Another moral panic
Tuesday, Nov 28, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* USA Today…
Law enforcement agencies nationwide are warning people, especially parents and guardians, about a privacy update on the iPhone that can allow users to share private information.
According to agencies in multiple states, the new iOS17 update includes a feature that allows users to share contact information and photos by holding two iPhones together.
* Several Illinois police departments spread this info on Facebook, including Pekin’s…
“This feature allows the sharing of your contact info just by bringing your phones close together.” Sounds scary as heck, right?
* The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police even got into the act…
Notice the update with the face-saving walkback?
* Debunked by the Washington Post…
There are plenty of things that are legitimately scary about the technology in our lives without wasting your energy worrying about negligible risks such as NameDrop. […]
Apple says that NameDrop only works if your Apple device is within a few centimeters of another one. For those of us clueless about the metric system, that’s roughly an inch or two.
Each of the devices needs to be unlocked for NameDrop to work, and you have to pick which pieces of contact information you want to share.
Wired…
Contact sharing will be canceled if the two smartphones are moved apart anytime during the process or if you decide to lock your iPhone using the power button. Even though NameDrop is auto-enabled when you update to iOS 17, it’s crucial to note that consent is required throughout the process. Some random person on the street can’t just bump into you for a few seconds, and then walk away with your phone number.
Forbes…
Once that NFC iPhone contact is made, a set of NameDrop options will appear on the screens of both devices. These options are to receive only or share. If both users select the former, then neither gets anything; if one does then they get your shareable details, and if both opt for share then a contact data swap is initiated.
Do you want more reassurance? Okay, so the contact data that is shared using NameDrop is only that which is contained within a contact card you have created. In other words, you completely control the information to be shared. Oh, and if you don’t stay in very close proximity to the other user during the sharing process, it will be abandoned anyway. Apple itself acknowledges this: “To cancel, move the two devices away from each other or lock your iPhone before the NameDrop transfer completes.”
- Lurker - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 11:52 am:
I still think it is wise to turn this off on younger peoples phones. And I’ll turn it off on mine. I was in Panera the other day and I charged someone’s phone with mine, something I’ve done multiple times. I guess this is no longer a smart choice (maybe it never was).
- Roadrager - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 11:54 am:
While this is debunked, I’m more concerned about the real problem with our children and technology: How many of the programs in Apple’s App Store are contaminated with fentanyl, and could that prove fatal when one phone gets close enough to another to almost initiate physical contact? Sure, Apple may say this is “physically impossible,” but if they’re so sure about this, why aren’t they releasing the data that conclusively proves the negative? I’m just asking questions here.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 11:56 am:
=== I guess this is no longer a smart choice==
lol
Did you actually read the post?
- DisappointedVoter - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:03 pm:
Where did this even start? Was there some child that unknowingly shared contact info? Or just rampant imagination creating the worst case scenario?
People are more at risk of their credit cards being tapped to pay without their consent.
- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:15 pm:
“We are just trying to help people protect themselves and kids”
From… what?
- Lurker - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:20 pm:
Yes, I read the post (but only to my abilities). I have done the upgrade, I have this feature turned on, my phone was not locked and I’m touching my phone to a strangers for an extended period of time. Am I missing something because my conclusion is this is not wise? (maybe I’m misunderstanding the consent but it seems my settings were giving consent)
I coach and this is something we commonly do (charge each others phones). I learned it from the kids.
- wowie - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:22 pm:
And don’t forget to check your children’s candy for needles
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:22 pm:
===Am I missing something===
You’re missing everything.
Once that NFC iPhone contact is made, a set of NameDrop options will appear on the screens of both devices. These options are to receive only or share. If both users select the former, then neither gets anything; if one does then they get your shareable details, and if both opt for share then a contact data swap is initiated.
Do you want more reassurance? Okay, so the contact data that is shared using NameDrop is only that which is contained within a contact card you have created. In other words, you completely control the information to be shared. Oh, and if you don’t stay in very close proximity to the other user during the sharing process, it will be abandoned anyway. Apple itself acknowledges this: “To cancel, move the two devices away from each other or lock your iPhone before the NameDrop transfer completes.”
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:23 pm:
===Am I missing something===
Literally everything.
it’s crucial to note that consent is required throughout the process.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:24 pm:
===Am I missing something===
Just everything.
Each of the devices needs to be unlocked for NameDrop to work, and you have to pick which pieces of contact information you want to share.
- Stormsw7706 - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:30 pm:
That darn Hunter Biden.
- Lurker - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:35 pm:
Ok I’ll leave it alone as obviously I’m missing something because namedrop is installed, share was on, close proximity was for a very long period of time and phone unlocked.
