How To Know if Your Apple ID Is Hacked

Your Apple ID is valuable to hackers because, if compromised, someone could use it to access your sensitive accounts, important documents, private photos and more. Signs that your Apple ID may be hacked include receiving emails from Apple about a new login, being locked out of your Apple device or iCloud account, getting notifications of account changes or noticing unfamiliar charges from Apple on your bank statements. Despite these warning signs, several trending scams exploit concerns about your Apple ID, such as fake warnings that your Apple ID is suspended. It’s important to distinguish between legitimate Apple notifications and scam alerts.

Continue reading to learn about the consequences of a hacked Apple ID, five warning signs that your Apple ID has been hacked and what you can do to protect yourself.

What can happen if your Apple ID is hacked?

If your Apple ID is hacked, you could be negatively affected in the following ways:

• Lost money: Since your Apple ID most likely has saved payment methods through credit cards or Apple Pay, a hacked Apple ID can result in financial loss. A hacker may use your saved payment information to make purchases through Apple or steal your credit card information for use on other platforms.
• Leaked personal information: Any Personally Identifiable Information (PII) associated with your Apple ID account could be exposed if your account is hacked. A few examples of PII include your email address, phone number, birth date and credit card number. Hackers can use your leaked PII to access your other online accounts.
• Stolen identity: You could become a victim of identity theft if your Apple ID is hacked because your account contains sensitive PII, such as passwords or financial account numbers.
• Disabled devices: Someone with unauthorized access to your Apple ID can change your password and disable your Apple devices, locking you out entirely.
• Tracked locations: A hacker who accesses your Apple ID account without your knowledge can track your devices’ locations, as well as the devices of people who share their location with you through Find My.

5 warning signs your Apple ID has been hacked

Here are five warning signs to be aware of that may indicate your Apple ID has been hacked.

1. You receive an email from Apple that someone logged in to your account

If your Apple ID has been hacked, you might receive an email from Apple notifying you that someone has logged in to your account on another Apple device. This email may contain information regarding the date and time of the login, the new device’s operating system and the type of device used. When you purchase a new Apple device and set it up with your Apple ID, you may receive a similar email. However, if you haven’t signed in to the device mentioned in the email, it means someone else has used your Apple ID to log in to their device.

2. You’re unable to use your Apple devices

Perhaps the most obvious sign that your Apple ID has been hacked is the inability to use your Apple devices. If a hacker obtains your Apple ID login credentials and uses them to sign in to your account, they may lock you out of your account on all your devices. They may also place your devices in Lost Mode, rendering them unusable by falsely reporting them as lost or stolen. 

3. You can’t access your iCloud account

Another sign that your Apple ID has been hacked is if you are unsuccessful in accessing your iCloud account. You may attempt to log in with your Apple ID username and password, but Apple may inform you that your login credentials are incorrect. A hacker who gains access to your iCloud account may change your password to lock you out in what is known as an account takeover attack.

4. You’re receiving notifications of changes being made to your account

If you receive an email notifying you that changes have been made to your Apple ID account and you did not make those updates, it may be a sign that your Apple ID has been hacked. Because your Apple ID requires an associated phone number and email address, a hacker may change this information to their own after gaining access to your account. You will likely receive an email similar to the one below, detailing the changes made to your Apple ID account:

5. There are unfamiliar charges from Apple on your bank statements

Your Apple ID account may have been hacked if you notice unfamiliar charges from Apple on your bank statements. For example, if you never use Apple TV to watch TV shows or movies but receive a charge for a movie on Apple TV, you can assume this is unauthorized activity. If you spot an unfamiliar charge from Apple on your bank statements, it may indicate that your Apple ID is being used by someone else.

What to do if your Apple ID was hacked

Now that you’ve learned the common signs of a hacked Apple ID, if you believe your Apple ID was hacked, take the following steps immediately to protect your identity, finances and privacy.

Change your Apple ID password right away

As long as you still have access to your Apple ID account, change your password immediately to prevent a hacker from locking you out or stealing your private information. Make sure your new password is strong and unique, with at least 16 characters and a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. On your iPhone or iPad, visit Settings, tap your name at the top of the screen, then select Sign-In & Security and Change Password. Enter your current Apple ID password, then create a new one. Once you tap Change, your password will be changed. If you use your Mac to make these changes, follow the same process, but you must enter your computer’s password before updating your Apple ID password. Once you’ve changed your Apple ID password, sign out of your Apple ID account on all devices to prevent hackers from continuing to use it if they have access. If any of your other online accounts share the same password as your Apple ID account, update those passwords to unique ones as well.

Use Account Recovery

If you can’t log in to your Apple ID account or reset your password, you can regain access through Account Recovery. This process is designed to help you recover your account if you don’t have enough information to update your password, but it may take a few days to regain access for security purposes. Note that Account Recovery should only be used if you can’t log in or reset your Apple ID password. To start the process, visit www.iforgot.apple.com on your Apple device. Regardless of which device you use to begin Account Recovery, you should turn off all devices signed in with your Apple ID to prevent any interference or delay. Once you request Account Recovery, you will receive an email to confirm your request and an estimated date of when you will regain access to your account.

Set up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Within your Apple ID account, you should enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), which is a security measure that requires you to authenticate your identity using at least one additional method beyond your username and password. By having 2FA set up, a hacker who knows your Apple ID login credentials will be unable to access your account. Apple uses trusted phone numbers and trusted devices as forms of 2FA to verify your identity when you sign in to a new Apple device. You must have at least one trusted phone number in your Apple ID account to receive 2FA codes. You can also designate trusted devices, which are Apple devices you own and allow Apple to use to verify your identity.

To set up 2FA on your iPhone or iPad, visit Settings, tap your name at the top of the screen, then select Sign-In & Security. Tap Turn On Two-Factor Authentication and follow the on-screen prompts to enable 2FA for your Apple ID account. To set up 2FA on your Mac, visit System Settings, tap your name at the top of the screen, then select Sign-In & Security. Next to Two-Factor Authentication, click Turn On and continue with the instructions on your screen to enable the feature.

Look for signs of identity theft

If your Apple ID was hacked, you should look for any signs of identity theft, including bills for unauthorized purchases or unfamiliar information on your credit report. Since a hacker may have stolen your payment information from your Apple ID account, they could use your credit card details and access to Apple Pay to make unauthorized purchases in your name. If you notice signs that suggest your identity is in jeopardy or has been stolen, you should set up a fraud alert on your credit report. Placing a fraud alert will force anyone to verify their identity before a loan can be approved or a new line of credit can be opened in your name. To place a fraud alert, contact one of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion or Equifax.

Protect your Apple ID from malicious hackers

Considering how much sensitive information your Apple ID holds about you, it’s important to keep your account safe from hackers. Getting your Apple ID hacked can lead to financial loss, leaked personal information, identity theft and other risks to your privacy. If you start receiving emails about changes to your Apple ID account information or someone logging in to your account, these could be signs that your Apple ID has been hacked. Update your Apple ID password immediately if you still have access to your account, and be sure to make it strong and unique from your other online accounts. An easy way to update your password and store it in a secure location is to use Keeper Password Manager, which features a built-in password generator that produces strong and random passwords.

Start your free 30-day trial of Keeper Password Manager today to enhance the safety of your Apple ID password and protect your login credentials.