The message popped up when I went into Safari, that my iPhone has been hacked. Hacker is tracking you! I am supposed to go to the ap store and download a “Protect Connection” and follow the instructions. This is supposed to repair your iPhone.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: safari on my iphone pro max 16 is saying that I my iphone has been hacked, is this real?
iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 18
That's a scam. Your iPhone is not hacked. Nothing has been damaged. Dismiss the page. Don't download anything.
Read Phony "tech support" / "ransomware" popups and web pages - Apple Community.
More: Viruses, Trojans, and Worms! Oh My!
The words, pictures, threats, and scare tactics change but the scammer's motivations remain the same: You have an iPhone. You have money, they want it, and that's the end of it.
That's a scam. Your iPhone is not hacked. Nothing has been damaged. Dismiss the page. Don't download anything.
Read Phony "tech support" / "ransomware" popups and web pages - Apple Community.
More: Viruses, Trojans, and Worms! Oh My!
The words, pictures, threats, and scare tactics change but the scammer's motivations remain the same: You have an iPhone. You have money, they want it, and that's the end of it.
There is no possible way an Apple device could be hacked from a website.
The risk you mentioned has to do with entering your username and password into a scammer’s fake website to prevent account takeover and financial fraud.
If you follow the suspicious message and download their app, then you are allowing the scammer to scam you (or make you believe that you’ve been hacked).
Stay safe by ignoring, reporting and deleting suspicious emails and phone calls and avoiding suspicious websites completely.
NOTE:
I researched "Protect Connection" and it appears to be a VPN (most likely to capture your website credentials) so they can execute an account takeover and financial fraud.
All the best! 👋🏼😉
Suspicious 'Protect Connection' message in Safari on iPhone 16 Pro Max
