COLUMBUS, Ohio — While many look forward to the new Apple updates, the latest iOS 17 has raised some concern.
The new iOS 17 ‘Name Drop’ feature allows for two phones to exchange personal contact information when touching. The feature comes downloaded on all iPhone 15s and is automatically turned on when users update their iPhone to iOS 17.
This feature differs from the ‘Airdrop’ feature. Rather than selecting a nearby phone to share photos and information with, the ‘Name Drop’ feature shares personal information with any phone that touches it. Cybersecurity experts say the new feature has a time and place for use.
“It shows up with my dad’s information, like his photo, name, address, book information, and anything that he would have saved about himself,“ said Rufus Mathew, a cybersecurity expert and graduate of Cedarville University. “This is a great feature for a young professional like me, which I love going to a networking event, but not so great if you are not aware this feature is even on.”
While the feature might be great for select occasions, it can pose a security threat in everyday life. For example, a user could swap information unwillingly if they lay their phone in a public place, like a mall or airport.
The Middletown Police Department said in a statement:
“As law enforcement officials, our priority is to ensure the safety and security of our community, particularly our most vulnerable members,” said Chief Dave Birk, who serves as the police chief. “With the recent release of the new iPhone 17 update called ‘Name Drop,’ we must raise awareness about this feature and its potential impact on the elderly, children, and other vulnerable individuals. We encourage everyone to make necessary adjustments to their settings to protect their own contact information and that of their loved ones. By staying informed and taking appropriate measures, we can collectively ensure the safety and privacy of our community.”
Mathew said that in the wrong hands, the new Apple feature could lead to someone stealing passwords and other personal information.
“When the phones talk to each other, the most important information about a person is your personal details that would be in an address book,” Mathew said. “This could potentially have information that could help compromise your password indirectly because the user now sees information that you could have used to create your password.”
iPhone users can turn off the feature by going to their settings and clicking ‘General’ followed by ‘Airdrop.’ To turn off the ‘Name Drop’ feature, you will toggle off the ‘Bringing Devices Together’ option.