Law Enforcement Agencies Sound Alarm on New Apple Feature NameDrop
Law enforcement agencies across the U.S. are issuing warnings to iPhone users about a new feature introduced with the latest software update known as NameDrop. According to tech giant Apple, this feature allows users to swiftly share contact information with nearby iPhones or Apple Watches using iOS 17.1 and watchOS 10.1.
The speed and ease of information sharing from phones has prompted security concerns among law enforcement officials, with some police departments cautioning parents to check their children’s phone settings due to a default automatic activation of the feature in iOS 17.
Several police departments, including the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and agencies in Carmi, Illinois; Middletown, Ohio; Watertown, Connecticut; Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania; and Fort Smith, Arkansas, have issued warnings about NameDrop, Forbes reported.
However, a digital security specialist at IT security company Sophos dismissed the warnings as “hysteria” and “nonsense” in an interview with The Washington Post. The specialist explained that NameDrop works similarly to AirDrop, requiring close proximity and consent before information can be shared.
To turn off the NameDrop feature, users can navigate to settings, then tap on general and AirDrop. From there, they can toggle the green button next to “start sharing by bringing devices together” to gray to deactivate the feature.
For more information, visit: https://nypost.com/2023/11/29/tech/law-enforcement-issue-warnings-after-latest-apple-ios-release/?utm_source=url_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site%20buttons&utm_campaign=site%20buttons
