Depending on where you live in the US, you might have seen a worrisome message shared by your local police department via social media. Across the US, police departments have been warning iPhone users with iOS 17 that NameDrop is turned on by default with the latest software update, and that this puts your (or your child’s) contact details at risk (via Wired).
It’s true that Apple’s latest software update turns NameDrop on by default, but your contact details are not at risk. With how NameDrop works, it’s not possible for someone in a random coffee shop or a crowded subway car to steal your contact information. Someone could initiate a contact sharing request, but the power to accept or deny it is all in your hands.
