Can an iPhone Be Hacked via WiFi?

As an iPhone owner, I was frustrated when I heard rumors that my device could be hacked via WiFi. Wanting to ensure the safety of my information, I decided to do some research and testing to find out if this was true. I’m here to share the results of my investigation and the solutions I discovered to help protect my iPhone from any potential hacks.

Method of Hacking	Description	How to Protect Your iPhone
DNS Hijacking	Hackers take over a public router and redirect DNS requests to fake pages, tricking users into providing sensitive information on spoofed websites.	Disable auto-join for WiFi networks, avoid confidential transactions on public WiFi, and enable Fraudulent Website Warning on Safari.
Auto-Connect to WiFi Networks	Hackers set up their own network, disguise it as free WiFi, and steal data from devices that auto-connect.	Disable auto-join option for WiFi networks.
Jailbreaking	Jailbreaking an iPhone removes security controls and leaves the device vulnerable to hackers.	Avoid jailbreaking your iPhone.
Outdated iOS	Older versions of iOS may have vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.	Keep your iPhone up-to-date with the latest iOS version.
Weak Passwords or No Two-Step Verification	Hackers may gain access to accounts by guessing weak passwords or if no additional security measures like two-step verification are in place.	Use strong passwords and enable two-step verification for accounts.

Table of Contents

How Can an iPhone Be Hacked via WiFi?

Now that we’ve established the possibility of iPhone hacking, it’s time to understand how, starting with DNS Hijacking.

What is DNS Hijacking?

The Domain Name Server (DNS) system’s job is to convert domain names into corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. In simpler terms, a person sends a DNS request by typing a URL on a browser, and the DNS system, in turn, translates that into the appropriate page or website.

The hijacking happens when hackers take over a public router, which is an easy target due to the free access. DNS requests in a hijacked network, however, may not direct you to the correct website. Instead, they lead you to a fake page that looks just like the official one.

This modus operandi is known as DNS hijacking or redirection.

What Happens in a DNS Hijacking?

If an iPhone is connected to a compromised network, it’s now vulnerable to pharming scams. This is when a user inputs critical information, such as passwords, birthdays, or addresses, into a spoofed web page, thinking that he’s on the official website.

These sets of information are then used for illegal purposes like identity theft and accessing bank accounts.

How to Protect Your iPhone From WiFi Hackers

For optimum protection against cybersecurity attacks, consider our suggestions below:

Disable Auto-Connect to WiFi Networks

First of all, be wary of public WiFi. If you couldn’t help it, however, because it’s free after all, simply avoid doing bank transactions, or other similarly confidential processes, while connected to a public network.

Moreover, Apple’s default iPhone configuration does not only automatically connect but also shares data with familiar WiFi networks. This is dangerous because some hackers set up their own network, disguise it as free WiFi, and steal data from devices that auto-connect.

Fortunately, you can prevent this by disabling the auto-join option so that your iPhone asks for your permission first before connecting to any network.

Say No to Jailbreak

Jailbreaking your iPhone may sound fun. You get to customize the operating system to your favor and likeness. The term came from the concept of breaking free from Apple’s rigid restrictions.

Apple limits its user’s capacity to download and install the software in the name of cybersecurity. However, not all Apple users are amenable to this inflexibility, so they resort to jailbreaking.

What they don’t understand is that jailbreaking messes up the security controls as well, leaving their iPhone vulnerable to hackers. So, in the long run, you’ll realize that the freedom to customize the iOS is not worth the potential security risk.

Keep Your iPhone Up-to-Date

How does keeping your iPhone up-to-date help? Well, malware never sleeps and seems to always find its way around.

Hence, Apple continuously enhances its cybersecurity measures to protect its users from hackers. By keeping your iOS updated, you can rest assured that you’re getting the best protection available.

Two-Step Verification

On top of a strong password, it wouldn’t hurt to add an extra layer of protection. How? By setting up two-step verification, also known as two-factor authentication.

This is especially helpful when hackers somehow get their hands on your password. The system will not allow immediate access. It will ask for identity verification that will require physical control of the device, like a face ID, fingerprint, or a one-time passcode (OTP).

Double-Check and Validate URL Addresses

To the average eye, it’s challenging to tell spoofed and official websites apart. That’s what anti-malware apps are for.

The good thing about iPhones is that they don’t need third-party anti-malware apps because Safari already has a built-in detector. The browser alerts the user of suspicious websites, but many don’t know of this feature or that it needs to be manually enabled.

Here’s how to enable this feature, in case you haven’t yet:

On your iPhone, go to Settings.
Select Safari.
Under Privacy & Security, tap Fraudulent Website Warning to enable it.

Conclusion

Can an iPhone be hacked via WiFi? Yes. Can it be avoided? Also, yes, and that’s the best part.

To put your mind at ease amid rampant iPhone hacks and phishing scams, always take proper precautions. Moreover, be extra vigilant when you’re connected to a public network.

If possible, only make confidential transactions through a secure network like your home WiFi or mobile data via cellular service.

When it comes to cybersecurity, it’s always better safe than sorry.