Bluetooth allows hackers to access your location

Bugs and shortcomings with the Bluetooth function are nothing new for smartphone users. These problems make your device vulnerable. Hackers can use a broadcast signal to steal data or even take complete control of your device.

PhoneArena has published another article on the dangers and threats that have caused a lot of problems for mobile phone users in the past.

How were these as yet undiscovered shortcomings revealed?

A group of investigators in the US has identified vulnerabilities that provide easy access for unauthorized people to smartphones. According to the problem developers, it is possible to access the location and data of other devices whenever the Bluetooth function is turned on. Sometimes it is possible to hack other devices even after disabling this frequently used feature.

All modern devices that can connect via Bluetooth leave behind the so-called “Stop.” They use special BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) chips and they generate an easily attackable signal. This means that most modern used smartphones, tablets and accessories can be easily attacked without the owners’ knowledge.

The survey found that 47% of the 647 facilities that the researchers deliberately attacked and examined had no action and were easily identifiable. Only 15% of the total had the signal at least encrypted by other devices.

The researchers even followed 17 of the observed people. They confirmed that the Bluetooth signal can provide the hacker with the user’s location data with an accuracy of 97%.

These shortcomings do not only affect the owners of smartphones with the Android operating system, but also all smartphones of the popular Apple brand. However, the source said that there is a slight difference between the signals from smartphones with different operating systems.

Does turning off Bluetooth help protect your device?

One of the other big problems is that turning off Bluetooth may not protect your device from attack at all. Surveys have found a constant weak signal on some products even after the feature is turned off.

The only sure and 100% solution is a complete shutdown of the device. Of course, wearing a turned off smartphone won’t help anyone.

The researchers proposed a solution. This is a more frequent change in Bluetooth signal frequencies by calibrating the components in each device. This could adjust the signals from the devices to less predictable ones.

Detailed information will be published at the 43rd hearing on user security and privacy, which will take place in 2022. Until then, we will have to trust the current measures provided by Bluetooth.