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My iMessage has been hacked

I went into the messages app on my computer recently and found out that more than 20 messages had been sent. The messages were all to Chinese numbers, and the messages in Chinese. User uploaded file


Has anyone experienced the same? is my account hacked?

MacBook Air, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Mar 7, 2016 2:39 PM

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188 replies

May 13, 2017 2:16 AM in response to Alex53135

Totally agree. I would definitely first and foremost change your iCloud password, and then I would also reset my phone settings if it was still acting up. Not a full factory reset, but some of lesser settings. If your phone has been jailbroken, well then there is a good chance you might have some spyware installed. Next, is there anyone that you share your iCloud account with or have in the past that you aren't on necessarily good terms with? The guy above was told to change his phone number and that obviously didn't work. I agree with Linc that you change your apple ID password and possibly your apple ID as well if its still giving you problems (last resort because of iTunes and having a new apple ID and everything you have to go through). But, change the iCloud password, and spend some time in your settings getting familiar with everything. Like privacy related things. Which apps are using privacy information like your location, and do you have apps that are sharing information because that can cause some issues, but separate in this case. However, just seeing what kind of apps are installed and what they use is important. Like the standard find my friends app can lead to all kinds of issues if someone gets a hold of your phone and goes in and adds there iPhone info to find my friends app and sends you a request that that person then quickly accepts and configure it to basically spy on you. i went overboard, but I think learning more about apple security after you change the password will be helpful.

Mar 10, 2016 5:34 AM in response to Alex53135

Alex, I had the exact same issue happen on the 8th. Messages were sending from my phone every 30 seconds or so. I called my service provider and they recommended I change my phone number as they did not know what was happening--huge hassle (and $35 charge), but I did. Now this morning, March 10th, it happened again. When I checked my phone this morning, it said my Apple ID had been used on a new iPod touch. So, I promptly changed my password. I'm concerned now about charges to my Apple account or cell bill... as well as privacy in regards to banking info, passwords, etc.


Has it happened to you again since the 7th? My message looked similar to yours. "I" was sending it to numbers in China, and when I put the text into Google translate, it was something about knock-off purses for sale...

Jun 21, 2016 11:37 AM in response to Alex53135

Hi,


I also recommend reporting it to Apple in as many ways as you can.

Try this one http://www.apple.com/feedback/messages.html


And Apple Support of course.


I have reported the Post to the Hosts and asked them to move it upwards.



User uploaded file

7:35 pm Tuesday; June 21, 2016


 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 iPhone and an iPad (2)

Jun 22, 2016 11:49 AM in response to pambetteridge

I had this same issue today, so I had to update my password. The thing that concerns me is two days ago I started receiving notifications on my phone that I wasn't able to connect to iTunes, App Store, etc and to re-enter my password. I was suspicious of that so I changed my password then (Monday).


After changing my password two days earlier and then to have an unauthorized device be able to access my account and send a bunch of spam iMessages, should we be concerned about some large security risk?

Jun 22, 2016 12:41 PM in response to tmiekok

Hi,


I would also report it via this Document Block phone numbers and contacts or filter messages on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch - Apple Support

I found it based on a Search in Google for " Report iMessages Spam"


The fact that these items show up as Outgoing iMessages is obviously a concern.


This site does not say there is an issue http://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/ but that does tend to be about people able to access a service.


User uploaded file

8:41 pm Wednesday; June 22, 2016


 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 iPhone and an iPad (2)

Jun 22, 2016 5:47 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

To be honest, they may have been incoming messages, but I never opened them I assumed they were outgoing because they did not show up as notifications.


However, I JUST got locked out of my Apple ID AGAIN which makes me think there must be some security issue somewhere.


Is there any way to tell where login attempts are happening or by device types? Or can you offer me some advice on avoiding this again, short of changing my associated email?

Jun 23, 2016 11:53 AM in response to tmiekok

Hi,


The pics are of blue bubbles with the tail to the right.


Outgoing iMessages are Blue everything else on the Mac is Green (SMS forwarded stuff, AIM, Jabber , Yahoo or Bonjour stuff)

There is also a Link in this Apple Document http://www.apple.com/legal/more-resources/phishing/



User uploaded file

7:53 pm Thursday; June 23, 2016


 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 iPhone and an iPad (2)

My iMessage has been hacked

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