Your Apple ID is the gateway to many services on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac: App Store, FaceTime, iCloud, and more. Thus, having your Apple ID hacked is one of the worst things that can happen to your device.
An Apple ID security breach on Apple's servers is one potential contributor to your ID getting hacked. But if someone is trying to sign in to your Apple ID, it could also be due to not having strong enough protectors—such as two-factor authentication. Malware that goes unidentified can also result in a hack.
Today, I'll show you how to know if your Apple ID has been hacked. Together, we'll also look at how your Apple ID can get hacked—along with the steps you can take to prevent the issue from reoccurring.
Your Apple ID is an email address and password that allows you to use your Apple devices more coherently. When you sign in from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, your settings will sync across each of them. You can find Apple ID details for your account by going to Settings (iPhone/iPad) or System Settings (Mac).
Apple ID lets you use each of the following:
Hackers can access your Apple ID in numerous scenarios. I'll highlight the two most popular cases below.
Several indicators are worth looking at when you for check if Apple ID has been hacked.
Let's now go over how to know if someone is trying to sign into your Apple ID in more detail.
If you've entered your password multiple times, and you know that it was previously correct, your account has almost certainly been hacked. The only real exception is if Apple's servers aren't working.
After 10 sign-in attempts, Apple will lock some users' smartphones or computers to prevent malicious behavior. If your device was previously working fine but is now locked or in Lost Mode, you should contact Apple's support team to unlock Apple ID and change your details.
Unless you change your personal details, you shouldn't receive notifications about your email or phone number changing on your device. So, if you do, it's a huge red flag that someone's hacked your account.
You'll sometimes see files like screenshots that you might not initially recognize stored in iCloud. But if you've clicked on these and still don't know where they came from, someone else is probably using your account. In these situations, you might want to delete Apple ID to prevent further damage.
New device sign-in emails are another clear sign that a hacker is using your Apple ID. When you log in yourself, you'll know the location and for which device you did these. So, if you notice a strange location, take action to avoid the Apple ID hack from becoming worse.
Another obvious Apple ID hack sign is if you haven't changed your password but receive a notification saying that someone else has. Change your password again immediately if this happens.
Your App Store payment details are often associated with your Apple ID. Unfortunately, hackers might take advantage of your stored credit card information to purchase subscriptions and apps. If you see that someone else has paid for items with your bank card, your account has probably been hacked.
If you've encountered any of the challenges listed in the previous section, I'll help you mitigate the amount of damage that a hacker can cause.
Don’t waste a moment longer—plunge into each method’s details and find a safe solution for you.
You can sign into your Apple ID on an iPhone or iPad by opening the Settings app and doing the following:
On a Mac:
Try to regain control of your account ASAP by changing your Apple ID and enabling two-factor authentication, both of which I'll discuss in some of the upcoming sections. You should also remove any subscriptions that have been purchased on the App Store.
Changing your Apple ID password is paramount if you've been hacked.
On your iPhone or iPad:
On a Mac:
After gaining control of your account, follow these steps:
You should also check to see if the hacker has committed identity theft. One way to do this is by checking your banking statements, and you should sign into your mobile bank app to check.
It's also worth looking for and canceling subscriptions that aren't yours on the App Store:
Setting up two-factor authentication will send a verification code to a trusted device whenever you try to sign in somewhere new. As such, hackers can't get back into your account.
Here's how to set up 2FA on iOS and iPad:
Hackers might add their devices to your Apple ID, and you should remove these immediately to revoke control. You can remove your current device from an iPhone, Mac, or iPad, but you'll need to log into the Apple ID website to delete external ones.
After changing your sign-in details, you should ensure that your Apple ID has the highest level of security possible. Setting up Security Keys is a good idea if you purchase the associated external device for it, and so is strengthening your Account Recovery settings.
I'll go into further detail about making sure that your Apple ID is secure in the final part of this guide—read it till the end.
You can stop external threats on your Mac by using an antivirus program, such as Mackeeper's Antivirus tool. On your iPhone and iPad, I recommend signing up for a VPN provider—which will encrypt all of your data.
Let's now make sure that you don't encounter the same difficulties again in the future.
As a summarization of my guide, I’d like to share a few top tips to secure your Apple ID for the long run—check them out.
I know, I know—it's the same advice you've received for decades. But choosing a unique and difficult-to-guess password is paramount to maximizing your Apple ID security. Use a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, plus numbers and symbols. Never use the same password that you have for another website.
Unless someone needs to reach out to you on FaceTime or iMessage, no one needs to know your Apple ID. And under absolutely no circumstances should you share your password with others.
I’ve already discussed setting up 2FA in the previous part of this guide, but I can't stress enough how important it is. Even if a hacker correctly guesses your password, 2FA can stop them from gaining control of your Apple ID. Moreover, you'll know when someone else is trying to access your account.
You can verify that a website is legitimate by the padlock symbol that features next to the URL. But even then, you should look out for irresponsive pages, poor grammar, and a lack of certification.
Antivirus software will check for potential hacks in the background, meaning that you can perform your other tasks as usual. I recommend MacKeeper's Antivirus solution as it's a one-and-done setup.
One of the most common reasons why users get hacked in general is because they haven't signed out of their computers. Always switch your computer off, or at the very least, lock your screen. Logging individually out of your accounts is also a good idea.
You should also ensure that your macOS and iOS/iPadOS software are always updated. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Download and Install—before agreeing to Apple's licensing agreement. On your Mac, go to System Settings and follow the same remaining processes.
Backing up to iCloud is handy for transferring files between your accounts, but you should also use an external hard drive to keep everything safe in case someone else hacks your account. That way, you can restore everything more easily.
You might sometimes receive messages on iMessage and WhatsApp from people you don't know. These may seem well-spirited, but I strongly advise that you don't respond. Never, ever click on suspicious links, either.
iCloud has a feature called Advanced Data Protection.
To turn on Advanced Data Protection:
Before you use Advanced Data Protection, you must update your software on every Apple device where you have the same Apple ID.
Your Apple ID is just as prone to hacking as any other digital system, and you shouldn't take the problem lightly. If a hacker gains entry to your account, they could steal your identity and destroy your relationships. Preventing the problem with advanced security and 2FA, along with strong passwords, is a good starting point.
You also have the option to stop prying eyes with MacKeeper's Antivirus solution, which will provide round-the-clock coverage. And if your Apple ID is compromised, make sure that you stop the fire from spreading ASAP.
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