iPhone hacked - text malware - need help

Back on 9/23 I received a fishing text message from an unknown contact number that also had a string of characters following the unknown phone number.


The text message included a *.text document attachement that now I know was informing me that my amazon account had been hacked and I needed to follow a link to resolve the issue.


Lately the amount of similar spam fishing malware has increase exponentially, so I just flag these messages and block them, at which point iOS takes them away, they dissapear and I never see them again. It is just annoying that I have to deal with this so frequently, but I discard them, no harm done. 


Fast forward to today, I switched network, I inserted my new SIM card, and I notice that the MMN multimedia text option from the iPhone disappeared. While fiddling with the settings on the phone, trying to figure out why I no longer had the toggle for MMN, I also noticed, that weird unknown contact number from 9/23, now was showing up as me under the iPhone text app.


The message app not longer showed my name and my number nor my photo as the primary owner contact, now it was that weird unknown number with a string of character.


I tried sending test text from my phone and to my phone, both test text worked, but they were followed by this weird string of characters that made no sense.


Conclusion, I think something has taken over my phone and I wish I could resolve this without having to wipe clean my phone and loose all my data.


Any help will be greatly appreciated.



[Image Edited by Moderator to Remove Personal Information]

Posted on Oct 11, 2022 10:06 AM

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Posted on Oct 11, 2022 11:31 AM

If you now have a new operator you must do this now, and also if you ever change your number


Settings, Messages, Turn off iMessage

Settings, Face Time, Turn off Face Time

Restart the phone.

Settings, Messages, Turn on iMessage, SMS, MMS

Settings, Messages, send & Receive, select your number which should now be there.

Settings, Face Time, Turn on Face Time

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18 replies

Oct 11, 2022 2:13 PM in response to Lokito

Settings  > General > VPN & Device Management. 

Ir on older iOS

Settings  > General > Profiles & Device Management. 

If there is a profile there, delete it.


Then look at what IdrisSeabright just suggested

and what I said about tapping the blue back arrow to get out of that message screen


Read all the replies not just the latest



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iPhone hacked - text malware - need help

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