the chance I’ll lose my photos and messages!

You’re right, it is very frustrating to have to choose this route. If the other options fail, though, this might be your last resort.

Factory resetting your iPhone is the only effective way to disable all the spyware – whether it is a hidden monitoring app on the device or software for iCloud Backup attacks.

Before you do this, you should perform a backup of the phone so that you do not lose messages, photos, vital emails, and more.

To perform the reset, you can go to Settings > General > Reset

Frankie’s Take:

It is the least desirable route, but it does ensure that you take care of the issue 100%. Even top spyware software like mSpy or Flexispy cannot stand a chance against this method.

Oh Frankie, you always have the answer for everything! Thanks!

Don’t make me blush. Honestly though, it wasn’t easy to find software that is capable of disabling spyware (that actually worked anyway) that people could afford.

In the end (after substantial research and consultations with industry experts) I have discovered Certo Software.

Within minutes, the software can identify existing spyware and remove that spyware without needing to completely reset your phone. So I will save you the time and help you to avoid risking the loss of valuable items and conversations on your phone by suggesting this software.

It isn’t without its own costs, however. It is just under $50. This allows you to:

• check if jailbreak has occurred on your phone
• check which apps have what permissions
• detect any spyware that might be present
• identify what software might be tracking apps

Frankie’s Take:

I can easily say that this is the best spyware detection software available for the iPhone, and it can help you to eliminate any malicious apps with just a few clicks.

Most Commonly Used Spyware in 2022 for iPhones – Learn Them to Defend Yourself

Have you ever heard of Sun Tzu? He was a famous Chinese general and a philosophy expert on war strategies. One of his most famous works was “The Art of War” which was a collection of military strategies that is still studied today.

According to this famous general, the first step in winning any war is knowing your enemy.

For this very reason, I’m going to stress the importance of learning iPhone spyware used today so you can better prepare for the damage they might do.

Types of iPhone Spyware

Spyware can behave in different ways based on its reason for getting created or distributed. Here are some of the most common techniques:

1. Hidden Monitoring – This is among the most common type of spyware. These apps are hidden and installed to the iPhone most often after it has been jailbroken. Jailbreaking, is a procedure that unlocks the iPhone and removes restrictions that have been imposed by Apple developers. This type of software it can be very difficult to detect.
2. iCloud Backup Attacks – This is very sneaky spyware. It’s not even an app that runs on your iPhone, but rather a piece of software that connects to an iCloud account. This makes a backup copy of your information. In this way, people who want to spy on you can access a lot of information including WhatsApp conversations, emails, text messages, search history, photo gallery images, and more. Even more troublesome, is that it leaves no trace of its presence on your iPhone.
3. Masque Attack – Because this spyware is a little outdated, it is fortunately rarely used anymore. You need to have good IT skills to accomplish it. This attack works by replacing an existing app, for example the weather, with a slightly modified version that contains a spyware code. This seemingly innocent app can now acquire private information from your device and send it back to the hacker.

Frankie’s Take:

There are also other types of spyware that you might encounter, such as keyloggers, but they are rarely used anymore as well. Right now, most of the spyware attacks are made with hidden monitoring apps or designed to attack your iCloud account.

3 Most Used Spyware Programs for an iPhone

Now that you have a better understanding of what we’ve been talking about, I can show you the three most commonly used spyware programs in the world designed to affect iPhones.

mSpy

First, is mSpy. This is the most popular and best working espionage app to date. I would, myself, recommend it in my blog to all parents who want to keep a very close eye on the smartphones of their children.

mSpy can be installed to a device in two ways:

• Remotely, presuming that you have access to the iCloud. It has limited functions (using the iCloud Backup Attack method)
• By performing a jailbreak, which means that you will need access to a victim’s phone. this provides the full access to all features of the iPhone which mimics the hidden monitoring app technique.

The full version of this software let you monitor conversations from Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, texts, and even monitor calls made and received, GPS, installed apps, and more.

The person who installed the spyware has access to a dashboard that continually monitors everything happening on your iPhone. No matter where in the world you might be, you can continue to transmit information to this dashboard via an active internet connection.

Flexispy

2nd place goes to Flexispy. This application is widely known and therefore widely used. Unlike mSpy, this app does not have the possibility of remote installation. You must perform a jailbreak on the iPhone to install it.

Fortunately, jailbreaking is not something that everyone can do. So, this limits the use of spyware like this app very much.

In order to solve the problem, and make life easier for those who want to spy on you, the Flexispy team sells iPhones with the app already installed and the phone already jailbroken.

Much like mSpy, this service monitors messaging apps, email, GPS locations, and incoming and outgoing calls.

All you have to do is access the Flexispy Control Panel to gain access to all the information that you seek from a victim’s cellphone.

Spyzie

In third place you have Spyzie. It is newer than the aforementioned options, but it has already become incredibly popular.

Much like mSpy, you can install this remotely – as long as you know the access data for the iCloud account.

You cannot monitor everything with this app, but it does allow you to spy on WhatsApp, Line, iMessage, incoming/outgoing calls, browser histories, and more.

Much like the other apps, the hacker has a dashboard set up to monitor all new information coming in.

Frankie’s Take:

There are no shortages of other options to spy on iPhones, including Mobile-Tracker, FoneMonitor, Spyera, SpyBubble, PhoneSpector, and others. The three that I mentioned are the most popular and user-friendly of all. They only cost a few dollars, as well. One thing that will leave you speechless, is that in most cases, software is 100% legal! No, I am not drunk or high haha. You heard me right! Software like this is sold to help parents monitor their children’s mobile phones, and protect them from the dangers they may face on the web. This may include pedophilia, cyberbullying, and access to sites forbidden to children under 18.

Conclusions

This certainly feels like the end of a long journey, and I hope that I haven’t bored you with all the information that I’ve provided. I can trust that this information was helpful (as my articles have helped more than 100K readers annually on my blog). This is very satisfying news for me and validating to what information I like to share.

Before we officially say goodbye, I would like to give a quick recap of what I’ve explained during this article to ensure that you haven’t missed anything important.

In the first part of the guide, I showed you the Hansel and Gretel Method. This taught you to recognize the traces, or breadcrumbs, left by spyware on your iPhone.

I then listed five ways to delete all kinds of spyware from your iPhone. Let me quickly recap these:

• you can use anti-malware software
• you can change your iCloud password
• you can activate two factor authentication
• you can restore your iPhone to factory settings
• you can use Certo Software (I consider this to be the best option)

Finally, I showed you the types of spyware that you might encounter. It was important to learn how they worked, and which ones are used most frequently, to avoid being spied on.

Remember, in most cases is your partner or someone that is close to you who spying on your device. You should always work to keep your iPhone safe from prying eyes, and never leave it unattended. Change your unlock code several times a year, and do not blindly trust anyone!

If you have any questions or comments, you can feel free to use the form below or you can contact me via my Instagram profile. I will happily answer any of your questions as soon as I am able to.

Best of luck!

Thank you for visiting my blog, a big hug for everyone

Frankie Caruso

PS –  You can also check out and subscribe to my YouTube channel where I share video tips on iPhone, spyware and messaging apps.