Some warnings have recently appeared that claim that Apple’s NameDrop feature that appeared in iOS 17 and allows you to share information when you bring two iPhones or Apple Watches together isn’t safe. Specifically, police departments in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oklahoma (these are Facebook links) and other places posted similar Facebook messages warning about the privacy risk of NameDrop. Specifically, that any miscreant can bring their phone next to yours and get your contact info.
The fact is, this is completely inaccurate. Here’s why:
- NameDrop only works if your Apple device is within a few centimetres/a couple of inches of another one.
- Both iPhones need to be unlocked for NameDrop to work, and you have to pick which pieces of contact information you want to share.
In other words, you would not only know that someone is trying to get your contact info, but you would have to authorize the sharing of contact info. The ability to share contact info without your knowledge simply doesn’t exist. And that shouldn’t be a shock to anyone given how Apple tends to roll when it comes to security and privacy.
Having said that, if you really want to turn off NameDrop because you’re concerned about this feature, here’s how you do it:
- Tap on the Settings app on your iPhone
- Tap on General
- Tap on AirDrop
- Turn off the button for “Bringing Devices Together.”
But honestly, this who NameDrop is a risk thing is overblown and inaccurate. NameDrop is safe and the police departments who are freaking out about it are doing so for no reason. Until someone shows up with some actual evidence based on demonstrable facts, you should move on to paying attention to something that actually matters.
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This entry was posted on November 28, 2023 at 8:30 am and is filed under Commentary with tags Apple. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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Fact: Despite What Some Say, NameDrop Is Safe
Some warnings have recently appeared that claim that Apple’s NameDrop feature that appeared in iOS 17 and allows you to share information when you bring two iPhones or Apple Watches together isn’t safe. Specifically, police departments in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oklahoma (these are Facebook links) and other places posted similar Facebook messages warning about the privacy risk of NameDrop. Specifically, that any miscreant can bring their phone next to yours and get your contact info.
The fact is, this is completely inaccurate. Here’s why:
In other words, you would not only know that someone is trying to get your contact info, but you would have to authorize the sharing of contact info. The ability to share contact info without your knowledge simply doesn’t exist. And that shouldn’t be a shock to anyone given how Apple tends to roll when it comes to security and privacy.
Having said that, if you really want to turn off NameDrop because you’re concerned about this feature, here’s how you do it:
But honestly, this who NameDrop is a risk thing is overblown and inaccurate. NameDrop is safe and the police departments who are freaking out about it are doing so for no reason. Until someone shows up with some actual evidence based on demonstrable facts, you should move on to paying attention to something that actually matters.
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This entry was posted on November 28, 2023 at 8:30 am and is filed under Commentary with tags Apple. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.