The new NameDrop feature in iPhone iOS 17 got a warning from law enforcement on the dangers of sharing "your contact information by being next to another iPhone."
Alan Crowetz from cybersecurity firm InfoStream called the feature a "red flag" that "bad guys, the pedophiles and whatnot really take advantage of."
Is the NameDrop Feature Safe?
Talking to Washington Post, digital expert Chester Wisniewski said the warnings only amounts to "hysteria" and nonsense" as information sharing still require physical access from the owner.
The feature can only work when the two smartphones are unlocked with each of the top ends of the phone stacked together.
The Near Field Communication will not work if the devices are not correctly aligned.
Users also receive a notification to "share" or "receive" other user data on their devices before any information is transferred.
NameDrop also only shares the contact card users themselves have created. This means it is in the user on how much information they share with other iPhone owners.
Much more, the process can easily be canceled by moving "the two devices away from each other or lock your iPhone before the NameDrop transfer completes," says Apple.
Apple first rolled out the NameDrop feature for iPhone and iWatch devices this week with the iOS 17 update.
How to Switch Off the NameDrop Feature in iOS 17
As mentioned in the law enforcement posts, NameDrop can be toggled off by going to the phone's settings and clicking "General."
There, access the Airdrop option and click the "Bringing Devices Together" to switch the feature off.
NameDrop is set on by default when accessing iPhone and iWatch devices with iOS 17 software.
