iOS 10.3.3 hacked to send threatening SSM message

I turned on cell data today and sent an SSM on iphone (iOS10.3.3) to one contact. Within 2 hours of cell data being left on, it appeared as if I had sent four threatening text messages to my contact and as if my contact had texted me similar messages. We telephoned and confirmed we did not send messages, our phones were in our possession during this time, deleted all messages (they were never opened), and turned off cell data. So far none of our other contacts have received or sent us these messages (an additional two hours from hacked texts). I am not connected to iCloud.

What else should be done? I have searched the support community for similar events but could not find anything recent. Thank-you

iOS 10.3.3

Posted on Mar 22, 2018 3:55 PM

Top-ranking reply

Lawrence Finch

Community+ 2025

Level 10

228,768 points

Posted on Mar 22, 2018 4:08 PM

Did you really mean SMS, and not iMessage? SMS does not use cellular data at all. It uses the voice control channel, so as long as you don't have Airplane Mode enabled SMS messages will send. When you said it "appears" that you had sent 4 threatening text messages, was the sender your phone number? Note that SMS can only use phone numbers.

Also, do you share an Apple ID with anyone? If you have message forwarding enabled then anyone who knows your Apple ID and password can send SMS messages, and they will appear to come from your phone. This setting is in Settings/Messages - Text Message Forwarding. If you are absolutely certain that no one you know shares your Apple ID change its password immediately. See: Change your Apple ID password - Apple Support for instructions on how to do this. And add 2 factor authentication: Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

BTW, iOS was not hacked. It can't be. So maybe your iCloud account was hacked, as I said.

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iOS 10.3.3 hacked to send threatening SSM message

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