With numerous ads promoting phone tracking apps such as mSpy, FlexiSPY, Eyezy, xMobi, XNSPY, and Detectico available, one might naturally wonder: Could an app like this clone an iPhone while the owner is unaware? If you are wondering how to clone an iPhone without someone knowing, we are here to help. 

These tools are often labelled and advertised as “parental control” or “phone monitoring” apps. Still, they also use phrases like “clone a phone”, “track secretly”, or “spy remotely” in anything from their app descriptions to their Google Ads. 

In this article, we will outline the facts to form clarity on the topic. We’ll explain simply what these apps do, how they function, and what the actual limits are (on iPhones in particular), and then most importantly, how to protect yourself if you are worried your phone is being tracked or cloned.

Are These Apps Really for Clone an iPhone?

The short answer is yes, many of these apps are advertised as phone cloning or monitoring software, but they are often misunderstood.

What do they say about Monitoring Apps?

Some of these apps advertise capabilities such as copying messages, call history, social media conversations, location via GPS, and media files. This is how the “cloning” process comes into play, as it involves duplicating data from one device to another.

What do they do?

Most of them do not truly duplicate an iPhone in the sense of “cloning.” They only gain access to specific types of data, usually only by knowing the Apple ID, obtaining physical access to the phone, or installing a configuration profile.

How do These Apps Typically Function?

iCloud Backup Access 

Many “no-install” versions function under the premise of knowing the Apple ID. If someone has your Apple ID and password, they can probably log into the iCloud backups and download synced data such as messages, photos, and notes.

Physical Installation

Apps like FlexiSPY, which provide a comprehensive feature set, often require the device to be jailbroken and installation to be performed manually. This will enable them to gain much deeper access to messages, calls, and even recordings.

Configuration Profiles and MDM

Some of these applications exploit Apple’s Mobile Device Management (MDM) system. Once a user installs a profile, the administrator may monitor some activities of the user. This can be found in iPhone settings and is not as hidden as it claims to be.

Location-Tracking Services

Apps such as Detectico, Geofinder, and Scannero provide location-tracking characteristics by tricking the user into clicking a link; these are not true cloning apps, but if you click the provided link, they can give your approximate location.

Signs That Your iPhone Might Be Monitored

Sometimes it’s good to clone the phone to monitor your children’s activities, but if you think someone will misuse the information, then you will have to keep your eyes open and look for these signs. If you suspect that one of these tools has been installed on your phone, be on the lookout for these signs:

• Unexplained battery drain or overheating
• Higher than normal mobile data usage
• Unusual applications or configuration profiles you do not recognize
• Your Apple ID has devices associated with it that aren’t yours
• Your device constantly crashes or acts strangely

How to Protect Your iPhone? 

• Change your Apple ID password and enable two-factor authentication. This is one of the best things you can do for security.   
• Check for any profiles under Settings → General → VPN & Device Management. If you see anything suspicious, just go ahead and delete it.
• Update your iOS on a regular basis. One of the reasons that Apple provides security patches is to eliminate vulnerabilities that spyware can take advantage of.   
• Factory reset the device only if you suspect that it is not secure. If you restore the backup, you risk restoring the spyware again. Only restore from a known and trusted backup. 
• Monitor your account activity for any password logins you did not authorize. 

Conclusion

Applications such as mSpy, FlexiSPY, Eyezy, xMobi, and others are quite common in connection with the subterfuge of iPhone cloning, as they will typically be branded as applications that can either replicate or monitor data from another device. 

And while it is true that all of these apps can obtain portions of some data in appropriate circumstances, there will almost never be a full and invisible cloning of data as advertised. 

If you are an individual who simply wishes to make sure a child is safe or keep track of a company phone, you should be using fully transparent and legal parental controls or phone management solutions that will all operate in a public way. If you are an individual who is concerned about someone cloning your iPhone, if you follow the protective steps listed above, you will help ensure your data remains secure.   

  

FAQs