IPhone users have been issued a warning as hackers are now able to fake security notices which make it appear is if a software update is necessary.
This is not the case, however, and if you download this software it may grant hackers access to your data and personal information. This could include financial or banking information, which is why experts are now urging users to ignore the fake notifications.
The scam was first shared by TikTok user @mrjamienyland, who received over 15.2 million views and over 1.3 million likes after posting a clip that revealed that hackers have found a way to push a notification to your iPhone claiming that your device has been hacked.
The notification instructs you to download a particular update and wherever you click on the screen, it will download the alleged software automatically. It is thought that if you do click your screen, the hackers behind the notification are able to access all of your personal and private data.
Searches for 'iPhone hacked notice' are up by 2,350 percent since the hack was revealed on TikTok.
Nathan Daniels, Cybersecurity Expert at VPNOverview said: “Social engineering attacks like these are very common nowadays. They can target pretty much anyone and the idea is to trick the victim into compromising their own device or account(s).
This specific type of attack is especially common, as it tries to convince you your device is infected with malware and the attackers are offering you an easy fix. Never fall for this! Often clicking on the message will actually result in a malware infection.
If you get such a message, simply close the window where it appeared, or if this is not possible, simply turn off or restart your phone. If you do suspect your phone might be compromised by a serious threat, you can always use a reputable anti-malware or antivirus solution to locate and address the threat.”
Those who are concerned about these scams may also want to make sure that their device isn't already spying on them. Signs that a device has been compromised can include slower performance, random reboots and unusually high data use.
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