Apple has always been known for the security of its systems and for its concern to maintain the privacy of its users. In fact, it is something that they themselves have tirelessly promoted. But in the end, even the biggest ones can fail. This is what has happened with AirDrop and its vulnerabilities, of which Apple has been aware for several years.
According to CNN, a group of researchers warned Apple in 2019 that the AirDrop feature had security flaws to take into account. AirDrop is an Apple service that allows us to share files of all kinds between iPhone, iPad, or Mac users. Apple has always emphasized the reliability of this system, but the actions of the Chinese government have revealed another unpleasant truth: AirDrop transfers are not as secure as they claimed.
The technology company Wangshendongjian Technology, based in Beijing, was able to access AirDrop data to identify some users of the Beijing subway. These users had been accused of sharing “inappropriate information,” according to the judicial authorities of the Asian country.
What was the motivation behind it? To begin with, it is important to know that browsing the Internet from China also involves encountering many restrictions. The government maintains strong control over the information that citizens can access thanks to the so-called Great Firewall of China.
This is where Apple’s functionality comes into play. AirDrop does not use the Internet to connect to other Apple devices; it first activates Bluetooth to establish communication and then creates a WiFi network between devices to send data. It is a way for Chinese citizens to transmit uncensored information. For example, AirDrop was widely used during the anti-government protests in Hong Kong in 2019.
The actions of the Chinese government have raised concerns about how authoritarian regimes can “pervert” these technologies for their own purposes. Politicians like Marco Rubio, senator from Florida, said that Apple should “be held accountable for not protecting its users against such blatant security flaws.”
