Removal guide Scam Alerts

Remove “Your Apple iPhone Is Severely Damaged” Pop-ups

By Stelian2 min read

The “Your Apple iPhone Is Severely Damaged” pop-up is a browser-based advertisement that uses fake alerts stating that your device is under attack or infected to trick you into installing unwanted apps or subscribing to unneeded paid services. 

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Image: Your Apple iPhone Is Severely Damaged Pop-up Ads Scam
Image: Your Apple iPhone Is Severely Damaged Pop-up Ads Scam

What is the “Your Device Apple iPhone Has Ben Hacked” pop-up?

The “Your Apple iPhone Is Severely Damaged” pop-up is a scam that claims your iPhone has been hacked and that your Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram accounts will be compromised if you don’t take immediate action. The goal of this scam is to trick you into installing unwanted apps or subscribing to unnecessary paid services.
It is important to be aware that Apple will never send a message like this to its users, and that such messages should be ignored. If you are concerned about the security of your device, it is always best to contact Apple directly or visit an Apple store for assistance.

When the “Your Apple iPhone Is Severely Damaged” pop-up ad is displayed in your browser it will show this message:

WARNING!
Your Apple iPhone is severely damaged by 13 viruses!
We have detected that your Browser is (67.5%) DAMAGED by BROWSER TROJAN VIRUSES picked up while surfing recent corrupted sites.
Immediate action is required to prevent it from spreading and infecting sensitive data like your Facebook account, Whatsapp messages photos and private applications.
Here is how you can solve this in just a few seconds (Step by Step)
Step 1: Tap REMOVE VIRUS to install DotBlock from the App Store.
Step 2: Open the application to activate the latest update and remove any older (Infected) versions.

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The “Your Apple iPhone Is Severely Damaged” pop-up has nothing to do with Apple and anything it states is just false. If you have been redirected to the “Your Apple iPhone Is Severely Damaged” ads, we recommend closing the page and do not enter any personal information.

Why am I seeing the “Your Apple iPhone Is Severely Damaged” pop-up ads?

You are seeing the “Your Apple iPhone Is Severely Damaged” pop-ups because of spam push notification ads, or a site that you have visited has redirected you to this page.

Less than reputable sites can display malicious ads that redirect your browser to the “Your Apple iPhone Is Severely Damaged” fake alert messages to generate advertising revenue. If this happens, you can close the page and install an ad blocker like AdGuard [recommended] to block the malicious ads.

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If your computer starts redirecting you to the “Your Apple iPhone Is Severely Damaged” sites for no reason then you can reset your browser to its factory settings.

Removal Instructions for “Your Apple iPhone Is Severely Damaged” Pop-up

This malware removal guide may appear overwhelming due to the number of steps and numerous programs that are being used. We have only written it this way to provide clear, detailed, and easy-to-understand instructions that anyone can use to remove malware for free.
Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubt at any point, stop and ask for our assistance.
To remove the Your Apple iPhone Is Severely Damaged” pop-ups, follow these steps:
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STEP 1: Clean your browser

First, we’ll clean Safari using the built-in “Clear History and Website Data” feature. This removes your browsing history, cookies, and cached data — including the stored data that scam sites use to keep showing you pop-ups and redirects. Don’t worry: this won’t delete your photos, apps, or saved passwords.

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  1. Don’t tap anything inside the scam page or pop-up — the buttons are designed to trick you. Instead, tap the tabs icon in the lower-right corner of Safari, as shown below.
    Tabs Icon
  2. Tap the X on the malicious tab (or swipe it up) to close it safely.
    Tap X to close malicious site
  3. Open the Settings app.
    Open Settings App
  4. Turn on Airplane Mode. This temporarily disconnects your iPhone from the internet, so the scam site can’t load anything while we clean up. We’ll turn it back off at the end.
    Enable Airplane Mode
  5. Scroll down and tap Safari.
    Tap Safari
  6. Tap Clear History and Website Data.
    Tap Clear History
  7. Confirm by tapping “Clear History and Data” in the pop-up.
    Tap to confirm
  8. While you’re still in Safari settings, turn on Block Pop-ups and Fraudulent Website Warning. These two switches stop most scam pages before they can even load.
    Enable Popup Blocker
  9. Tap Settings in the upper-left corner to return to the main Settings menu.
    Settings Shortcut
  10. Turn Airplane Mode back off to reconnect your iPhone to the internet.
    Disable Airplane Mode
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STEP 2: Delete unwanted apps

Next, we’ll remove any suspicious apps from your iPhone. If a shady website redirected you to the App Store and you installed an app — or you spot an app you don’t remember downloading — delete it now:

  1. On the home screen, tap and hold the unwanted app’s icon until the icons start to wiggle.

  2. Tap the minus (–) badge in the corner of the app icon, then tap Delete App. (On older iOS versions, this badge appears as an “X”.)

  3. Confirm by tapping “Delete“.

That’s it — your iPhone is now clean and safe to use.

To stop these scam pages from coming back, we recommend installing an ad blocker like AdGuard. It blocks the malicious ads and redirects that cause these pop-ups in the first place.

Still having issues after completing these steps? Try one of the following:

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Take back control of your browsing.

After revoking unwanted notification permissions, add protection against malicious downloads and the advertising that interrupts your browsing.

Affiliate links We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. How we’re funded

MalwarebytesSCAM & MALWARE PROTECTION

Check suspicious software, too.

If a pop-up persuaded you to install something, Malwarebytes can scan for malware and unwanted software. Premium adds ongoing protection.

  • Scam Guard for suspicious messages
  • Real-time malware protection with Premium
Explore MalwarebytesExplore features on the official website
AdGuardAD & TRACKER BLOCKING

Fewer pop-ups. Quieter browsing.

AdGuard blocks many intrusive ads and pop-ups, and filters trackers. Keep browser notification permissions under control separately.

  • Blocks intrusive ads and pop-ups
  • Filters trackers while you browse
Explore AdGuardExplore features on the official website

Features vary by device and plan. These tools add protection; they do not guarantee that a website or offer is trustworthy.

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Written by

Stelian

Stelian leverages over a decade of cybersecurity expertise to lead malware analysis and removal, uncover scams, and educate people. His experience provides insightful analysis and valuable perspective.

61,141 articlesWriting since 2011
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