How to remove unknown VPN profile and ensure security on iPhone?

I opened my iphone today and i saw that i was inside the Safari app in an empty tab at the top of my hundreds of tabs, not at the bottom where new tabs usually go.


I got suspicious and went to my VPN Management in settings out of paranoia and i found this installed, which i clearly did not have a 1-3 days ago because i regularly check on it out of paranoia too.


i realised i didn’t update the newest software update, so i updated the IOS software then:


Restarted the Iphone


Checked the Certificate Trust Settings


Changed ALL my passwords


Cleared History and Website data on Safari + Closed all tabs


Cleared Cookies, Site Data, and closed all tabs on Chrome


Double checked whether the profile is there


Reset Network Settings


Restarted my Iphone again


Changed my Passcode


Here is the screenshot of the VPN profile, in my state of surprise, i didn’t notice the “More Details” and removed the profile before checking what was in “More Details” unfortunately.



Do i need to factory reset the Iphone? Or am i good?


If i do have to factory reset, how do i do it and retain my photos? Won’t uploading everything to Icloud just be moving the malicious settings onto the Icloud and then moving them back onto my phone?


Thank you



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Posted on May 28, 2025 10:08 AM

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8 replies

May 28, 2025 5:50 PM in response to IbexCaprice

I did a Google Search on PMSIM.


You didn't install MDM on your phone. I was just asking if you might have. They can be required by an employer or a school. But you evidently did install a VPN. I can't guess or know how you did, but they don't install on their own.


On the screenshot you posted it shows you can remove it and that's what you should do.

May 28, 2025 11:08 AM in response to IbexCaprice

All I can find on PMSIM is it is Shareware, which typically it is offered free on a trial basis. How you got it, we would have no clue. You could have clicked on a link from a website. You could have accidentally clicked on a link in a text message. Do you by chance have any tools on your phone to clean your phone? They often include a VPN. Otherwise, I'd remove it and be done with it.

May 28, 2025 5:30 PM in response to lobsterghost1

Just out of curiosity, how do you know that PMSIM is a shareware?


I didn’t open any SMS messages recently, I also don’t have any tools that clean my IPhone or recently downloaded apps.


The only thing of note is that I read manhwa on a widely used scanslation site with many ads. However i read it on my other IPhone as well and haven’t seen an MDM installation on it.


But realistically, is it possible for me to have allowed an MDM installation without noticing when all I’m doing is closing tabs that redirect me to ads and closing ads on the website itself?


Or would it be more likely that someone who had recently visited my home had installed it if they knew my passcode?


Also, what does this MDM do exactly? It says


<As per the screenshot in my original post>

Content:

Mobile Settings

Consent Notice


What does that say about what it could have done/been doing as well as what I should look out for?

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How to remove unknown VPN profile and ensure security on iPhone?

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