File sharing is common practice for anyone using smartphones. You either send or receive photos, videos, documents, or other files from someone.
Sharing files with people is no big deal under normal circumstances. But with a spike in cyber-related attacks, it has become a cause for concern. Apple’s AirDrop, believed to be highly secure before now, is under scrutiny over a security flaw that puts you in harm's way. So is AirDrop secure for you to use?
What Is AirDrop?
AirDrop is a file-sharing technology that allows users of Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, and Mac to share files while nearby.
AirDrop uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and peer-to-peer Wi-Fi to share files between Apple devices. The Bluetooth link locates the device that you want to send the file to and then the device that you are sending from generates a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connection that connects to the receiving device for the transfer.
AirDrop doesn’t require internet or a local Wi-Fi network. Regardless of where you are, you can share files with iOS devices that are close to you.
The absence of a sharing network eradicates the use of bandwidth, making the size of the file that you are sharing irrelevant. You can send large files speedily, depending on the capacity of the recipient's hardware.
Since AirDrop doesn’t use the internet but Bluetooth, the proximity of both devices affects the success of the transfer. The maximum distance for transfer is about 10 meters or 30 feet. Anything more than this and the transfer will be unsuccessful.
Is AirDrop a Security Risk?
The security of AirDrop has been questioned following a report by a group of computer science researchers from the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany. The researchers claim that other nearby devices can access your phone number and email address when you want to share files.
During the file-sharing process, AirDrop checks the receiver's phone number and email address for authentification. The researchers claimed that any nearby devices can interfere in the connection and gain unauthorized access to your personal information.
Your device doesn’t have to be connected to other nearby devices before it can be hacked.
Data shared on AirDrop have privacy protections—a series of cryptographic measures known as hash functions. But the researchers faulted the potency of the hash functions, revealing that they can be easily compromised with the use of simple techniques like brute-force attacks.
When intruders gain access to your phone number and email address, you could become a victim of cyber-related attacks such as identity theft and phishing.
Is Apple aware of this security risk? The researchers claimed to have informed Apple about the problem two years ago but the company has neither acknowledged it nor made any attempts to fix it to our knowledge.
How to Secure Your AirDrop
Are you worried about the security of using AirDrop? Being on the receiving end of a security breach isn’t a pleasant experience.
If you are still keen on using your AirDrop, take the following security measures to secure your device.
Keep AirDrop Off When Not in Use
The connectivity of your AirDrop can only be compromised when it’s turned on. To be on the safe side, ensure that you turn on your AirDrop only when you want to use it.
Once you are done using it, turn it off.
Use the Contacts Only Mode
The Contacts Only file-sharing mode restricts your device to your contacts while the Everyone file-sharing mode opens your device to everyone around. Ensure that you stick to the Contacts Only mode when you are in a public area.
Keep Your Device Up to Date
As Apple continues to tighten the security of its AirDrop, you can keep your device secure by regularly updating it to the latest settings.
The Closer Your Device, the Better
AirDrop is one of the fastest and most convenient ways of sharing files on iOS devices. Ditching it completely isn't so easy.
According to the instructions on Apple’s website, the company advises you to ensure that the person you are sending a file to is within your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection. When the recipient is close to you, it’s easier to connect to them, limiting the chances of other nearby devices intruding.
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