A malicious third-party iPhone keyboard can be designed to log what you type, but the 2023 report behind this headline does not show that every iPhone is affected or that typing is being recorded by default. To check your phone, review the keyboards installed in Settings and remove any you do not recognize—unless changing settings could put you at risk from someone monitoring the device.
What the iPhone keyboard threat actually is
The headline refers to a December 2023 report by cybersecurity company Certo Software. Certo described malicious apps containing custom iPhone keyboards that could record keystrokes after the keyboard was installed and configured. The account describes a conditional attack requiring someone to get the app onto a target phone and set up the keyboard; it is not evidence of a universal iPhone vulnerability or widespread infection. Certo’s December 4, 2023 account is the original vendor report; HotHardware reported on it on December 11, 2023.
Certo said the operators it investigated sometimes distributed the app through TestFlight, Apple’s app-testing platform, and then enabled “Full Access” for the custom keyboard. Russell Kent-Payne, whom Certo identifies as its co-founder and a cybersecurity specialist, summarized the reported setup: “The process begins with installing a small app containing an embedded custom keyboard on the target’s device.” This is Certo’s description, not an Apple confirmation of the technique.
What a malicious keyboard could capture
Because a keyboard receives text as it is entered, Certo said a malicious one could collect messages, passwords, authentication codes, notes, and other typed information, then send it to an online portal. These are capabilities described by the company, not outcomes quantified in a published incident dataset. Certo also said a custom keyboard could imitate the standard iOS keyboard, so appearance alone may not reveal it.
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- Can't Connect the Bluetooth? Please reset the keyboard and then reconnect the Bluetooth: 1. Turn on the keyboarad; 2. Press and hold the first and the last key at the top row of the keyboard until all indicators start flashing; 3. Bluetooth light flickers quickly, auto entering Bluetooth pairing mode (If not, press Fn + 1 or 2); 4. Search and find "Wireless keyboard".
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How to check which keyboards are installed
- Open Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. The precise labels or layout can vary by iOS version.
- Review the list. If you find a keyboard you do not recognize, tap Edit, tap its red minus control, then tap Delete.
An unfamiliar keyboard is a reason to investigate, but it is not proof of malware: legitimate third-party keyboards exist. Likewise, “Full Access” was a warning sign in Certo’s report, not proof by itself that a keyboard is malicious.
What to do if you suspect someone is monitoring your phone
If the phone may be monitored by an abusive partner or another person with access to it, consider whether a visible change to its settings could alert that person before removing anything. Certo specifically raised the possibility of domestic tech abuse, including situations where a person has brief unsupervised access to a target’s phone. The report does not provide a vetted safety-planning protocol, so this article cannot prescribe a safe course for every situation.
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Certo says its free iPhone app added keylogger detection, and its guide to detecting spyware on iPhone promotes scanning for suspicious apps and custom keyboards. Those are Certo’s product claims; the cited material does not independently establish detection rates, full iOS coverage, or that scanning is necessary after checking the keyboard list manually.
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