iPhone users have been warned of a scam doing the rounds which appears on their device as a fake notification.
The suspicious message tells users that their iPhone ‘may be hacked’, and instructs them to download ‘cyber security’ software for protection. But it’s thought that clicking anywhere on the screen will enable hackers to access all of your private data, from photos to text messages.
News of the scam went viral on TikTok after user @mrjamienyland posted a video explaining what iPhone users should be on the lookout for, with the clip amassing more than 15 million views. Now web searches for ‘iPhone hacked notice’ have shot up by 2,350% within the past seven days, WalesOnline reports .
READ MORE: Samsung, Huawei and Google phone users urged to delete popular apps which may contain malware
Cyber security experts at VPNOverview have issued advice for anyone who receives one of these harmful messages. “Social engineering attacks like these are very common nowadays,” warned expert Nathan Daniels.
He added: “They can target pretty much anyone and the idea is to trick the victim into compromising their own device or accounts. 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,” he urged. “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."
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