Nowadays, almost all electronic devices have a Bluetooth connection, which allows us to pair any device with the press of a button, be it a tablet, laptop, speaker or wireless earbuds. The technology is fast and convenient, which is why it is so widespread, however, due to frequent use, many people do not turn off the function at all. However, this can also pose a serious security risk, writes A slash gear.
Once you pair your Android smartphone with a gadget, it will automatically reconnect next time – provided you leave the function turned on. This can be especially convenient if you want to quickly use your wireless headphones or connect your phone to the audio system before driving. But convenience also poses a risk, as we leave the door open to digital hackers.
The main weakness of the technology stems from its nature, that is, from the fact that devices detect each other within range of each other. A Bluetooth-enabled device sends a signal that can be detected by other devices within a certain distance – about 10 metres. By making a device easy to detect, it becomes vulnerable. A hacker can easily connect to our device while traveling on the subway, even without the user’s permission, but it may also happen that it sends a series of connection requests to our mobile phone that temporarily paralyzes the device.
However, they can also use the data obtained by Bluetooth for other purposes. The The New York Times Article, some supermarkets, such as Walmart and Target, may also use the technology to track in-store customers.
Concerns about Bluetooth arise from time to time: Kamala Harris US Vice President A Politico According to, for example, only wired earphones are used strictly to avoid possible similar violations. However, you don’t have to think that far, for your own safety it’s enough to only run the function when you really want to use it.
