You've probably heard that you should turn off your Bluetooth when you're not using it, but it seems that iOS 11 has made this process more complicated!
Disabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth used to be very simple. It was done by swiping up and pressing two buttons on the control panel. These buttons are still present in the new and improved (but slightly more complex) Control Center in iOS, but pressing them is not enough to completely disable their functions.
Instead, it stops your phone from connecting to existing Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections.
The features may turn back on by themselves before long. Both will turn back on at 5am, while Wi-Fi will come back on as soon as you move to a new location!
If that scares you, don't worry: You can (really) turn them off the old-fashioned way. All you have to do is go to Settings > Wi-Fi and Settings > Bluetooth to completely disable their features.
This seems to fit with the image Apple in recent years. Apple's emphasis on a connected network of products and the need for devices to work together is growing, so it makes sense that it encourages you to keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (and therefore Airdrop, Airplay, Location Services, and all that) turned on.
So, you need to be careful and know what features are enabled on your device. We have learned that a flaw in Bluetooth can result in hackers accessing your device. Additionally, when Wi-Fi is enabled, hackers can break in and see which networks you are connected to and can more easily trick you. Going into your settings will take a few seconds, but it is definitely worth it.
