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Can the iPhone5 be hacked remotely by a hacker?

I work for a technology company and one of our employees shared an incident about her iPhone5 being hacked remotely. The hacker gained access to her device overnight while her phone was unlocked. The hacker watched her baby monitor video feed from the baby monitoring app (including taking pictures and video from the device), posted about the baby to her FB account, browsed on Safari, including some searches of French books on amazon and Scott Trading sites. When I spoke with the mobile device team, they were not familiar with any iOS security gaps that would allow a hacker to remotely gain control of an iPhone, however, the activities on her device suggest that this is possible.


I found some articles from 2009 regarding a SMS virus that allowed hackers to gain remote access to a device, however, our mobile device team is certain that this gap would be closed by now.


Is anyone familiar with an existing security gap on the iPhone5? What would you recommend would be the next action for her? She is intending to delete her icloud account, change all her passwords and wipe her device.

iPhone 5, iOS 6.1.1

Posted on Mar 19, 2013 1:23 PM

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Posted on Apr 23, 2016 1:37 PM

I have read all of these comments and the ones that claim your iPhone can't be hacked are delusional. I watched both my and my daughter's iPhones (5 and 5s) operate themselves. No cables were attached. Whoever was controlling the phone was opening apps, trying to download music, etc. and was also able to prevent me from getting to Settings or turn off the phone. I spent 20 minutes playing games and finally had to do a hard reset then quickly erase the phone. Was probably malware from an app that was downloaded, who knows, but to assert that it was a bad cable or anything else is just nonsense. I would rather be informed and alert than lulled into some false sense of security.

252 replies

Dec 10, 2017 1:47 AM in response to AreUKiddinMe

I totally believe you because my hacker took over my phone 2 years ago, still has control also of my computers plus he STALKS ME and the sheriffs dept is useless. They don’t believe me and this creep is a coward so he won’t take a chance on getting caught, it all started on Facebook and a scam he is running! Hide ur friends list because that is what him and.

His friends do thousands of fake profiles in ur name and all ur friends.

Dec 10, 2017 6:18 AM in response to Madmax64

Madmax64 wrote:


Every day I change passwords and have to check what is storing my input because of my ex. Plus the Police are allowed to just login if they have your email address they don't need a password. If the person hacking knows a sympathetic stupid policeman then bobs your uncle.

More nonsense. the police are just people, people need passwords.

Dec 10, 2017 8:45 AM in response to Madmax64

Madmax64 wrote:


They are hackers my friend a password is nothing your phone stores your password even if you ask it not to Google stores it chrome stores it. Even if you know how to do that your back up and restore application stores your passwords you have no idea how clever hackers are.

Clearly you have no idea about what you say.


Have a nice day.

Dec 12, 2017 3:12 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Hackers are capable of remote accessing ANY smart device if they can access your home network. The LAN utility on smart TVs is a good way to access everything on every device on that network. By default, LAN is turned on on every smart tv sold. Passwords are futile and the authorities useless. Remotely accessing a device is child’s play for an experienced hacker. That is the bottom line. I couldn’t believe it when I was going through being hacked, but know it happens frequently.

Dec 12, 2017 3:37 AM in response to Comet.24206

Thank you! You are the first to say that to me! This creep lives across the street from me and stole my set of keys, comes in my house when no one is home and knows our strict schedule. The creep waits every nite until my husband is asleep and just torments me, flashing lights in my house, things you wouldn’t believe and I think he iis getting ready to hurt me or worse and nobody will believe me! If I could prove he hacked my phone maybe someone would listen to me and help me, one deputy asked if I had had a Checkup lately insinuating I was crazy and another one night I called police I got hysterone asked if I was hormonal! It got so bad

Dec 12, 2017 4:03 AM in response to Jodiproblems1

Everyone will think you’re crazy. Apple knows what’s going on, but will not acknowledge that there’s a problem. It’s not in their best interest. Police haven’t got a clue. I recommend having a plan to protect yourself if things escalate. As far as Apple...what goes around comes around. Sure they’re very polite, but they DO nothing. I hope they fall flat on their face as a company.

Dec 12, 2017 6:45 AM in response to Comet.24206

Not as smart as actual hackers but I doubt you are as well. I like to think I'm smarter than script-kiddies and I do have several computer certifications as well and one of which is Network security. I also work with a data forensics firm, and I have an MSCE so I'm not what you would call an Apple fanboy/cheerleader. So If you can't support you claims in a discussion which you willingly decided to engage in outside of


Comet.24206 wrote:

... I’m done with you.

then these claims of yours have absolutely no legitimacy whatsoever.

Dec 12, 2017 6:53 AM in response to Comet.24206

Comet.24206 wrote:


You are not as smart as the hackers. I know what happened and it’s way over your head. Look into Comodo RSA Certificate. Apple accesses my computer all of the time. You’re telling me no one else in the world can do that? I’m done with you.

Show even one piece of proof for your story, just one. Until you do it is just one more conspiracy theory.

Dec 12, 2017 7:13 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

Okay, my bad. Apple can not only remotely access devices, but they can “take away“ certain utilities if misused. No way am I as smart as the hacker, but I would venture to say that hackers find a way. Let’s do a thought experimen. Suppose an Apple employee engages in illegal internet fraud. Furthermore, there are hours of screen recordings on a device. I believe they could delete evidence. It’s a possibility, right? Just look at analytic data. If Apple has such abundant data about your device, hackers can do the same..in my opinion and experience. I turned on my Mac one day and it began deleting files immediately. With an iPhone 6+ I recorded my screen. Then, I removed the SIM card from the phone and ran down the battery. When I tried to access the video, it was in an unrecognizable format.

Jan 18, 2018 10:52 AM in response to suzanne3382

I've been having similar issues, but it only happens in very specific circumstances. I have to be in a geographic spot (or building) where the cellular reception is poor (1 bar) and no Wi-Fi signal. The Wi-Fi has to be toggled-on on the phone. Once I turn Wi-Fi off, it stops happening. However, and because of the number of other circumstances and symptoms, I think Apple should respond. I've seen in other chats where people attribute it to static, hardware too tightly compacted inside the phone (their answer is to twist the phone a bit... lol), etc.. Although hacking could/should be considered, at least in my situation, the circumstances indicate something else.

Can the iPhone5 be hacked remotely by a hacker?

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