iPhone 16 Plus with unusual Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and personal hotspot behavior

If you feel an unauthorized person/app is remotely using, controlling or monitoring your device, then that is possible only if you have done one or more of the following Don'ts...

1. Don't hand over an iPhone to kids or to a stranger without Enabling Guided Access
2. Don't share Apple IDs
3. Don't Jailbreak
4. Don't share sensitive information pertaining to your device
5. Don't give in to Phishing
6. Don't plug in your device in Airports and Public places through third-party cables and trust the device. Beware of Juice Jacking. (Especially in India)
7. Don't leave your iPhone unlocked and unattended in public places like offices, schools, malls, etc.

If one of the above is true then quickly change the Apple ID Password and Return iPhone settings to their defaults.

1. Immediately change your Apple ID password
   1. Go to Settings → [your name] → Sign-In & Security → Change Password.
   2. This signs out anyone using your account.
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (if not already): Same menu → Two-Factor Authentication → Turn On.
3. Check for any unknown devices linked to your account:
   1. Settings → [your name] → Devices.:
   2. If you see anything you don’t recognize, tap it → Remove from Account.
4. Check for unknown profiles or device management:
   1. Settings → General → VPN & Device Management.
   2. If you see a profile you didn’t install, tap it → Remove Profile.
5. Check Accessibility & Screen Sharing settings
   1. Settings → Accessibility → Switch Control, Voice Control, or Remote Control — turn off anything you didn’t set up.
   2. Settings → General → AirPlay & Handoff → make sure AirPlay is set to Ask or Never Automatically.
6. Sign out of iCloud everywhere and reset
   1. Go to Settings → [your name] → Sign Out (you’ll need your password).
   2. Then back up your photos to iCloud or your computer.
   3. Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings.:
   4. Set it up as a New iPhone (not from a backup), so nothing suspicious is restored.
7. Update iOS: Always keep the latest iOS version for security fixes.

If a person has ever had your passcode, they could’ve installed something quietly — so the full erase and setting up as new is the safest option. How to factory reset your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Keep the iPhone updated to the latest iOS always and never Jailbreak. That's it.

iOS / iPadOS devices cannot be hacked or infected with Viruses / Malware / Spyware *** unless you have intentionally downloaded spurious software or unauthorized apps directly from the internet and installed them on your device, and/or have Jailbroken. 

It (Hacking) also depends on how careful you are in sharing sensitive and valuable information pertaining to your iPhone such as Passcode, Password, etc with your friends and family members.

Be judicious when sharing the device's sensitive and valuable information with friends and family members.

**The primary reason for this is Sandboxing. All third-party apps are “sandboxed”, so they are restricted from accessing files stored by other apps or from making changes to the device. Sandboxing is designed to prevent apps from gathering or modifying information stored by other apps.

Security of runtime process in iOS and iPadOS - Apple Support

The sandbox on an iPhone is a security feature that creates a restricted environment for each app to run in isolation from other apps and the operating system. It is a core component of iOS's security architecture and plays a crucial role in making iPhones more secure.

If you doubt the authenticity of the information provided earlier, you have two alternatives:

1. Report the hacking incident to local law enforcement authorities and actively pursue the case.
2. Accept the credibility of the information; it is impervious to hacking. Just as some individuals hold unconventional beliefs, such as a flat Earth or moon landing denial, one has the freedom to believe in anything. The choice ultimately rests with you in this open and free world.

StayWild_923 wrote:

trying to access my account via web and Turning on or off web access works like it’s suppose to…

unfortunately though I am not able to have the advance data protection turned on..

Hack or Prank?

It is highly unlikely that skilled hackers would choose to invest their time and resources into monitoring an unknown person's device and making calls. Firstly, hacking requires a certain level of expertise, knowledge, and tools, which can be quite valuable assets. A proficient hacker typically has a specific agenda, such as gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information, financial gain, or advancing their own personal or political interests.

Monitoring your iPhone would not yield any substantial benefits for a hacker. It would be a trivial and unproductive pursuit that lacks any significant value or purpose. Additionally, hacking activities are often motivated by tangible gains, such as financial rewards, access to valuable data, or the ability to manipulate systems for personal or ideological motives. Monitoring someone's device or making calls would not offer any meaningful advantage or serve a legitimate purpose but pranks would.

Moreover, hacking is an inherently risky activity that can have serious legal consequences. Engaging in unauthorized access, surveillance, or invasion of privacy is illegal in most jurisdictions. Skilled hackers typically operate with more calculated precision, targeting high-value entities or systems that present greater opportunities for achieving their objectives. The risks associated with hacking a device would far outweigh any potential benefits, making it an illogical and unprofitable endeavor.

In summary, hackers typically focus their efforts on more lucrative targets that align with their motives and offer substantial rewards. Investing time and resources into monitoring a device would be an inefficient and unproductive use of their skills, knowledge, and tools.

To protect your devices and personal information, it is crucial to follow good security practices such as using strong and unique passwords, keeping your software up to date, being cautious with email attachments and links, and ensuring that your devices have appropriate security measures in place.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch: Go to Settings > your name > Password & Security.Tap Turn On Two-Factor Authentication. Then tap Continue and follow the onscreen instructions.

Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support (IN)

Beware of Phishing!: Be careful and be smart to --> Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls ...

It (Phishing) may appear as the image given below.

Gain control of your Apple ID

If your Apple ID password has been changed by someone else, reset your password. Go to appleid.apple.com to update any personal or security information that isn't correct or that you don't recognize.27-Mar-2023

If you think your Apple ID has been compromised

StayWild_923 wrote:

My Bluetooth, WiFi , and personal hotspot will all turn on at random multiple times a day, this person knows my password to my iCloud/apple account (no matter how many times I change it, - if I don’t store the new one in the phone… one will be made for me and I won’t know it)

When Airplane Mode is activated, any previous action of manually enabling the WiFi will consistently be replicated each time Airplane Mode is switched on. This means that if you've turned on the WiFi after activating Airplane Mode, that specific action will be repeated automatically whenever you toggle Airplane Mode on again. Essentially, the system remembers and reinstates the state of the WiFi that was set before entering Airplane Mode, ensuring that the WiFi behavior remains consistent whenever you use Airplane Mode.

This is true for Bluetooth too.

It's not always the iOS update's fault!  Many things can cause phone problems.  If you tell people you think it's an iOS update, it might make it harder to fix or find a solution for the real issue.

Remember, the right question often leads to the solution!

Was/Is your device Jailbroken? If that's the situation, please be informed that attributing the issues to iOS updates may not be accurate.

iOS updates aim to enhance user experience, boost security, and fix bugs rather than disrupt core features. The majority of the issues after updates might stem from underlying, unmentioned factors. Updates won't typically alter personal data but may refine settings or features. Backup before major updates for safety. Review Apple's update details and backup advice for a smooth process.

Kindly consider checking your settings and addressing any device issues before attributing the issue to external factors. This could be a pure coincidence that the iOS update affected the iPhone functions.

Before initiating a standard iOS update, it's advisable to create a backup. Have you completed this step? If yes, proceed with the restoration from the backup.

See what each update does: OS — iOS 26, About iOS 18 Updates, About iOS 17 Updates, About iOS 16 Updates, About iOS 15 Updates, About iOS 14 Updates, About iOS 13 Updates, About iOS 12 Updates, and so on...