Police warn that iOS 17's new feature ``NameDrop'' is dangerous, saying they are ``thinking too much''



iOS 17 includes a new feature called ``NameDrop'' that allows you to easily exchange contacts using the content sharing service ``AirDrop.'' Multiple police departments have posted concerns about this feature, and multiple news sites have denied the danger.

Police warn parents of iPhone security concerns over NameDrop feature – NBC Bay Area

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/police-warn-parents-of-new-iphone-feature-after-ios-17-update-should-you-be-concerned/3381987/



The Oakland, Michigan, Sheriff's Office says, ``iPhone owners who have completed the latest update have a feature called ``NameDrop'' turned on by default.'' ``Many people change their device settings. 'I don't check and I don't know how my phone works, but this feature is on by default,' he wrote in a post strongly warning against NameDrop.


Similar posts were made by police departments in Watertown, Connecticut, and Middletown, Ohio.



'NameDrop' is a feature available on iPhone with iOS 17.1 or later, Apple Watch Ultra with watchOS 10.1 or later, Apple Watch Series 7 or later, or 2nd generation Apple Watch SE, and when you bring the devices close together, you can drop emails and calls. You can share and exchange contact cards with numbers on them.

When the other party sends you a card, you can choose to 'receive only' or 'share', and if you don't want to exchange contact information, you can lock your iPhone or move it away.

However, police are concerned that first-time NameDrop users, children, and the elderly may accidentally share their contacts because NameDrop is turned on by default.

In response to this concern, the major newspaper The Washington Post published an article titled ``NameDrop is safe,'' pointing out that the warning is grossly exaggerated. In the article, digital security expert Chester Wisniewski called ``hysteria and nonsense.''

NameDrop is safe. Why you shouldn't worry about new iOS17 feature - The Washington Post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/11/27/namedrop-iphone-ios17-safety/

The Apple information site Apple Must also states that exchanging contact information using NameDrop requires mutual consent, so there is no need to worry.

No, NameDrop really isn't a child protection threat, stop it
https://www.applemust.com/no-namedrop-really-isnt-a-child-protection-nightmare-so-stop-saying-so/

The reason why the police are so concerned is probably because ``AirDrop bombing'', in which inappropriate photos are sent unilaterally using AirDrop, has been carried out in the past. However, with AirDrop, if Wi-Fi and Bluetooth were turned on, it was possible to send to a recipient within about 10 meters, but with NameDrop, the devices must be a few centimeters apart, so a similar situation could occur. I don't.

If you are still concerned, NameDrop can be disabled by turning off ``Bring devices closer together'' in the ``AirDrop'' item in the ``General'' menu of ``Settings''.



in Software, Posted by logc_nt