Police Warn Parents Of Potential Risks In New iOS 17 Update. See Why

Police are urging parents to check the settings on their children’s phones to help keep them safe. They have stated that the new feature, following the rollout of a recent iOS update, enables seamless sharing of contact information and photos by bringing two phones close together.

Outlook International Desk

Updated on: 27 November 2023 10:17 am

(Representative image)

Several law enforcement agencies are advising parents to inspect their children's smartphones following the rollout of a recent iOS update.

In light of this, the Middletown Division of Police issued a privacy alert concerning the latest iOS 17 update for iPhones, which includes a feature that allows contact information to be easily shared.

In a post on the social media platform, they explained how to turn off the feature.

They further stated, "Don’t forget to change these settings on your child’s phone to help keep them safe as well."

The same information has been shared on multiple police social media pages in the community.

ALSO READ: iOS 17 updates are free from Apple, all you need to know

Key details about the feature

The 'NameDrop' feature enables seamless sharing of contact information and photos by bringing two phones close together. This new functionality is automatically activated with the iOS 17 update.

To adjust permissions or disable the feature, access the 'Settings' app on your phone, navigate to 'General,' and select 'AirDrop.' Toggle the 'Bringing Devices Together' option to the 'off' position.

Police are urging parents to check the settings on their children’s phones to help keep them safe.