iOS 17 NameDrop gets 'security warning' from law enforcement. | Mashable.
iOS 17 NameDrop gets 'warning' from law enforcement. But is it just fear-mongering?
 |
| Credit: NurPhoto via Getty |
Law enforcement officials have a tendency to "exaggerate," especially when it comes to technology.
According to a Forbes report, the new tech to fear is iOS 17's NameDrop feature. This allows users to easily share contact information through their iPhone's NFC tool and multiple police departments across the country have warned their communities of its potential danger.
Per the Forbes article, police stations in California, Illinois, and many more have issued the same warning on Facebook that the NameDrop feature on iPhones can "share contact information by being next to another iPhone"— with users unaware of the exchange happening. The postings on Facebook all share the same template and also warn parents in particular to turn off the "Bringing devices together" option on AirDrop for their children.
Announced at the company's October event yesterday, Apple's top of the line, 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $3,999. But if you tick all the boxes while ordering, the final tally for the laptop will be $7,199.
However, the truth is that this warning is a bit misinformed on how the feature actually works.
NameDrop is getting a bad rap
For starters, despite the NameDrop feature being a default opt-out feature, it will not just share your contact to any phone in the vicinity. In fact, to use NameDrop with another person, you almost have to physically touch both phones with each other and in the right position so that NFC can work (you can also toggle NFC on or off in the iPhone's general settings). Additionally, you control the information you share; what's exchanged is only what you put down on your contact card.
That alone should quell any fears that any bad actors may try to steal your (or your children's) personal information. Plus, if you want to just turn it off for some peace of mind, you can follow the same directions from the Facebook postings by going to Settings > General > AirDrop > Bringing Devices Together to toggle that switch off.
The iOS 17 Name Drop feature is not as big of a security concern as the police make it out to be.
Topics Apple Cybersecurity iOS
Definitely fear mongering. Both devices have to be face up for it to even attempt and even then, both displays have to also be lit up for it to attempt. And then it requires devices to unlock before any info can even be shared
ReplyDeleteWho needs it. Better to be safe...
ReplyDeleteThank you, now I just have a thing to share with all of the old people in my life 🙏
ReplyDeleteAfter about a dozen people posted about it this weekend with all levels of false information, I gave up. None of them believed it was wrong. Literally posted the info from Apple and they told me it was made up, but the posted incorrect picture from FB was right.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many people bother to read the information about how it works. In order for it to work both people have to be logged onto the same WIFI and the Bluetooth on both phones has to be on. Also the app default to your contacts. in the app you can turn in for everyone for 10 minutes. In order for something to transfer you would have to start the transaction and the person you’re transferring to acknowledge and accept the transaction. Both phones have to in close proximity of each other for the transfer to start.
ReplyDeleteMy god lazy journalists just want to find things to overreact to and scare people with! What a bunch of crap the reporting on this useful feature has been. NOT on by default, REQUIRES confirmation to use.
ReplyDeleteYes, fear-mongering at its worst and most disappointing.
https://giphy.com/gifs/tvland-gg-golden-girls-goldengirls-ZEHkIJQXaRG5YohwpS
Seems they actually never used it and it doesn’t work the way they are warning people about. Ugh
ReplyDeletehttps://giphy.com/gifs/moodman-fqtyYcXoDV0X6ss8Mf
ReplyDelete😄
DeleteFear-mongering by LEO for FB clicks
ReplyDeleteFYI. I went directly to Apple to find out how the new feature worked. You have to agree to share your information. It can’t just steal your personal information according to their website.
ReplyDeleteThank you! People will freak over anything.
DeletePasco Police - I normally enjoy your social media posts but please stop spreading g misinformation. It would’ve taken 45 seconds to determine that your post on this topic was seriously misleading
ReplyDelete📣📣📣
ReplyDelete😳
ReplyDeleteThis is half truth information. This new thing is a version of the AirDrop that is already on your phone. Just like AirDrop do you have to accept anything that’s being sent to you or for you to send anything. For for actually to work you have to touch the two phones together. Apple is already put this out.
ReplyDeleteAll they will get from me is porn 😂
ReplyDeleteI changed my settings - it was easy
ReplyDeleteKNOW what your device is doing…
ReplyDeleteThis is important security information to share and take action to resolve.
ReplyDeleteWhile it’s always good to be aware of your settings and keep your phone set to a privacy level that’s comfortable to you, the information going around regarding “name drop” is misleading at best, fear mongering at worst.
ReplyDeleteIt works very much like air drop, you must actively initiate and/or accept the exchange of information.
Article in comments
https://www.gadgets360.com/how-to/features/ios-17-namedrop-feature-iphone-steps-guide-4435344?fbclid=IwAR2XLMEQ7998lnK4wQ1z9Q4UFsTZKpr2Trrilbmq4zIH4tnZGZfkqxEukwA
DeleteIPHONE users! Worth to know!
ReplyDeleteBoth phones have to be unlocked, put together and the user has to give confirmation. This warning is a bit ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteShare the heck out of this and fix your own phone😡
ReplyDeleteMisleading info. This is not the security threat the sheriff post makes it out to be. Set your privacy settings to a level that suits you. Namedrop works like Airdrop. No one can pull information from your phone without you specifically approving the transfer.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever looked at your AirDrop in a busy location like Great Lakes Crossing Food court? You could literally send any of those people anything you wanted, and once they open it, depending on what you send them you could access anything. try it the next time you’re in a busy location.
