Bluetooth is known as the best wireless technology that commands hands-free earpieces and connects your mobile to audio, navigation, and electronics by the Internet of Things (IoT). Bluetooth act as a double-edged sword. It can comfort you, but also imposes significant security risks.
Bluetooth can be unreliable at times. From random images Airdropped to your phone to locate tracking, to compromise device pairing- several possible things can go wrong. Bluetooth’s problem ranges from low-level privacy risks to significant security concerns.
Previously in August, a severe Bluetooth security notice was issued after the discovery of an alarming vulnerability that the security researchers have regarded as a grave threat to the privacy and security of all Bluetooth users. The vulnerability allows an attacking device to interfere with the connection and encryption process, steal the encryption keys, and access the data traffic between the target devices.
To aid our readers in their quest to know about the Bluetooth security issues, we’ve compiled this article that can answer all their questions. So, let’s read on and know more about the risks associated with Bluetooth.
What Are Bluetooth Security Issues?
Although Bluetooth is significantly useful but is it is not operated correctly, then it can make the users exposed to certain security risks. Users can be at high risk if their banking applications, email, social media, and private documents opened on your device. It is vital to secure your devices used by business organizations and individual users from attacks. The following are some ways by which hackers can compromise your systems via Bluetooth flaws and security issues.
Bluesnarfing
If the hacker has access to your phone, and they take your data from addresses, friends, photos, tweets, and schedules, without informing you, most likely, your sensitive information will be compromised. The attacker might download all your data and has to be present in your range. Bluetooth doesn’t use the user data after hacking because of the limitations of the radio waves.
Bluejacking
It includes hackers using your phone to develop malicious contact and then using that contact to send harmful text messages to your phone. Just because the contact is already trusted by your phone, the messages will get automatically open, and they get a chance to steal the valuable data in this process.
Bluebugging
It is also known as Bluetooth spying and is one of the worst types of Bluetooth hacks. Like a malware site uses an incorrect address to trouble people, hackers generate some famous computer names and traps you to such devices rather than the real device you are searching for, and these are the dull variables in the safety flaws of Bluetooth.
However, you can control the device by partnering with them, and they will be using your contact list, listening to all the messages, recordings, and also tracking your GPS location. The cybercriminals can also listen to the discussions that take place around you if they get connected to a computer by using a microphone.
Bluesmack
It is also known as Bluetooth DDoS attacks, which is a manipulative technique used to abuse or annoy an individual. Under such attacks, the Bluetooth-enabled devices are subjugated by malicious requests from the hacker, causing it to be unworkable by its owner and drains the device’s battery. The entire operations of the device are affected after the attack. Due to the proximity needed for Bluetooth connection, users can quickly move the device to a new location to avoid the attack from taking place.
Worms and Viruses
It is a matter of common observation that mobile phones and tablets are prone to malicious software and viruses, which is usually downloaded through mobile apps. The smartphone keys are vulnerable to mistakes that can also lead to incorrect web addresses, where a website name can result in ransomware and other harmful files installed on your system if you misspell any character. Since the screens of smartphones are smaller in size; thus, it is difficult to detect any fake website. With the installation of a virus, it might attempt to open security concerns of the devices as well as some other Bluetooth issues.
How to Prevent These Security Risks
Bluetooth security is one part of the overall network and information security. Some swift and easy steps can be taken to ensure that a business is protected from the above-mentioned Bluetooth security issues. The Bluetooth connection has been present for us for decades. Although the connection itself is secure, still hackers are looking for ways to decrypt codes and find alternatives to compromise your device. One of the best possible solutions to protect your data and prevent such issues is to start using a VPN. Besides using a VPN, there are some other ways by which you can remain protected. Some of these ways are as follows:
Hide Your Connection
By default, your device can easily be discovered by another Bluetooth-enabled device until you’ve switched your device. You must change the Bluetooth settings to undiscoverable and only make it discoverable when you feel the need to connect to a reliable tool.
Avoid Connections In Public Places
When you pair up with a device in a public place, any attacker within 50 meters of the radius can quickly join your connection and steal your data. Make sure that you only connect to only known devices, mainly when you visit any planned event. It is because the planned events provide hackers plenty of time to organize and plan how to steal the data. Ensure that either you’re at home, office, or any other isolated place before you switch on your Bluetooth.
Use Strong Passwords
Passwords have their worth and value. If your phone does or does not have any critical or sensitive data, secure your phone with a strong password. Now, there are several password managers so you can take their assistance or can also protect your data in a password-protected file. By doing so, if a hacker gains access to your phone through Bluetooth, he won’t get anything to steal from it.
Network Security Assessment
Another step to combat Bluetooth security issues is to conduct professional security assessment, especially at your business place. Network security assessment helps in identifying the Bluetooth security risks and offer solutions to make sure that the risks are reduced, and your business is now protected. However, if you’re not sure how to detect the Bluetooth versions numbers, so; turn off the device functionality or what devices to select while upgrading, because then such assessment may prove extremely beneficial.
Use Application-Level Encryption
If you’re in search of high-level security for communication among devices, then you can implement encryption at the application level. In this process, the data is first encrypted and then transferred via using Bluetooth. Upon receiving, it should get decrypted on the other end.
The transmission of the data might take a long time without encryption, and this time might vary because of the algorithm used to encrypt. If AES, DES, and Triple DES algorithms are well-thought-out, the DES will perform the best. However, it is not truly secured. While on the other hand, AES and Triple DES will play in the same way when transmitting, but the Triple-DES might take extra time to encrypt the data. Therefore, it is recommended to use either AES or DES depending on the level of security needed.
Use Bluetooth-Independent Re-Authentication
A re-authentication is needed whenever a user wants to access certain information or even services. It can be implemented within the application. For example, by using a fingerprint scanner to avoid irritating the user by asking them for a username and password results in an interaction with a piece of secure information. Such a mechanism can effectively prevent attacks like Bluebugging.
Wrapping Up
To conclude, Bluetooth does impose some severe security issues, but there is nothing that doesn’t have a solution. By following the tips mentioned above, hopefully, you’ve got a clear idea of how to secure your Bluetooth-enabled devices and get away from the clutches of hackers.
