Potentially malicious code in iPhone messages

# ** Potentially malicious code in iPhone messages** **Messages on iMessage can carry malware, attack and hijack iPhones running iOS 15.7 and below.** According to the latest analysis of Kaspersky, the world-famous distributor and manufacturer of security software, is a piece of malware that is being spread on the iPhone. This malware attacks iPhone devices running iOS 15.7 through the iMessage app. The scary thing is that it can be spread between devices without user interaction. Specifically, Kaspersky’s research team has detected some suspicious behavior of a series of devices running iOS. Therefore, they track iPhone user activity with offline backups on the device to circumvent Apple’s privacy regulations. In the end, they found malware that attacked users when they received a text message with a suspiciously vulnerable attachment. This vulnerability will take advantage of weaknesses in the device, triggering malicious code to work without the user having to touch it. The malware then continues to connect to a command-and-control server (C&C). This server downloads a complex targeted attack platform (APT) to deliver malware to the target computer, thereby taking control of the iOS device. This attack then wipes the malicious message and secretly spreads the vulnerability to hide inside the device. Kaspersky says the malware only attacks iPhones running iOS 15.7 and earlier. If you’ve updated to iOS 16 or later, your device should be safe. According to *Apple Insider*, the toolkit containing suspicious malicious code can’t last long due to iOS’s closed ecosystem. However, devices can still be infected with malicious code after rebooting. In addition, when transferring data from one device to another, the iTunes backup will still contain malicious code, continuing to attack the next device. Experts at Kaspersky say the best way to avoid this malicious code is to update to iOS 16 or higher. Users go to the application **Settings > General > Software Update**. Here, the screen will show the currently installed version of iOS and indicate if an update is available. Click Update to install the latest iOS version. Besides, users can also turn off the automatic message preview feature to prevent suspicious content from spreading on the device. You go to the application **Settings>Messages>Show preview** and select **No** to turn off previewing the message content on the lock screen and notification center. You should also not click on strange links on iMessage, especially when it comes from an unreliable source. These links will lead to websites or download vulnerable files to the user’s computer. You should be careful when receiving text messages or attaching files, and avoid downloading strange files that may contain malware. Another tip to prevent hackers from getting into your iPhone is to install anti-virus software on the device. These software will restrict the device from clicking on any suspicious links or files sent through the messaging application. Antivirus software can also detect and remove malicious software that has been installed on the device, warning users about phishing emails, ransomware.