Spyware?

Hi

No problem, glad to help. Connect your phone to your computer with the cable, launch iTunes, and when it appears in the device list, click Restore on the right-hand side. It will connect to Apple's servers and download/install the official latest firmware version. This will wipe out all apps and data (make sure you have backups if need be), including undoing jailbreaking, and removing any apps which have been added after jailbreaking.

Matt

And, for completeness, probably lock you phone to whichever carrier the original hacker favoured....

I have an iPhone 4S. My ex-boyfriend subscribed to a monthly "spyware": he could read my tests, monitor my phone calls and view my Yahoo Messenger chats. My iPhone is NOT jailbroken. I called my wireless subscriber and the only thing they suggested was to change my phone #. If you google "cheating spouses" all types of spyware is listed. How can I prevent myself from this?

Katie456 - How did you find out that your ex did this?

Spyware is very easily accessible and requires nothing from the Apple store, and although I realize some of these posts are several years old-at this point, it is simply misinformation. All one needs is a similar program to the one in the link above and not only can your sms messages be accessed, your calls be intercepted and recorded, but the camera in your phone can be remotely accessed and activated at any given time without your knowledge. As you tap away on your handy little iPhone you love so much, in whatever possibly "compromising" or embarrassing position you may be in at the time, a creeper can be looking you straight in your face or observing your enviornement at their leisure. Imagine the horror in finding out that you were sitting there on the toilet gaming and someone was watching you the whole time or better yet, while you were involved in an intimate interaction while your phone sat charging on a dock on the nightstand next to the bed? How about knowing that every incoming and outgoing communication is recorded and documented for the creep to scroll and read through like a book?

This is some scary stuff, and it's been used on me via an encrypted picture message. I've done a full restore of my iPhone and the pc used for backing up via iTunes to ensure that the spyware wasn't then rooted into the pc or the iTunes, and was even told to create an etirely new Apple ID, but aside from this and there being no true scanning software for malware, spyware or viruses for the iPhone-how can I be sure that this encrypted software has truly been eradicated? Is there an antiviral program that I am unware of? I'm not looking for a secure AVG browser, I'm looking for a detect and destroy scanner program.

<Link Edited By Host>

NoDumbBlonde - none of the programs you mention can access a non-jailbroken phone. This was true two years ago when this thread started, it's still true now.

If you don't want your phone to be vulnerable to hacking, don't jailbreak it.

Matt

Certainly, it won't work on a non-jailbroken phone, but I doubt it works on a jailbroken phone, or even Android.

This video appears to be a trick to get you to download and run this program, which is almost certainly a (computer) virus or spyware in itself.

The link was not the specific program that was used. I'm not asking a question of if I was hacked, I'm asking how to ensure I've eradicated the encrypted software. There are no assumptions involved, it is a fact that the software was used on both my android and my iPhone (which I only bought because I fell hook line and sinker for similar lines I was fed by the instore techies after I realized my android had been hacked, though I glad i jumped on the bandwagon as Apple is definitely the way to go). I was hacked, a program was used, and messages, calls, pictures and videos were most definitely stumbled upon and discovered while doing some snooping of my own; only, since I was reeling at the time, I didn't happen to write down the name of the program on a post-it so I scoured the internet myself for similar software in attempt at finding it and this was the closest thing to what I saw with my own eyes.

I'm not here to scaremonger or ruffle feathers for that matter, I'm here for legitimate advice from someone who is educated as to the current programs scouring the internet that enable one to stalk another.

Again. If your phone is not jailbroken. It was not "hacked".

If your phone was jailbroken the only thing we can advise is to put your phone in DFU mode and restore it.

I would like to know if you have resolved your hacking issue with your iPhone?
I feel I have the same issue by a Psycho X who has produced some of my text messages.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Nothing has changed over the past few months. If you iPhone is not jailbroken then he does not have spyware on it. If he knows your AppleID and password he could be reading your iMessages.

Change your AppleID password then turn iMessage off and back on and enter the new password.

If you do think he physically got hold of your iPhone for at least 30 minutes with access to a computer and jailbroke it: Put the phone in DFU mode (Google it for YouTube videos on how to do it), connect it to your computer and Restore it as a new iPhone.

The majority of these programs can be installed on your iPhone that someone else jailbreaks and then hides all traces of having ever done the jailbreak meaning you are being spied on and have a jailbroken device and do not even know it. Even if you then restore it they can just get the phone again, rejailbreak, re-install etc., etc. Having a passcode lock on your phone is no safety measure either, entirely, seeing as Apple always seems to have issues with one iOS version or another and a bug allowing to easily bypass the passcode locks in a few button presses.

However please understand that software of this nature, that works, requires human intervention to be installed, i.e. someone has to physically have your phone. No phone can be spied on remotely in any way, despite what websites may say to get you to part with your money, and if you believe such scams, or even try them, then, unfortunately, it says more about you than you may like to admit.

