iphone security

[qarma]

Something very unsettling has happened today.

I noticed an email in my junk folder so before deleting it I glossed over it. It was addressed to my correct email with my correct name and also included my mobile number in the body of the email.

The sender claims to have hacked my mobile and watched me using my phones camera and now they claim to have very compromising footage of me, which they describe in the email. Their claim seems real, i.e. the compromising footage seems accurate/genuine.

They go on to ask me to send them money/bitcoin or they will send this compromising footage to everyone in my contacts.

I deleted the email and have not responded.

How do I check/scan my iphone for their trojan? Anyone else had this?

Advice welcome.

[Jumping Jack Flash]

In general I-Phones are very secure.

Have you done/were you doing what they claim? If you haven’t then they’re chancers.

It might be worth switching your phone off and on again and also make sure that your phone is running the most up to date version of iOS. Look in settings for any apps that you don’t recognise and never, ever click links in an email that you don’t recognise.

[Followyourdick]

I’ve had that kind of email into my Hotmail before now.
I just deleted it and nothing happened.

[qarma]

In general I-Phones are very secure.

Have you done/were you doing what they claim? If you haven’t then they’re chancers.

It might be worth switching your phone off and on again and also make sure that your phone is running the most up to date version of iOS. Look in settings for any apps that you don’t recognise and never, ever click links in an email that you don’t recognise.

This is the unsettling part. What they describe is accurate and seems genuine. How could they know unless they could see through my iphone camera?

Is there any way to check if my camera has been hacked or compromised in some way?

I can't help thinking that if they had control of my phone, as their email suggests, then why not empty my bank accounts using the banking app?

[mrwhite]

This is the unsettling part. What they describe is accurate and seems genuine. How could they know unless they could see through my iphone camera?

Is there any way to check if my camera has been hacked or compromised in some way?

I can't help thinking that if they had control of my phone, as their email suggests, then why not empty my bank accounts using the banking app?

Have you jailbroken the phone and installed any dodgy software on it?

If not it is highly unlikely that your iPhone is compromised (there is a reason that the UK government only issue iPhones to ministers, the armed forces etc)

If you are really concerned, then take it to the Apple store and ask for a diagnostic, (use the excuse that the battery keeps going flat or that apps keep crashing) they have the software tools to check the phone is operating as per design.

You could also erase the phone and restore it to factory settings, that would remove any unauthorised software - just don't then restore your backup.  (if there is unauthorised software it will be in the backup)

However - iOS is pretty much secure by default, any software that tries to be installed has to be authorised by you either with a passcode or by biometrics (face ID or touch ID)

Meanwhile, emptying your bank account is also difficult, because even if they do have access to your phone, the banks own software still needs your passcode or biometric data to access the features.

[Ghost89]

I’ve had this before in the past. It’s just a scam email. Nothing more. Delete and move on.

[RandomGuy99]

It's a scam scare tactic email. Nobody has done anything to your phone. They just hope that some people respond to the email and then their blackmail attempt begins. Report it was soam and block the email address and get on with your life.

[qarma]

Thanks for the replies fellas.

I contacted Apple and they did some diagnostics remotely and all the results were fine. Also changed my Apple password and 'signed out' on all devices potentially making it more difficult for any would-be hacker to continue.

Feel slightly reassured by this but still very unsettled by what the hacker might have captured or had access to.

[PilotMan]

but still very unsettled by what the hacker might have captured or had access to.

I've had plenty of these.

They usually say something along the lines of "I've been watching you wanking over porn, or viewing porn sites".

So now we all know what you've been up to 

[PilotMan]

The best thing is to do what I did, cough up.

I gave them £200k in bit coin and never heard back.

Better safe, than sorry 

[qarma]

The best thing is to do what I did, cough up.

I gave them £200k in bit coin and never heard back.

Better safe, than sorry 

This is plan B PM  .

[PilotMan]

This is plan B PM  .

I can do you a good rate on secured finance 

[Camargue]

they claim to have very compromising footage of me, which they describe in the email.

If they had footage they would have included some of it.

Have you done/were you doing what they claim? If you haven’t then they’re chancers.

If I send an email to 1000 random addresses saying 'I watched you jerking off to porn the other night', then I am going to be correct in at least say 60 cases. If I make it more specific e.g. 'I watched you jerking off to that big boobed blonde the other night' then I am going to correct in say only 20 cases but for those 20 people the message has become more convincing.