The world of smart devices has made life infinitely more convenient with its bluetooth and internet-connected speakers, thermostats, lighting, and door locks. It’s also given rise to attacks such as bluejacking, bluesnarfing, and blue bugging that give hackers access to our devices and homes.
Different Types of Bluetooth Attacks
Bluejacking is pretty much exactly what it sounds like – it’s what happens when hacker highjacks a discoverable device. After they do this, they can pull pranks or spams it with messages nonstop. This is incredibly annoying, but it’s not necessarily a security danger the way other types of bluetooth attacks are because it doesn’t give the hacker access to your private data or sensitive information. They also don’t have total control of the device when they bluejack it.
The next most serious bluetooth hacking threat is bluesnarfing. This kind of attack is used by hackers who are bent on accessing data such as passwords and contact information – and they’ll target your devices in order to do so.
Bluebugging is a particularly dangerous threat in terms of bluetooth hacking, because it can give a complete stranger total control of your home access control system, as well as other smart devices. In a best-case scenario, a hacker could toy around with with your home’s climate control or lights. The real worry with bluebugging, however, is that someone could use this type of attack to disable your security system or work smart door locks that are controlled by the system, giving them easy access to your home.
Tips to Prevent Bluetooth Hacking
Tip #1: Don’t keep default passwords. When you get a new device, change the password right away.
Tip #2: Use two-factor authentication. That way, if a hacker cracks your password, there’s another level of security keeping them out.
Tip #3: Update your software. Device manufacturers are always working on patches and fixes for holes and bugs, but they only work if you actually update your devices whenever a new software version is released.
Keeping bluetooth hackers out is possible, but your smart devices need your help.
