Bluetooth technology | Bluetooth has new vulnerabilities, how should we protect the security of our Bluetooth devices
According to cybersecurity experts, billions of Bluetooth devices are now at risk of an obvious security breach called BrakTooth.
According to WIRED, BrakTooth has the potential to allow any Bluetooth-enabled device to solve various problems, such as executing malware on the affected device. An attacker can also use the vulnerability to crash any nearby Bluetooth device, but it doesn't really say whether the device must be connected.
How many products fit all of these categories, and it’s easy to see that BrakTooth’s claim that it affects billions of Bluetooth devices is not overestimated. It is possible that all digital things can be hacked. But for many people, it seems more meaningful if certain devices are hacked compared to something as inconspicuous as Bluetooth.
Last year, news of similar network security vulnerabilities affecting Bluetooth devices spread. It involves BIAS hackers rather than BrakTooth, and various network security experts claim that it may be sufficient for hackers to hijack any Bluetooth-connected device in the world. BIAS stands for Bluetooth Simulated Attack. Once hackers gain access to your device, they can basically use it to do whatever they want: steal sensitive data, steal your bank account, or almost any cyber crime imaginable.
To what extent is BrakTooth affected?
It has been discovered that BrakTooth is at risk of becoming a target for DoS (Denial of Service) attacks. DoS attacks usually affect a wide range of devices at the same time (at this time, they are called DDoS or 'distributed denial of service'). Through this type of cybercrime, hackers can flood your device with large amounts of junk data, causing it to crash and lock you out of your device. This can be anything, from your phone to your laptop, desktop, tablet, or your Bluetooth speaker or microphone. Currently, the best defense against BrakTooth is not to connect to devices that you don’t know and trust.
How to reduce Bluetooth security risks
1. Turn off when not in use
Hackers are more likely to target those who open Bluetooth for a long time to attack. Users need to ensure that Bluetooth is turned off when not in use to minimize the risk of attacks.
2. Keep the device up to date
Users must use the latest version of Bluetooth technology and ensure that the operating system is up to date. The update contains important bug fixes and solutions that can prevent security attacks. If there is no update, the user's device is vulnerable to attack by hackers looking for the target.
3. Only trusted devices
When using Bluetooth, you can only pair your phone with devices that the user is familiar with. Ensure that other devices also use the latest version of Bluetooth technology to reduce the risk of data interception.
4. Use VPN
Finally, use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt data and protect the device. Choose a VPN that provides strong encryption protocols and has a large number of server locations. In addition to increasing the level of security, VPNs also allow people to access geographically restricted content and browse the Internet anonymously.