"China Claims Successful Crack of Apple AirDrop Encryption"

Apple has been aware of the security vulnerability in AirDrop since at least 2019, which allowed a Chinese state-backed institute to crack the encryption and obtain the phone numbers and email addresses of those using the file-sharing feature. The vulnerability, known to security researchers for years, poses a risk to the privacy and safety of users, particularly in regions with oppressive governments. While Apple's reluctance to break compatibility with older devices is understandable, the exploitation of this vulnerability raises significant concerns about user privacy and security.