I’ll talk with the kids as they like explaining this stuff to me but I think you are saying I did not ok anything once the phones were charging each other (but that could have been easily done by the recipient as my phone was unlocked).
- duck duck goose - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:36 pm:
Maybe I’m ahead of my time, but I had a Palm Pilot in the 90’s that did the exact same thing. Where the heck were the sheriffs then?
- Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:36 pm:
Not really digging the way law enforcement starts screaming the sky is falling so easily these days.
“No one ever regretted saying, ‘Wait a minute.’”- Sam Rayburn.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:41 pm:
When “the authorities” get suckered, they sucker a lot of other people into panicking. To those LEA PR folks and all govt. agencies, verify, verify and verify again before you get the bright idea to issue a warning on social media.
- vern - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:41 pm:
I bet there’s a connection between “the police don’t understand basic technology” and “identity theft is endemic in this country.”
Guys, I’m begging you. Please solve some crimes.
- The Truth - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:45 pm:
I just read Roadrager’s comment and got fentanyl poisoning from it.
- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:48 pm:
“the police don’t understand basic technology”
Maybe, but the more likely scenario here is the police will always be quick to latch onto something to try to scare everyone about a non-issue, to then appear to solve the problem they created, to then be seen as being useful.
This time it’s cellphones. Other times, it’s been Halloween candy. Or the time they said their dog trainer was going to kill all their dogs because cannabis was legalized.
The only police departments I hold in high regard still are the state police. Local departments are basically just social clubs, and are often not filled up with very smart people.
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:51 pm:
Read about this a couple of days ago, so I turned the feature off.
We Luddites like to keep it simple.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:55 pm:
The thing the bothers me about this update is that Apple made it opt out rather than opt in; that’s what allowed the panic to get traction. It could have been avoided if they had a prompt when the new iOS opened…do you want this on…it’s not uncommon to have such prompts.
- Benniefly2 - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 12:55 pm:
“How many of the programs in Apple’s App Store are contaminated with fentanyl, and could that prove fatal when one phone gets close enough to another to almost initiate physical contact?”
This gets my vote for comment of the year. Well done.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 1:07 pm:
That darned SafeT Act strikes again.
- illinifan - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 1:10 pm:
Maybe the police should focus their energy on trying to use tech to help them catch the criminals doing car thefts and random smash and grabs.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 1:11 pm:
===but that could have been easily done by the recipient as my phone was unlocked===
And why would you have an unlocked phone? Do you leave your keys in your running car, too?
- H-W - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 2:03 pm:
I bought into this when my local police department sent out the notice. I considered it legit because the police department posted this on Facebook. I turned off my sharing feature, per their recommendation.
I am not a child. Apparently, I am more credulous than a child.
- We've never had one before - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 2:23 pm:
If I made lead-lined iPhone condoms to protect from the scourge of NameDrop, people would buy them.
But, I’d rather not make them.
Hey, My Pillow, Opportunity Knocks!
- Frida's boss - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 2:47 pm:
This reminds me of the “scare” when people were posting the scam
“I do not give FB permission to use my pictures, information or posts blah blah blah……”
That had two runs on FB
- Lurker - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 3:05 pm:
— Do you leave your keys in your running car, too? —
Not running but since we no longer have keys, I do leave that darn fob in there way too often. You put it in the center console and forget too often.
As for my motorcycle, I rarely take the keys out and I’ve been doing that for over 40 years. I guess I have not met the person smart enough to drive my bike but dumb enough to think it’s a good idea to touch it.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 3:07 pm:
Also, Lurker, thanks for your contribution! https://www.justgiving.com/page/rich-miller-1701112504000
- Cordelia Goode - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 3:11 pm:
“Maybe, but the more likely scenario here is the police will always be quick to latch onto something to try to scare everyone about a non-issue, to then appear to solve the problem they created, to then be seen as being useful.”
Winner winner chicken dinner. They need a crisis to convince people of their value. Parent’s are an easy target.
- DHS Drone - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 3:12 pm:
Earlier today i put my work phone and personal phone together to shove in my pocket before going downstairs and felt a buzzing. Both phones asked if i wanted to share contacts, I said no, no big deal. Then I see this thread and realize i am indeed not the most anxious person in the room. Which is kind of a relief and kind of sad.
- New Day - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 4:16 pm:
Oh no. Mortal danger. Let’s pass a law.
- Shevek - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 5:29 pm:
Thank you @Roadrager! I needed a good laugh at the end of this day!
- charles in charge - Tuesday, Nov 28, 23 @ 5:40 pm:
Can we please get a comment from the law enforcement about why they are using our tax dollars to spread misinformation on social media? I feel like there is never any accountability for this type of behavior.