DeleteI’ll try this! I do think you have to take multiple steps before someone can have your data, though. I know anytime I’ve gotten an airdrop request, I have to accept it. And vice versa. 
DeleteI am going to try it too, I’m curious to see if the peoples names come up instead of just the devices now..
Deletewhat could you airdrop to somebody that gives them access to your entire phone? Legit question.
Deleteyou could send them a link that looks like a webpage, or a login, and once the person types that you have there password. Any transmissions from cell phones have a digital data stamp, like a Social Security number for your phone, once they have that they can find out any an all accounts correlated to that number
Deletesounds like the same kind of threat that a spam email is
Deletepartially false. AirDrop can only be open for everyone for 10m after allowing it. Yes, a malicious URL could be sent but it would need to mimic another site. Not possible to gain access to iPhone this way
Deleteyou have to read the fine print my friend, research the 17 iOS update and look up UWB chips they started putting an iPhone 11‘s and up, there’s also plans to have this capability in your watch. They have plans to put “transfer over the Internet” on these files meaning after you’ve initiated to share even if you guys separate it can still be downloaded if both devices have access to the Internet
DeleteFalse.
Deletecan you give more information?
DeleteAirDrop has a setting to accept from anyone, but only for 10m. So, you’d need to turn this on and then, hit accept for what was being shared. After 10 min it reverts to Contacts Only (or the previous setting). I’d need to test.
Deletethat’s what I figured too but everybody is freaking out as if this new setting is letting everything out there
DeleteMy point with this post was, there’s enough fear-mongering as it is.
Deleteand perhaps this is just a post used by the dept to generate traffic for their website lol, took advantage of it spreading around all the other police departments throughout the country
Deleteeh, that’s not the case. We don’t do stuff like that.
DeleteWe don’t foster paranoia.
It’s just a message to keep people aware is all.
No gloom and doom 😉
is correct. Test this feature. Nothing can be shared without your permission
Deleteworks for Apple. Think I’m gonna go with what he’s got to say about all this.
Deletepeople that worked at Google said incognito wasn’t invasive either, this is why I use the SE III IPhone, I don’t believe they have the UBW chips in them as well as I have the capabilities to turn off 5G
Deletehttps://support.apple.com/guide/security/welcome/web
DeleteMuch ado about nothing.
DeleteKeep things private!
ReplyDeleteFYI !!!
ReplyDeleteAll you Iphone ppl check this out.
ReplyDeleteOk but are you really going to be right on top of someone? This is how fear tactics work. You literally have to set your phone on top of another one to do this.
DeleteI think it’s just a good idea for people to have the knowledge, especially those with younger kids with phones. Would I have randomly clicked yes to pairing my phone with a stranger, no, but I had no idea this was a feature. Just good to know.
Deleteknowing is half the battle....Yo Joe!!
DeleteThank you for sharing
Deletehttps://www.wired.com/story/apple-iphone-namedrop-ios17/
DeletePlease read; regarding IPhone IOS 17 update! Be safe out there.
ReplyDeleteA MUST READ FOR APPLE PHONE USERS
ReplyDeleteWorth Sharing again....
ReplyDeleteJust heard about this on the new
Delete"While there is some truth in the idea that a stalker or other malicious actor could access your contact details using the NameDrop feature, it’s a very tenuous truth. That person would require physical access to your unlocked iPhone to allow the receipt of the contact data, and, as it’s always worth repeating, if someone has access to an unlocked device, then it’s game over as far as privacy is concerned."
ReplyDeleteTL;DR version: These posts are lacking context and the function isn't nearly as dangerous as it's being made out to be.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2023/11/27/law-enforcement-issues-ios-17-security-warning-over-namedrop-feature/?sh=424f0a584182&fbclid=IwAR3E1PAhFQqczKAYQBWwETiyOWnGjqDmm-80NcQec3GMxDptNR7cwZ1f_4U
You can change it to contacts only as well.
DeleteFYI Safety Tip
ReplyDeleteunless your stupid
ReplyDeletehttps://www.wired.com/story/apple-iphone-namedrop-ios17/
guess the sheriff's dept is stupid then.
DeleteAnother scare story going around the internet man it's really making its rounds
DeleteTo all my friends and family with iPhones.
ReplyDelete#fearmongeringmakesgreatheadlines
ReplyDeleteYou can rest assured you should never face any accidental exchanges:
1. Both iPhones must be unlocked before the feature works.
2. Then, the devices need to be held within an INCH of each other, and if you establish a connection with someone who is not one of your contacts, you can CHOOSE to decline the content transfer.
3. One of the most important things to note is that the sender HAS to press a button to share their details before the recipient can receive them.
4. The feature as it exists, someone CANNOT hold their phone close to another and take their details without them consenting to it first.
https://imgur.com/a/JPLc6KS
DeleteYup.
ReplyDeleteFYI
ReplyDeleteDid that as soon as I got my phone!!!
ReplyDeleteIMPT PSA!
ReplyDeletePlease be sure to do this with your phones and make your students aware. I just checked my phone and it was turned on.
ReplyDeleteThe government hates spying competitors, that's all...
ReplyDeleteThese people are just flaunting their ignorance.
ReplyDelete