Bluetooth is one of the most widely used wireless technologies in the world. It helps us to transfer files or to connect external devices to our mobile phone terminal. Now, according to the latest studies, perhaps it should not be so.
Over the past few years, Bluetooth has been proven time and time again to be a privacy and security nightmare. In fact, one of the most common advice given to everyone at the annual DEF CON hacker conference in Las Vegas is to turn off this type of connection on their phones.
Several new technology researchers have demonstrated the ability to use Bluetooth to identify vulnerable speakers, and once identified, hackers can take control of these devices and force them to play whatever they want.
In fact, these hackers could reproduce “dangerous” sounds capable of even causing hearing loss to anyone near the speaker.
In addition, it has also been discovered that a flaw in the security system opens a door for hackers to also intercept and alter data sent via Bluetooth.
"An attacker can listen to or change the content of a nearby Bluetooth communication, even between devices that have previously been successfully paired," these experts explained to Mashable.
A few weeks ago, security flaws in Apple's AirDrop technology were also discovered. In fact, through the use of this data transmission technology, also based on Bluetooth, hackers can determine your phone number.
Also, as the New York Times reported, many stores use Bluetooth beacons to track shopper locations. This information is often sold to advertisers who use it to create profiles and databases.
In short, keeping Bluetooth activated on your phone exposes us to possible hacking, abuse and privacy violations. At the moment, the only effective solution is the simplest: Don't use it. And if you do, remember to disable it once you unlink from the device in question.
