Expert warns of scammers ‘bluejacking’ your smartphone

(InvestigateTV) — According to Bluetooth, more than five billion new Bluetooth devices will be shipped this year, adding to the billions of devices already in use and making it a tempting target for fraudsters.

There are several ways Bluetooth can be exploited by unscrupulous people:

“Bluejacking” – When an attacker sends unsolicited messages to a Bluetooth-enabled device. Cybercriminals can bluejack a device from as far as 30 feet away.

“Bluesnarfing” – Where a hacker steals information from a phone through Bluetooth. This often works with older devices with out-of-date software.

“Bluebugging” – Where a cybercriminal gets complete control over a device through Bluetooth.

Adrianus Warmenhoven is a cybersecurity expert with NordVPN. He said the best thing to do is switch off your Bluetooth in public places and only use it when necessary.

“Do not use Bluetooth. Don’t leave it on all the time. Just because you might get into the vicinity of some device you use it sparingly,” Warmenhoven said. “The other thing is if you get a lot of Bluetooth pairing requests, switch off your phone if possible or walk away from the vicinity.”

He recommended those with a wireless device that never moves, like a security camera or doorbell, should use a wired connection.

He reminded consumers to replace devices too old to update.

“And the argument is always ‘it still makes phone calls,’” Warmenhoven said. “I can still run WhatsApp or Signal or whatever on it, but it’s not secure and you keep it with you and you’re in areas where you have no control over security, so please replace it.”

He shared a few other tips for using Bluetooth safely:

• Do not accept requests to pair devices with a stranger.
• If you receive a file on your phone from an unknown device, don’t open it.
• Keep devices updated. If there’s a software update, do it as soon as possible.