Bluesnarfing: What It Is & How to Protect Your Devices

Phishing, spoofing, spear phishing, carding, and quishing are just some of the terms used to describe different types of cyber scams and attacks. Another Bluetooth-related threat worth understanding is bluesnarfing. Well, it’s not really new, but it has been around since Bluetooth technology started to grow. Almost all smartphones, computers, wearables, peripherals, and connected devices use Bluetooth.

Bluetooth is a wireless technology used for short-range inter-device communication that has remained popular in the modern era. Because of this, users must understand the security threats that come with using Bluetooth-connected devices. Therefore, we will learn what bluesnarfing is, how these cyber scams occur, and how to protect ourselves from them.

What Is Bluesnarfing?

Bluesnarfing is the unauthorized access to and extraction of data from a vulnerable Bluetooth-enabled device without the user’s knowledge or permission. According to NIST, bluesnarfing can allow an attacker to access data on a vulnerable Bluetooth-enabled device without the user’s knowledge.

Something that happens without the permission of the device owner and usually results in the theft of information or some other type of damage to the device.

Why Bluetooth Devices Can Be Vulnerable to Bluesnarfing

As you know, Bluetooth is a wireless technology for exchanging data between gadgets over short distances. Bluetooth is designed for wireless communication over relatively short distances, although the effective range varies depending on the Bluetooth technology, device class, radio power, and environment.

Bluetooth uses security mechanisms designed to protect wireless communication, but these protections do not eliminate every security risk.

However, Bluetooth is not completely secure against hackers, and there are vulnerabilities in its protocols that they can exploit.

How Does a Bluesnarfing Attack Work?

Bluesnarfing can target vulnerable Bluetooth-enabled devices. However, simply enabling Bluetooth does not automatically give an attacker access; the attack depends on exploitable vulnerabilities or insecure Bluetooth configurations.

A successful attack may expose data stored on the vulnerable device, depending on the device and the vulnerability that the attacker exploits.

What Information Can Be Stolen in a Bluesnarfing Attack?

The information exposed in a bluesnarfing attack can vary depending on the device the individual is using. The hacking may give the attacker access to contacts, messages, calendar events, and additional files stored on the device. 

The amount and type of data that the attacker can access depend on the vulnerability and the device exploited. Keeping Bluetooth devices updated and securely configured is highly recommended.

Where Do Bluesnarfing Attacks Commonly Occur?

Because Bluetooth attacks generally require the attacker to be within wireless range of the target, public places can create opportunities for attackers to encounter nearby Bluetooth-enabled devices. In these locations, an attacker may search for discoverable or otherwise vulnerable Bluetooth devices and attempt to exploit a Bluetooth vulnerability to gain unauthorised access to data.

A bluesnarfing attack may occur without the victim’s knowledge or interaction. Bluesnarfing is one of several security threats associated with vulnerable Bluetooth-enabled devices.

How Can We Protect Ourselves From Bluesnarfing?

The steps to follow to protect ourselves from bluesnarfing are relatively simple (although we have expanded them).

• Turn off Bluetooth on your smartphone (or other gadgets) when you are not using it. By doing so, it may help you to prevent bluesnarfing and other Bluetooth attacks. 
• Make your Bluetooth device non-discoverable. It is recommended for users to keep Bluetooth discoverability turned off. Turn on the Bluetooth connection unless you need to activate it when trying to pair your smartwatch or wireless headphones to your phone. 
• Never accept bluetooth connections from unknown devices
• Keep your device software up-to-date. Updates usually fix potential vulnerabilities and increase the security of your devices.
• It is recommended for users to use secure Bluetooth pairing codes. When a device allows you to choose a Bluetooth pairing PIN or passkey, avoid predictable values such as 0000 or 1234. Use the strongest pairing method supported by both devices.
• Remove unknown or unused bluetooth devices. It is recommended for users to remove linked devices that they no longer use or that are unknown to them.

Also Read: Cybersecurity Tips You Should Follow To Protect Your Business