Police warning about iPhone “NameDrop” update
CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. (WDEF) – Police officials are warning iPhone users about the new name drop update on IOS 17 and why it could pose a privacy risk.
“NameDrop” is an AirDrop feature that allows iPhone users to exchange contact information between two phones. It can share information to Apple Watches as well.
In order for this feature to work, users will need to make sure their phone is unlocked.
According to Apple’s website, this is how it works:
- Hold your phone a few centimeters away from the top of another phone or watch.
- Continue to hold devices near each other until the “NameDrop” feature appears on both screens.
- Choose to share and receive contact information, or to only receive.
Their website also says you can cancel sharing info by moving devices away from each other or locking the phone before the transfer is complete.
However, police say this could be a dangerous feature, especially for children.
“If you just get a request to share your contact information, you said yes. So, that would be the dangerous part of it. Just knowing your device and knowing that update is out there is the big thing,” said Sergeant Joshua Garrison for the Chickamauga Police Department.
Officers also encourage parents to change the settings on their children’s phones to keep them safe.
The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office shared steps to turn this setting off:
They said, “To shut this off go to Settings, General, AirDrop, Bringing Devices Together. Change to OFF.”
