Today, Bluetooth has become a ubiquitous feature in our devices. Whether it’s your laptop, smartphone, or desktop computer, this technology offers the convenience of wirelessly pairing headphones or sharing files, eliminating the need for cumbersome wires

Consider the wealth of personal and sensitive information you store on these Bluetooth devices: cherished family photos, financial documents, login information, and more. The thought of this falling into the wrong hands is unsettling

Now, picture a scenario where hackers exploit this technology to steal these files right off your device, leaving you none the wiser. This is the stealthy nature of a successful Bluesnarfing attack, underscoring the need for constant vigilance

The goal of bluesnarfists – the melding of the words Bluetooth and snarf – is to establish fraudulent wireless connections and access your information. Without you realising it, cybercriminals can remotely enter your wireless devices (phone, tablet, smartwatch or wearables) and steal information, such as passwords, messages from email or photographs

How is a bluesnarfing attack performed?

The main characteristic of this malicious practice is that the criminal must be physically close to the device to which they want to connect. Bluetooth connections are short-range wireless transmissions and do not usually work more than 10 or 15 metres away. It is common for attackers to launch a search to detect devices with a low level of protection.

Generally, two electronic devices must pair to connect via Bluetooth. Pairing consists of the two devices registering each other’s access information, and the connection is authorised using a password. Cybercriminals manage to skip this step by using programs designed for this purpose.

Bluesnarfing vs. bluejacking vs. bluebugging: what’s the difference?

Bluesnarfing is sometimes confused with other Bluetooth security threats, including bluejacking and bluebugging.

• Bluejacking is another attack in which a hacker uses another Bluetooth device to spam your device with unsolicited phishing messages
• Bluebugging is when an attacker gains backdoor access to your Bluetooth device to spy on you

So, the main difference between bluesnarfing and these attacks is that bluesnarfing involves the theft of your personal files

How to prevent bluesnarfing: 10 cybersecurity tips

While detecting a bluesnarfing attack is tricky, there are some simple precautions you can take to help reduce the risk of bluesnarfing attacks while also improving your cybersecurity in the process. To help keep your device Cyber Safe and prevent a bluesnarfing attack from happening to you, follow these cybersecurity tips

Turn off your Bluetooth when not in use

Turning off your Bluetooth is the most effective way to eliminate the risk of a bluesnarfing attack. Just like you’d never leave your door open when leaving the house, you should never keep your Bluetooth on when it isn’t in use. If you do, you’re technically leaving the door open for cyber criminals to try and connect to your device. To be safe, only turn your Bluetooth on when using it

Use a strong password

No matter what aspect of your cybersecurity you’re dealing with, using a secure password is a must. That way, if a hacker does make it onto your device, they may be stopped by a password before they can steal your information. Not only can this prevent a successful Bluetooth snarfing attack, but it can help minimise the damage a hacker can cause by connecting to your device

Don’t accept unknown pairing requests

Another way to prevent bluesnarfing attacks is to decline any pairing request you didn’t initiate. This can help you avoid accidentally letting in a Bluetooth hacker. Even if the device name seems familiar, always double-check before accepting. A hacker may be attempting to impersonate a device they think you’ll connect with without question

Avoid storing sensitive information on Bluetooth devices

While this technically won’t prevent a bluesnarfing attack on its own, keeping sensitive information off of your Bluetooth device is a great way to reduce the chances of it getting into the wrong hands, ultimately leading to other cybersecurity threats like identity theft

Require approval for all Bluetooth connections

Configure your Bluetooth device so it doesn’t automatically connect with new devices without your permission. That way, you can screen each Bluetooth pairing request and only connect with devices that you know are safe

Avoid pairing devices for the first time in public

When pairing two devices for the first time, do it in a secure location like your house. If you pair the two devices in a populated area, such as a coffee shop, it’s possible that a Bluetooth hacker can pop in and hijack the pairing process and connect to your device

Make your device non-discoverable

Like turning off your Bluetooth altogether, ensuring your device is set to non-discoverable is another way to help prevent a hacker from seeing it. While it may still be possible for a hacker to find your device if your Bluetooth is still on, turning off your discoverability can significantly reduce the chances that a hacker will discover your device

Keep track of your Bluetooth devices

Knowing the location of your Bluetooth devices is a helpful way to ensure they are never in harm’s way. For example, you leave a Bluetooth device in your car while parked in a populated area. If your device has Bluetooth discoverability turned on, a nearby hacker may try to attack it while you’re away

Keep your operating system up to date

In many cases, a Bluetooth device with an outdated operating system is a dream for a Bluetooth hacker because it will lack the most up-to-date bug fixes and security patches. This can make it easier for a hacker to exploit a security vulnerability and access your information. To prevent this, always update your device’s operating system

Use two-factor authentication

While two-factor authentication (2FA) won’t stop a bluesnarfing attack from happening, it can help deter your attacker from easily accessing any of your online accounts. That way, even if the hacker finds one of your passwords, they can’t successfully log in to any account where you have 2FA enabled

By keeping these good cyber hygiene habits in mind, you can use your Bluetooth device knowing you’ve taken the best precautions to avoid a bluesnarfing attack. Not only that, but they can help protect you from other emerging mobile threats