Cybersecurity experts say iPhone users should review the AirPlay setting under Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity, warning that leaving it on “Automatic” adds unnecessary exposure even if viral claims of instant full data theft are overstated.
Last year’s AirPlay flaws—dubbed AirBorne—showed how nearby or networked devices could be exploited, and experts said a vulnerable phone set to auto-connect could be compromised without user interaction depending on the bug.
iOS updates can reset connectivity options to less secure defaults, including “Automatic,” making post-update checks important because future AirPlay worms or newly discovered flaws could hit more devices at once.
Security advisers said users who do not need AirPlay should turn it off, while those who do should switch to “Ask”; they also urged tighter control of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and trusted networks more broadly.
As cars and public screens adopt AirPlay, are we creating city-wide networks vulnerable to mass cyberattacks?
Are your iPhone's automatic updates secretly undoing your security settings and exposing your personal data?