Expert says everyone should turn off little-known setting on iPhone to stop hackers

Technology is a massive part of our daily lives but it could also be our downfall if we're not careful enough with our security.

As tech gets more and more advanced, unfortunately so do the capabilities of hackers who are looking to steal our money, identities or dignity online, and the growth of artificial intelligence only makes that easier.

While we may joke about people who are fooled by elaborate requests from hackers to send them money, often under the guise of a family member or a celebrity, the worrying development of AI makes us all far more vulnerable to that in the future.

Although you would hope that many of us would keep the security methods on our devices up to date, that often isn't the reality. This can make them an obvious target for any hackers or thieves, with the technology itself not the only thing they're likely to get their hands on.

Hackers might simply need to have their own phones nearby (Getty Stock Images)

Phone theft seems to be more prevalent than ever but apparently more advanced hackers can steal data and information simply by having their own device close to yours.

And now much of social media have been urging Apple users to turn off a little-known feature in order to keep themselves safe, since phones typically include personal information, pictures and bank details.

Experts in cybersecurity have also joined in to warn about the potential effects of leaving AirPlay settings on 'automatic' on your iPhone.

Kevin Tackett, CEO of security consulting company Secure Ideas, clarified that any additional connectivity is a potential risk for users.

He told HuffPost: "Having this on when you don’t need it is a bigger issue than not having it on."

However, he also made it clear that that you are unlikely to have all your information stolen simply by having it on, although anything that can give a potential hacker 'additional connectivity' is usually a 'risk'.

Hackers can get their hands on a lot (Getty Stock Images)

Meanwhile, Dave Chronister, CEO of Parameter Security, suggested that while vulnerabilities with Apple and AirPlay devices were addressed last year, the concerns highlighted why 'automatic connections, while convenient, can be a very bad idea'.

"If I as a hacker wanted to exploit this, I could set up a device that would broadcast AirPlay. If a vulnerable system connects, I can send the exploit code, and without any user interaction, their device would be compromised," he said.

"Depending on the vulnerability, it may also give me access to almost anything on the device. Any device that is set to accept airplay from ‘the same network’ or ‘everyone’ could be at risk."

How to turn off AirPlay on your iPhone

You can turn the feature off by going to: Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity > Automatically AirPlay. Under 'Automatically AirPlay', Apple offers iPhone users the option to choose between 'Never,' 'Ask' or 'Automatic'.

LADbible Group has contacted Apple for comment.