Recently, Apple has updated iOS 17Version 2, successfully closed a vulnerability that used Flipper Zero devices to harass iPhones.
The Fall/Winter Check-in Challenge The Flipper Zero is a small, multi-functional device that simulates NFC, RFID, or other radio signals. It was advertised as a toy device for "penetration testers and geeks," but received some criticism because it was also an easily accessible tool for hackers and other ill-intentioned people. The original Flipper Zero did not have this denial-of-service (DoS) capability, but instead required the installation of a third-party firmware called Xtreme, which included a BLE SPAM application for sending spam Bluetooth messages. With this app, users of Flipper Zero can send pop-up notifications to all iPhones within 30 feet at busy intersections, enough to make the Apple device lock up and need to be restarted. This attack will also affect other operating systems, including Android and Windows, but will only effectively shut down Apple devices. If connected to a larger antenna, users can even send these spam messages at a range of 50 feet or more.
The latest iOS update adds some useful features, such as the Journal app, but as usual, Apple doesn't detail all the security fixes in its release notes. It is worth noting that iOS 173 should add a whole bunch of anti-theft features, but we'll have to wait and see if Apple or any other device manufacturer can block these annoying Bluetooth messages altogether.