A Southwest Airlines passenger was “cyberflashed” onboard using Apple’s AirDrop technology. But flight attendants handled the issue well.
AirDrop is the name given by Apple to technology that allows for the quick transfer of files via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It is available on Apple mobile phones, laptops, and tablets.
40-year-old Kat Pitman took her seat after boarding a Southwest flight from Louisville to Chicago. Suddenly, an AirDrop request appeared. When a request appears, you’ll see a thumbnail of the image or file to be sent and the name of the sender. Pitman noticed it was pornographic.
image: Apple
She denied the request and turned her phone off, but then turned it on again to take a screenshot of the sender’s name. But when she turned her phone back on she received another two AirDrop requests, this time a video and another picture.
Pitman discreetly notified a flight attendant, who was not at all discreet about handling the issue.
Getting on the intercom, the flight attendant demanded that the passenger who was sending lewd pictures via AirDrop to cease and desist. I like the direct approach.
Pitman told USA Today:
There was no question. They weren’t like, “What’s AirDrop?” They just took care of it. They continued to check on me during the flight and as I left the flight. I just was incredibly impressed.
CONCLUSION
I learned a new term today…I previously had not heard of cyberflashing. The only time I’ve ever been “airdropped” by a stranger was on my Air France HOP! flight from Paris to Mulhouse last December. Someone onboard sent me a picture of a lady laying down across two seats. I chalked it up as harmless mistake and deleted it.
But if you don’t want to receive unexpected images or files from strangers, be sure your AirDrop settings are properly adjusted. In settings, you can specify whether you want to receive files from “everyone” or just “contacts only”.
Why would someone complain about getting any if they make it available to anyone?
Is this a serious question?
I think he means why leave your airdrop on them complain about people airdropping u stuff.
I think most people don’t even know if it is on or off. But that doesn’t matter—there is no excuse to send unsolicited lewd material to anyone at anytime.
Most people are idiots. Take a look at the world around you.
This is likely to be someone she knows , who happened to be on the same flight, playing a joke on her. No one else would even know her number, even if they wanted to send porn ( pretty unlikely)
You can search for phones in the area. You don’t have to know the person’s number to send it.
You should read up on how airdrop, nfc and same network discovery works:
https://www.howtogeek.com/301313/how-to-turn-off-airdrop-in-ios-so-you-dont-get-unsolicited-photos/
That’s not how airdrop works if it’s set to accept from everybody. If it’s on to everyone then your device is viewable via the wifi.
You don’t have to know their number to airdrop.
How very disturbing.
This sort of thing is the worst part of flying. That and creepy old dudes thinking they’re slick and I didn’t notice the picture of me they’re taking when they think I’m too busy to notice and won’t recognize my own hair in full brightness SMS thumbnails.
Or, how to make a 5-16 hour flight an exercise in sleep deprivation because you just violated the basic seat partner trust contract.