How to turn off AirDrop on iPhone, iPad

You are using a phone on a bus, in a coffee shop or a public place, suddenly an unwanted image appears on your phone. This phenomenon is called bluejacking (translating as harassment through Bluetooth messages).

Bluejacking is not a new phenomenon

Bluejacking has been around for a long time, the BBC has reported bluejacking cases in London and other major cities in 2003. Bluejacking has returned after a Huffington Post reporter received more than a hundred 'not beautiful' images. while going are traveling. This happened only 24 hours after reporting in the US media, more and more women are victims of smartphone abuse on the New York subway.

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The above cases have used the Apple Bluetooth / Wifi AirDrop file sharing application . When you send someone an image file using AirDrop, it displays a preview of the image. Of course, image harassers also realize that this is an easy way to send bad pictures. Even if the recipient cancels the request, they will still see these indecent images.

In some cases, the recipient doesn't even know their AirDrop service is turned on.

What is AirDrop?

AirDrop is an Apple technology that uses Bluetooth or Wifi to send photos, videos and other files directly between devices. Basically, AirDrop is the standard 'successor' of Bluetooth, available only on Apple devices. Users still have to stand within 10 meters and both devices turn on AirDrop to share files.

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The device locates using Bluetooth, then sends by Wifi connection. More specifically, it creates a special wireless connection between devices, you don't need to connect to Wifi so AirDrop works.

Therefore, if you are riding a bus with the Bluetooth iPhone connection turned on, you may be harassed by images.

Contact Only feature in AirDrop

AirDrop is disabled by default. If you have never enabled this feature, no one has the opportunity to use it to force you to receive unwanted images. But if you have enabled this feature because this is a useful feature to send images, AirDrop has three settings:

1. O ff (Not received) : No one can send you any files via AirDrop.
2. Contact Only: Only people in your existing contact list can send files via AirDrop.
3. Everyone (Everyone) : Anyone in the vicinity of the device can send you a file via AirDrop.

To check your current settings, go to the iPhone's main screen and swipe from the bottom up to open the Control Center. You will see your current AirDrop status.

Of course, the simplest thing is to always turn off AirDrop. If not, select only Contacts Only .

Bluejacking is not always a negative phenomenon

In the early days of using smartphones and Bluetooth, deceiving others was not always a negative experience. Airdrop users limit the content they can send, usually just a simple message or a communication method.

How to avoid getting unwanted images?

First, set your AirDrop application to only Contacts Only, as mentioned above. Second, change your Bluetooth id into " hidden ".

Third, let everyone know if that happens to you. Some victims do not report cases of visual harassment because they do not have the time or do not want to mention it. However, you need to inform people to avoid similar situations.