Hey everyone, I'm in a really tough situation and I'm hoping to get some advice. I broke up with my ex about 7 months ago, and recently they've been contacting me from multiple unknown numbers. I suspect they hacked my phone while I was sleeping and somehow got into my iCloud account. I didn't realize until now that they can access my old text messages, even ones from years ago. I've noticed they can reveal details about my messages that only I should know. I have already deleted the email associated with their access and removed an old iPhone they had added, yet they still seem to have some form of access. I'm planning to factory reset my phone and possibly get a new SIM card, but I'm wondering if it's possible for them to still be on my iCloud. I just want this to stop—dealing with such invasion of privacy for over a year is exhausting. Any advice on how to deal with this would be appreciated!
5 Answers
You mentioned receiving texts from unknown numbers. Is it possible she’s communicating with you through someone else’s account or using fake numbers? It’s worth checking to see if those messages are genuine or if it's part of a more elaborate scheme.
Check your phone for any apps that you don’t recognize. Some apps can be hidden. Years ago I found a hidden app in a toxic relationship that was monitoring my stuff, so look through every folder just in case!
I’ve looked everywhere! I need to be extra careful.
I had a friend who experienced something similar, and they had full remote access to their phone. It’s frightening to think about, but if someone really knows what they're doing, it could be more than just basic hacking. In such situations, you might want to consider professional help or a security expert.
First off, before you jump to conclusions, consider if your ex could have copied any data from your phone when you were together. It's worth checking that old iPhone they had access to as it might've been linked before. If you can log into your iCloud, see if there’s a log of recent accesses or locations. If she has access, take these steps:
1. Factory reset your phone.
2. After the reset, change all your passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. This will help protect your accounts from unauthorized access. Just don't change your passwords before the reset since she might have them saved!
Wiping your phone is definitely worth a shot. Just make sure to not restore from a backup that might bring back any hidden access or malicious apps. Do a clean setup instead.
They did have my phone when I was sleeping, and the stuff they're revealing is super recent. I’ve already changed my iCloud password multiple times, but I'm still worried. Should I wipe my phone? I've heard it could cause older data to resurface after restoration, which scares me.
You should definitely inform your local police about this situation. See if she has broken any laws and inquire about getting a restraining order. Document everything she’s done; it might help your case if things escalate.
They’re all from her, though, using fake number apps for sure. It’s really unnerving.