Apple's New Update May Bring New Concerns

bywest2000

3.2K followers

8 months ago

If you have an Apple iPhone, you need to be aware of a new update.

Very recently, an urgent security update was launched for its operating systems to patch various vulnerabilities that are being “actively exploited by hackers.”

Here we go again.

All the latest updates are for iOS and iPad 17.1.2, macOS 14.1.2 and Safari 17.1.2.

The vulnerabilities were discovered by Big G’s Threat Analysis Group. In essence it is allowing hackers to implant spyware and other dangerous codes on peoples’ devices over the internet.

So, if you haven’t done so already, you’ll want to do this latest update.

In Here Lies The Concern

However, you should also be aware that this recent update is ringing alarm bells with police departments over the NameDrop feature.

What is NameDrop?

This feature allows users to share their contact, photos and personal details simply by holding two phones in close proximity. It's like an automatic sync.

And the new update turns NameDrop on automatically as its default. In other words, if you don’t want the possibility of someone syncing up to your phone, you will need to turn this feature OFF.

Why Should You Care?

Of course Apple is marketing this ever so time saving technique as a convenience feature. But one has to question have we really become too lazy to now type in someone’s contact info when we want to?

People with children and elders ought to take note for safety’s sake as their loved ones could inadvertently allow a stranger with bad intentions to capture their photo and personal information.

Although police are cautioning everyone to be aware of this feature, Apple says that personal details cannot be captured without swiping on the bottom of the display to unlock the device.

However, imagine a situation where a kid may be in a crowd (such as riding a busy subway) and they receive a link to connect with someone shady who may have changed their photo to look like another child of interest? Would you want to take that chance?

It’s easy to be duped. So why take unnecessary chances. Use your fingers to type in a contact if you need to. Simply avoid agreeing to NameDrop. And protect your unsuspecting children, elderly parents or yourself from temptation.

How to Turn OFF NameDrop

Go to your Settings. Then tap General.

Tap AirDrop.

Go to “Start Sharing by…Bringing Devices Together”

Then toggle to the OFF position.