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This article is about teens pranking strangers (mostly) by sending them images via AirDrop. If you’re not familiar with AirDrop, it uses a combination of Blueto

by js2 7y ago

This article is about teens pranking strangers (mostly) by sending them images via AirDrop. If you’re not familiar with AirDrop, it uses a combination of Bluetooth and WiFi to allow Apple users to easily share files between devices. AirDrop reception can be placed into three modes: send only, contacts only, everyone. If you don’t want to be pranked, don’t leave AirDrop reception set to everyone. Here’s an Apple article explaining it: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204144 https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204144 I’ve never had AirDrop work reliably much farther than about 10-15 feet.

stronglikedan 7y ago
Reminds me of Bluejacking back in the day. Take a group picture of a bunch of random strangers in a store, then send it to as many open Bluetooth connections as you can find and watch people scratching their heads trying to figure out who was "watching them". CompUSA was always a good candidate store due to the volume of "techies" in one place.
mixmastamyk 7y ago
Bluetooth should be off also, unless you have a use case. (Apparently Bluetooth has some valiant defenders, but I stand by my assertion on security grounds.)
- dewey 7y ago
  With Bluetooth headphones being pretty widespread now it’ll probably be enabled most of the time for most people. Especially with the low energy version if doesn’t really matter any more too.
  - mixmastamyk 7y ago
    That's an extra purchase fitting the "use case" exception mentioned above.
  - LeifCarrotson 7y ago
    I have (and love) Tile Bluetooth locators on my keys and in my wallet. I never loose phone/wallet/keys anymore (or I lose all three simultaneously, in which case I have to log into my laptop or ask my wife to use her Tile app to alarm my phone for me). And my car starts music over my Bluetooth when I turn on the radio. I can answer calls hands-free by pushing a button on the dash. I don't have to touch my phone at all for these things to happen, just to keep it in my pocket or bag. Both of these highly useful functions mean that my Bluetooth is on perpetually. Enabling it only when I wanted to use these features would be a major reduction in functionality for me.
    - mixmastamyk 7y ago
      I have a basket that I put stuff in when I walk in the door, those things never get lost. My whole music collection is in flac on a thumbdrive in my car. I don't need to do anything else. Different people do different things, of course.
mintplant 7y ago
Reminds me of PictoChat on the Nintendo DS. Chat on one of four available channels with nearby users over local wireless, by exchanging text and hand-drawn pictures. At about the peak of its popularity—right before smartphones became truly prevalent among kids my age—I was doing middle school science fairs. This involved lots of standing around waiting in front of your trifold posterboard while judges slowly worked their way along the rows and rows of other projects. We weren't supposed to leave our own stations in the meantime, and they were spaced out enough to make talking with your neighbors inconvenient. Instead, the whole room was on PictoChat, filling up all four channels with streams of chatter and doodles and mutual commiseration on our anxieties over presenting to the judges.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
floatingatoll 7y ago
Note that AirDrop is available on most macOS and iOS devices, so if you’re worried about this at all, make sure to fix it on any device you use in public - not just phones.

by js2 7y ago

stronglikedan 7y ago

Reminds me of Bluejacking back in the day. Take a group picture of a bunch of random strangers in a store, then send it to as many open Bluetooth connections as you can find and watch people scratching their heads trying to figure out who was "watching them". CompUSA was always a good candidate store due to the volume of "techies" in one place.

mixmastamyk 7y ago

Bluetooth should be off also, unless you have a use case. (Apparently Bluetooth has some valiant defenders, but I stand by my assertion on security grounds.)

dewey 7y ago
With Bluetooth headphones being pretty widespread now it’ll probably be enabled most of the time for most people. Especially with the low energy version if doesn’t really matter any more too.
- mixmastamyk 7y ago
  That's an extra purchase fitting the "use case" exception mentioned above.
- LeifCarrotson 7y ago
  I have (and love) Tile Bluetooth locators on my keys and in my wallet. I never loose phone/wallet/keys anymore (or I lose all three simultaneously, in which case I have to log into my laptop or ask my wife to use her Tile app to alarm my phone for me). And my car starts music over my Bluetooth when I turn on the radio. I can answer calls hands-free by pushing a button on the dash. I don't have to touch my phone at all for these things to happen, just to keep it in my pocket or bag. Both of these highly useful functions mean that my Bluetooth is on perpetually. Enabling it only when I wanted to use these features would be a major reduction in functionality for me.
  - mixmastamyk 7y ago
    I have a basket that I put stuff in when I walk in the door, those things never get lost. My whole music collection is in flac on a thumbdrive in my car. I don't need to do anything else. Different people do different things, of course.

mintplant 7y ago

Reminds me of PictoChat on the Nintendo DS. Chat on one of four available channels with nearby users over local wireless, by exchanging text and hand-drawn pictures. At about the peak of its popularity—right before smartphones became truly prevalent among kids my age—I was doing middle school science fairs. This involved lots of standing around waiting in front of your trifold posterboard while judges slowly worked their way along the rows and rows of other projects. We weren't supposed to leave our own stations in the meantime, and they were spaced out enough to make talking with your neighbors inconvenient. Instead, the whole room was on PictoChat, filling up all four channels with streams of chatter and doodles and mutual commiseration on our anxieties over presenting to the judges.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

floatingatoll 7y ago

Note that AirDrop is available on most macOS and iOS devices, so if you’re worried about this at all, make sure to fix it on any device you use in public - not just phones.