Is My iPhone Compromised?

Question

Level 1

9 points

Is My iPhone Compromised?

I’ve noticed a lot recently that when I pick up my iPhone to use it, the green or orange dot will be showing at the top right of the screen and then go away a second or so later. I have removed app access for all apps in regards to my camera and microphone, but it still happens. It’s more often the orange microphone dot than the green camera one, and I wonder if that’s because I have my cameras covered anyway.

I figure if an app was doing the wrong thing then they wouldn’t know when I’m accessing my phone or not to catch them spying, right? And I’m careful about the apps I use, they’re all mainstream ones.

Basically, is this just a weird fluke or am I being hacked? I have a TrendMicro subscription and it’s on my phone but I’m not sure if it protects you from that sort of thing on your phone.

I’d really appreciate if someone could help me with this to give me peace of mind.

iPhone SE, iOS 14

Posted on Apr 16, 2021 5:41 AM

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Answer 1

deggie

Level 10

167,817 points

Apr 22, 2021 7:40 PM in response to Wengro

Did you forget about Face ID?

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Answer 2

deggie

Level 10

167,817 points

Apr 22, 2021 7:54 PM in response to Rori Tudor

If you used and app that used the camera and mic just prior to the phone going to sleep both will reappear briefly when you wake it up.

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Answer 3

MrHoffman

Level 10

157,641 points

Apr 23, 2021 3:12 PM in response to Wengro

Attention settings? Change Face ID and attention settings on iPhone - Apple Support

Last app using the camera is usually shown at the top of Control Panel.

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Answer 4

Apr 16, 2021 5:44 AM in response to Rori Tudor

No one can remotely hack your device.

Get rid of the A/V software. Your device doesn't need it.

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Answer 5

Wengro

Level 2

176 points

Apr 22, 2021 5:07 PM in response to Rori Tudor

I am having this same issue. The phone will be asleep and when I tap the screen to wake it I see the green dot indicating that the camera is in use. I immediately unlock my phone and swipe down Control Center to see what has used the camera recently and it never show anything. After about 5 seconds the green dot disappears. No apps on my phone are allowed access to my camera, and typically only Phone, Messages and Mail are open in the background. This has happened only a handful of times in the last year, but it makes me nervous. I have an iPhone XS running iOS 14.4.2.

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Answer 6

Rori Tudor Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 22, 2021 7:49 PM in response to Wengro

Yes this is what is happening to me as well. And regarding what Deggie said below, I’m on the 2020 iPhone SE, which does not have Face ID but rather Touch ID. So Face ID could be the issue for you, but it’s definitely not it for me. The similarities make me wonder though...

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Answer 7

Wengro

Level 2

176 points

Apr 22, 2021 9:37 PM in response to Wengro

Also, I have not used an app that used the mic or camera before I put it to sleep.

Actually, the last couple of times this happened I hadn’t touched my phone at all for at least a couple hours before checking it and seeing the green dot. And the only apps running on the phone were Phone, Messages and Mail.

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Answer 8

Wengro

Level 2

176 points

Apr 23, 2021 12:07 PM in response to deggie

I love typing digits to open my phone, much easier than using my face.

I can’t find any info anywhere, including from Apple that FaceTime may momentarily use my camera even when it is turned off - and has never even been set up on the device. If that were the case, shouldn’t they let us know? Especially if they’re giving us the green dot to be aware of what’s using the camera?

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Answer 9

Rori Tudor Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 22, 2021 8:13 PM in response to deggie

Ahh okay thank you for letting me know about that. From memory, that’s not been the case but I’ll keep it in mind if it happens again to see if that’s the problem.

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