5
No connection is truly secure; even with Bluetooth connections, you should protect yourself from hackers. We’ll show you where the risks lie and how to avoid them.
Bluetooth connections fall victim to hackers
- Bluetooth can be used to send photos, text files, and various other documents. The transfer is simple and fast, but it’s also insecure.
- That’s because it’s not just professionals who can hack Bluetooth connections—even amateur hackers and children are capable of doing so.
- You can easily find the necessary tools online and in specialized forums. The software is usually not particularly difficult to use.
- Even if you don’t use Bluetooth at all, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Read more about this in the next paragraph.
How Bluetooth connections are hacked
- The pairing process is particularly critical. When you connect two devices via Bluetooth for the first time, you’ll be prompted for a PIN. You must enter this PIN on one of the devices. Intercepting the PIN isn’t difficult and opens the door wide for hackers.
- You should be especially careful if the connection between two already paired devices is interrupted. For example, once you’ve paired your smartphone and laptop, you won’t be repeating that process anytime soon. To avoid having to wait years for another pairing, a hacker can trigger a new pairing process.
- If you connect your cell phone via Bluetooth to your car’s hands-free system, you should also be careful here. Older cars in particular use an insecure default PIN that is easy to crack. Eavesdropping on your phone calls is therefore not a major problem.
Bluetooth: How to Protect Yourself from a Hacking Attack
- Only connect your Bluetooth devices in a secure environment. You should avoid crowded places and cafes with free Wi-Fi for this purpose.
- If you want to play it safe, only connect your devices when no other Bluetooth devices are displayed within range.
- Turn off the Bluetooth connection on your devices when you’re not using them. This isn’t just safer—it also saves battery life.
- If an existing Bluetooth connection is lost and you need to pair the devices again, stop the process for now. In this case, you should only reestablish the connection in a truly secure environment.