Spying on phones is not like on TV or in movies, it is not as easy either but, if someone has your phone for about 20 minutes and full access to it, then it can be done with guaranteed results and utter effectiveness. I did some research on this, one vendor, mSpy, does software like this but it messes up your phone once they install it on to a jailbroken iPhone or rooted Android and you can easily detect it because of that (but Mspy will never admit this).

To my knowledge, and though using a free 24 hour trial from FlexiSPY's blog, it is still only FlexiSPY, who, whilst may not provide as many features as competitors such as Mspy, definitely allows for someone to spy on your phone effectively and without user knowledge - but again, nothing can be installed remotely.

Hi Ianwuk,

Finally, someone who speaks truth. Except you are not updated on one thing. Spyware can be installed via bluetooth. Google it to confirm. Pretty easy to find out.

Not sure why so many people are in denial about the ease of being spyed on..... guess it it too hard to accept that someone may know your every move. But that is part of the digital world we live in. My ex used it to stalk me for years. Someday I will write a book on it and tell you all about it. It happens to be a very effective divorce tool.... where you will almost trade anything to get some sense of privicy and safety. But, control freaks may or may not stop. They get obsessed.

The latest spyware on my phone was installed at an exchange of the kids via bluetooth. It was a blackberry. Gotta admit, that one had me stumped. I have an iphone now. It feels more secure. I don't use bluetooth too often anymore.

Want to know the best part? Half of you who read this will think I am crazy. That is how the game works. Not only will people get electonically violated... the people around them will doubt that this is happening (because they want to stay naive) so the get looked at and treated like they are crazy/paranoid. Double whammy.

If you want to stay safe change your phone often or have it restored to factory settings every once and awhile.

At the very least, that will keep the stalker busy finding ways to reinstall.

Hello Speakinout.

I have to admit that Bluetooth methods for spying on mobile phones are usually scams. This is because a Bluetooth signal depends on signal strength and being in close proximity to the Target device to get the Bluetooth signal and get the data from it to your own phone or online account. In fact many bogus companies use Bluetooth as the way to install their spy software, people fall for it because it sounds so easy, they take the money and run.

Bluetooth technology itself has always been hit and miss in terms of its own function, let alone spying on others which is why it is not a viable method to spy on other people. Spying on people's phones actually requires a lot of effort by the person doing the spying. If the phone is locked and they do not have the passcode or it is not compatible (cannot be jailbroken or rooted or running an incompatible OS version) then you are completely safe.

You may be interested to know that the majority of working spyphone software requires human intervention from the other party to install it on to the Target device. Nothing can be done remotely or through Bluetooth or like you see on TV or in movies, that is all BS but people seem to believe it.

The site below may be of interest to you. It seems that someone at last is critiquing spy software and laying it out for what it really is for the world to see (if only more people read this information!). Take a look at the summary for each competitor as well as the full report which is in HTML. It seems that, for once, if you really want to know about spyphone software that this is the place to go.

http://www.spyphonereview.com/

For example the complete MSpy report is here for anyone who wishes to read it:

http://www.spyphonereview.com/mspy-review-android.htm

I say give these guys credit. So far all I found up until now were fake reviews of spy software about how great it was and how it saved the world (you get the idea) and for once I wanted to read something factual. Spy phone software is such a grey area and so many people are misinformed that it is sometimes good to learn how this so-called 'spyware' can actually be used in a positive way such as parents monitoring children, employers monitoring employees etc.

More people need to understand the follwoing:

'spyware' - software installed on to a computer or device with malicious intent without human intervention

'spy phone software' - software installed on to the other person's phone physically by the person who wants to monitor or spy on the other person. It may or may not be used malicioulsy based on the person installing it.

Thanks for replying and stay safe!

ianwuk

Wow! I can't believe there's actually someone out there that's going thru the same thing I'm going thru. My soon to be X is and has been spying on me for over a year and just NOW my family and friends are seeing it. I was getting to the point where I felt I couldn't even tell them anymore because it just sounded so far out there. I've been married for 25 years and never really worked so he's trying to find anything he can to lower my support or just plain old destroy me. I have an iPhone and it has not been jailbroke but some how he knows EVERYTHING! I do understand that spyware CAN NOT be installed, however can he be placing my info in his iCloud? On a particular day I lost several text messages got a strange text message from an unknown deliver and also under usage, then data, read... 41 days 19 hours. When I went to the Genius Bar at Apple, they informed me this meant my phone had been running for 41 days and 19 hours as if I had been talking nonstop for this length of time. When I counted back on my calendar 42 days it was the exact same day that I had lost the text messages and received the strange text does anyone know what this could mean? I am scared to death and have already told my Attorney and gone to the police with no luck. Any help would be greatly appreciated.