The iPhone's iOS operating system is one of the most secure OS ever. However, recent years have seen a steep rise in hackers who have backdoors into iPhones due to iOS security flaws. This has led to so-called “interactionless” attacks which infect a device without malware-laced files or links. In this article, we inform you of the 5 biggest iPhone security threats you need to know about.

iPhone Spy Apps

Many iPhone users worry about getting hacked by cybercriminals, but instead, they should be scared about iPhone spying apps without jailbreak. The reality is that attacks stem much closer to home. Malware is no longer the chief problem, spy apps are! What is spyware you ask? These are malicious software and apps that can be installed by your parents, spouse, coworker, or employer to keep track of your whereabouts as well as activity. With these apps, they can monitor almost everything on your phone. For context, a weakling spy app can collect all your contacts, call logs, messages, log keystrokes, and browser data. Advanced Spywares can take full control of your device or even lock you out!

Unsecured Wi-Fi

Burning through your cellular data when the city is littered with free wi-fi hotspots makes no sense. At least that is what you would imagine if you are not security conscious. Public free hotspots are often unsecured and have become hackers’ dens. Many iPhone users have reported suspicious activities after using public hotspots. Usually, it's a case of identity theft or emptied bank accounts. How you as? When connected via free wifi, any hacker on the network can tap into your data stream and steal all your personal information. They can also take the time to plant malware on your device and ransom you later. We recommend avoiding free public wi-fi or using VPNs for protection.

Phishing Attacks

iPhones have become the main computing device for most of their users. Whether it's receiving emails, approving invoices, or handling business calls, iPhones can do it all! One downside of this is the increased risk of phishing attacks. Unlike Macs and iPads, iPhones have small screens. To accommodate the smaller screen sizes, information is often truncated. Unless you expand the header information bar, it is easy to fall prey to phishing attacks. It is important that you avoid conducting any sensitive business using your iPhone. Wait until you get to a computer and verify your contact, as well as the contents to avoid your security getting compromised.

Unintentional Data Leak

“Riskware” apps have become the latest security concern for the iOS platform. You may not even be familiar with the term “riskware” because it's a relatively new description. Riskwares are official apps found in app stores that work as described but have some caveats. While these apps are marked as “free”, they aren't! Most will collect and upload your personal or corporate data to remote servers. There, it can be explored by advertisers or cybercriminals. Apps reveal this practice in their extremely long and cumbersome-to-read End User License Agreement (“EULA”). Many simply agree to these terms without reading or understanding some of the risks they may be signing off on. This leads to unintentional personal or corporate data leaks.

Unsecured File Downloads

When it comes to iPhone security mishaps, many users are masters of their damnation. iPhones come very secure from the manufacturer. Although Apple is not immune to security attacks, they do a great job at securing their devices and platforms. iPhones are some of the hardest phones to crack! However, users sabotage all this effort by engaging in risky online activities such as downloading pirated print, software, music, or videos. Some malicious individuals embed malware on print, visual and audio content. This means you can infect your entire device with just a document!