Bluetooth devices have the centre stage in the development of advanced technologies. This battery-powered technology works with all smart home gadgets, headphones, and practically any other device you can imagine.
People have been utilising technology to wirelessly transfer information from one device to another even before mobile phones were invented. As such, Bluetooth is more secure than Wi-Fi in most instances.
However, like with any wireless system, your information might be sent to someone you didn’t want to have access to. It’s not only music streaming to Bluetooth headphones that might be at risk.
Bluetooth can reveal a lot of information from your smartphone, laptop, or PC. Is Bluetooth secure or not? And if not, how to secure Bluetooth?
It’s past time for you to be aware of the security and privacy dangers associated with Bluetooth.
How Secure is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is no exception to the rule that no connection is flawless or secure. Bluetooth, being a wireless data transfer technology, carries certain inherent cybersecurity concerns and has troubleshooting problems as well.
You don’t want unauthorised parties to be able to read the data you’re sending over Bluetooth, and you don’t want them to be able to use your Bluetooth-enabled devices.
It’s helpful to understand the security concerns associated with Bluetooth so you can make use of all of the benefits of the widely used wireless technology while minimising the hazards.
Here are the most common types of Bluetooth attacks you should be well aware of.
BlueSmacking
You might be wondering what a Denial of Service assault is. BlueSmacking is a method of launching a DoS attack on a Bluetooth-enabled device. Whenever a target, such as a server and devices, receives far more or larger data packets than it can process. The target becomes overloaded and shuts down.
Thankfully, in terms of cyber assaults in general, DoS attacks are minor. It’s generally possible to recover from one by simply restarting the affected device.
However, attackers can execute more devastating cyber assaults by using the distraction or annoyance of a DoS attack. As a result, DoS attacks should not be overlooked.
To be a little more technical, a BlueSmack attack sends a very large data packet using the L2CAP layer of Bluetooth’s networking stack.
You couldn’t possibly consume a large pizza in one sitting. If you did, you’d definitely collapse on your sofa with stomach pain. A similar notion exists between BlueSmack and Bluetooth.
Bluejacking
This was maybe the first sort of assault that Bluetooth had to deal with.
The following is the scenario: A hacker sends a text message with a “business card” to another user. This business card is nothing more than a message written by the hacker himself. When you view the business card, a message will display on your screen, prompting you to open your Bluetooth.
If you don’t know what the message means, you may have given the hacker access to add your device to their contact list without realising it. He can easily send you harmful files from then on.
BlueSnarfing
BlueSnarfing occurs when a hacker connects to your smartphone by Bluetooth and gets information from it without your permission or knowledge, such as contact numbers, e-mail addresses, or calendar events.
A hacker will require a lot of technical expertise as well as a lot of time to do this. As a result, few occurrences of BlueSnarfing have been documented.
Bluebugging
Bluebugging is an attack that was created when it was discovered how simple it is to carry out Bluejacking and BlueSnarfing.
Bluebugging creates a backdoor on a victim’s phone or laptop using Bluetooth. Backdoors are hazardous because they allow a hostile outsider to access your device and sensitive data from within.
They can basically utilise the backdoor to snoop on your activities. They could even be able to impersonate you on social media or when you’re doing your online banking.
What is the Safest Way to Use Bluetooth?
With these security concerns in mind, it’s critical to understand how to utilise Bluetooth properly. Here are a few pointers to help you avoid any nasty surprises.
Updates on Security
The easiest method to be safe is to keep your system up to date as soon as new patches are released. Google and Amazon, for example, published fresh patches when the BlueBorne vulnerability was found, protecting users against these sorts of assaults.
As a result, the vulnerability was immediately addressed. To protect themselves, users just had to download the most recent update. As a result, we always advise keeping all of your apps and systems up to date.
Latest Versions
It’s also vital to pick devices that use the most recent Bluetooth version, just as it is with security updates. Bluetooth tracking was deactivated in version 4.0, for example.
The newest standard, version 5.0, is automatically loaded in newly issued products. You will have to wait until you buy a new gadget since installing a more recent version of Bluetooth on an older device is not feasible.
Turn On and Turn Off
Although the ability of Bluetooth devices to automatically locate other devices is a helpful feature, it also leaves them vulnerable to assaults. It’s best to switch Bluetooth on just when you need it to conserve your phone’s battery and to better defend yourself from assaults.
When you leave a place or disconnect from a device, many automation applications, such as Tasker, may be set up to switch off your Bluetooth automatically. Not only will this increase your security, but it will also extend the life of your device’s battery.
How to Secure Bluetooth Devices?
Set up your device so you can connect with known devices to protect your Bluetooth connection. You may do this under the Bluetooth settings. This procedure frequently foils attempts to create unwanted connections with new devices.
Second, you may configure your device so that establishing a new connection requires a pin code. It’s nearly impossible for someone to fool your phone into making a new connection as a result of this.
You may also make your gadget invisible by hiding it from others. This protects your device from BlueSnarfing, Bluejacking, Bluebugging, and the majority of other assaults.
Focus On the Big Picture
It’s critical to create and convey policies for devices security, including Bluetooth, so that your data isn’t jeopardised and the end-users can operate safely while on the go.
Keep in mind that smart devices provide a range of threats that must be handled, and Bluetooth security is only one piece of the device security jigsaw that is sometimes neglected.
For both home and business security, be sure to incorporate mobile device security as part of your overall cybersecurity plan.
