Bluetooth warning: how hackers can break into your phone

The German experts advise users to switch off Bluetooth when it is not needed. Experts warn that the constantly active module not only reduces the battery life of a smartphone but also opens the way for cyberattacks.

T4 writes about it.

What are the risks of having Bluetooth always on?

The researchers explain that even without an active connection, Bluetooth remains in the background and continuously scans for surrounding devices. This "invisible work" causes the battery to drain faster, which is especially noticeable during intensive use of the smartphone.

However, experts consider the problem of power consumption to be secondary to cyber threats. Protocol vulnerabilities allow hackers to organise Bluejacking (spamming), Bluebugging (full control over the victim's gadget), and "man-in-the-middle" traffic interception attacks. Some apps, analysts add, use Bluetooth to invisibly collect personal data and further target advertising, as independent research pointed out in 2018.

So, disabling the wireless interface when it is not needed is a basic practice of digital hygiene. In the world where smartphones store more and more confidential information, even one extra icon on the dashboard can be crucial for security.

As a reminder, cybersecurity experts have discovered the serious vulnerability that potentially threatens billions of devices around the world. It is a hidden command embedded in the Bluetooth chip used in a large number of gadgets.

We also wrote that Bluetooth has long been an integral part of modern smartphones and gadgets, but this is what makes it attractive to cybercriminals. Even without Internet access, an improperly configured wireless module can open a dangerous security loophole in a device's security system.