Level 1

18 points

iPhone locked due to illegal activity

Not sure what has happened. This morning when I went to launch Safari on my iPhone, it went to a URL "security-breach.net, and kept flashing back and forth with my printer program. I can not enter any data, or do anything to Safari to make it work. The only thing I can do is shut it down. I'm assuming it is some kind of virus.

The screen lists a Support number (****)

The error message says:

"Attention!

Your device has been locked due to detected illegal activity! Immediately call Apple Support to unlock it.

We're here to help."

What is this, because I don't believe it is an actual Apple alert. Assuming it isn't, how do I deal with it.

Thank you.

[Edited by Host]

iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 10.3.1, 64 gig

Posted on May 18, 2017 6:34 AM

Top-ranking reply

KaleAllerion

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Jan 7, 2018 12:18 PM

That same message about illegal activity showed up on my sister’s phone and it told her to call a number and she did. Some Indian guy in a very loud call center answered the phone and told her, her phone was being hacked and that it would cost $100 to fix it. When my sister said that she couldn’t pay that, the guy said, “Have a nice day,” and hung up. After that she just went to her settings, cleared all her safari data, and the problem was fixed. I hate scams so much.

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36 replies

Eric Root

Level 10

685,227 points

May 18, 2017 8:19 AM in response to noelmac

Double click the Home button and swipe Safari upwards. Go to Settings/Safari and clear History and Website Data. Open Safari and test.

Safari - Clear the history and cookies on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Safari website data on your iPhone or iPad - How to clear

Nearalee

Level 1

20 points

May 21, 2017 12:48 PM in response to Eric Root

Go into settings, click on safari, scroll down and click on advance, click on web data click on remove all website data. It closes the windows so you can start over.

Oct 3, 2017 10:05 AM in response to noelmac

How do I get Safari icon back on my iPhone 7

Oct 20, 2017 3:38 PM in response to Schultz1967

Haha it actually bleeped pee oh are en

Dec 23, 2017 1:28 AM in response to Nearalee

That did the trick. The lock occurred for me while searching for online Murdoch Mystery episodes.

Dec 28, 2017 6:33 PM in response to Schultz1967

This crap is now coming up on pages that I click on from fairly normal everyday google searches. I am having it happen quite often now. Apple needs to do something with Safari to prevent this.

Jan 7, 2018 12:38 PM in response to noelmac

Yeah I’m KaleAllerion’s sister who’s phone was being hacked and right before it happened my phone started glitching really bad.

Feb 3, 2018 4:37 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

That doesn’t solve anything. I’ve tried that before and if the problem is anything like what she is describing, it is always still there no matter how many times you restart your phone.

Feb 24, 2018 9:11 AM in response to stedman1

are you sure

stedman1

Level 10

264,490 points

Feb 24, 2018 9:31 AM in response to johnnymusicman

Yes.

Mar 26, 2018 6:40 PM in response to noelmac

Grizzed

Level 1

4 points

Mar 27, 2018 1:01 PM in response to Nearalee

fixed the issue for me

Apr 8, 2018 1:35 PM in response to noelmac

Exelent. Tip in works to unlock my i

Pat1219

Level 1

4 points

Apr 25, 2018 8:41 AM in response to noelmac

Is there a virus on your phone if you called the number?

Ragnuset

Level 1

12 points

Jun 29, 2018 5:20 PM in response to cshamis

This happened to me too. I called twice to see if i can close the tabs but nothing happened. Am i safe or should i be concerned? I don’t want my information to be out or my phone to be affected

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iPhone locked due to illegal activity