AirDrop It is a wireless sharing function commonly used by fruit fans to transfer files to each other. However, recently there have been cases in Taiwan of AirDrop maniacs using AirDrop as a tool for inappropriate sexual harassment, similar to what is common in Japan. A few days ago, a female passenger took the MRT and was sent an AirDrop file containing indecent photos by an AirDrop crook. After the MRT police reviewed the relevant images, compared and filtered them, the suspected man was sent to court for violating the Sexual Harassment Prevention and Control Act.
Why has AirDrop become a medium for sexual harassment or mobile phone poisoning by MRT obsessives? How to avoid it? Here is an explanation:
AirDrop is a file sharing function exclusive to APPLE devices. As long as you have a macOS and iOS system device and turn on WiFi and Bluetooth at the same time, you can share and receive photos, documents and other content with other nearby Apple devices through AirDrop.AirDrop allows APPLE devices to transfer large amounts of data to each other within a radius of 10 meters via Bluetooth and WiFi. If AirDrop acceptance is set to “Allow everyone”, if you are not careful, you may easily receive indecent content from strangers or high-risk file attacks containing viruses.
A few days ago, a female passenger took a MRT Xinlu Line train and received an AirDrop file containing indecent photos of a man in the carriage. After the MRT Police reviewed the relevant images, compared and filtered them, the man surnamed Chen was transferred to the Da’an Branch for violation of the Sexual Harassment Prevention and Control Act.
The MRT Police Force stated that in recent years, people have been found on the MRT trains trying to sexually harass unspecified iPhone users by sending obscene pictures in mail packages with titles such as “Tips for Epidemic Prevention” using the AirDrop function. This type of crime is a new type of crime called sexual harassment through the anonymous transmission of graphic and text information via digital wireless. The suspect surnamed Chen used the AirDrop function of his smartphone to randomly send obscene images, texts, and videos to nearby people in a narrow space and crowded places. He has violated the crime of distributing obscene articles and the Sexual Harassment Prevention and Control Act. According to the law, he is punishable by up to 2 years in prison and a fine of NT$100,000. If he sends obscene photos of minors, it will also involve the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation of Children and Juveniles.
Image source: MRT Police Department
How to avoid sexual harassment by AirDrop idiots? The MRT Police Department recommends the following:
1. Check “Contacts only” in the AirDrop setting on the APPLE device to reduce harassment by messages sent by strangers. If you are not using AirDrop, please try to set it to “Turn off reception”.
In addition, when using AirDrop, it is best to avoid using your real name to log in to your iPhone or iPad. Because when the AirDrop reception condition is set to “Everyone”, the sending destination of everyone around you will display your device name “iPhone/iPad with real name”.
2. If you encounter sexual harassment through the anonymous transmission of graphic and text information via digital wireless, first note down the surrounding environment and people, and record the time when the file was received, the car number or train number, etc., and take a screenshot of the received screen as evidence, and immediately notify the station staff or the police for investigation.
Source: KOCPC Chinese