Spyware on iPhone

Someone had access to my iPhone for about 5 minutes. Would they be able to put spyware or tracking on it without me seeing it?


iPhone SE, iOS 15

Posted on Nov 7, 2022 8:31 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 7, 2022 8:34 AM

Not likely in only 5 minutes. Use the search and look for the app “cydia” - if it isn’t on the phone your phone probably hasn’t been hacked.


But if you have any doubts, or just for reassurance, restore the phone to factory settings, then restore a backup made before the incident happened.


  1. Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support - follow the instructions to restore using your computer, do not using Settings/General/Reset
  2. Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support


4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 7, 2022 8:34 AM in response to K117B

Not likely in only 5 minutes. Use the search and look for the app “cydia” - if it isn’t on the phone your phone probably hasn’t been hacked.


But if you have any doubts, or just for reassurance, restore the phone to factory settings, then restore a backup made before the incident happened.


  1. Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support - follow the instructions to restore using your computer, do not using Settings/General/Reset
  2. Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support


Nov 7, 2022 8:52 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

When I search, Cydia doesn’t come up thankfully.


Does downloading Cydia require that the phone is hooked up to a computer since it’s not in the App Store? I don’t think my phone was moved.


I’m assuming that if other tracking apps were downloaded, it would show up in my purchased apps in the app store.


Thank you for your help. Trying to avoid a factory reset or restore!



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Spyware on iPhone

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