Warning about potential risks of leaving Bluetooth always on on iPhone
Leaving Bluetooth always on on your iPhone may seem harmless, but it poses many security risks and the risk of being tracked and having your data stolen that users often don't notice until it's too late.
Bluetooth has become an integral part of the iPhone ecosystem, bringing outstanding convenience to users. From quickly connecting to wireless headphones, smartwatches to supporting device tracking through Apple's "Find My" feature, this technology is increasingly expanding its scope of application. iPhone also uses Bluetooth to synchronize data with health monitoring devices, providing a seamless experience for users.
Over time, the list of Bluetooth-enabled gadgets and features on iOS has grown, and Apple has been constantly improving them to increase efficiency and functionality. However, the question is whether you should always have Bluetooth enabled on your iPhone? The short answer is not entirely safe. Because Bluetooth is a short-range wireless protocol, it can become an “open door” for attackers if not properly protected.
This doesn't mean you should turn Bluetooth off all the time, but being aware of the potential security risks will help you use this technology more wisely and safely.
Potential risks of leaving Bluetooth on all the time
Have you ever heard of bluejacking or bluesnarfing? They may sound like sophisticated fly fishing tricks, but they are actually dangerous cyberattacks and unfortunately your iPhone is not completely immune.
Bluejacking occurs when hackers take advantage of a Bluetooth connection to send unauthorized messages or data to your device, such as an iPhone. More serious is bluesnarfing, when an attacker secretly exploits a Bluetooth connection to access information, files, or personal data without your knowledge.
Not only that, Bluetooth can also become a "trace" for bad guys to track your location, or find ways to infiltrate applications and services on the iPhone to collect location data.
Additionally, Bluetooth signals operating on the 2.4 GHz band can also cause interference with other devices such as computers, tablets, or smart home systems.
Even though Bluetooth only operates over a relatively short range, that doesn’t mean you’re completely safe. This was clearly demonstrated by the 2017 BlueBorne incident—a serious security flaw that affected millions of Bluetooth devices worldwide, where an attacker only needed to get close enough to the hardware to exploit it and take control.
Use Bluetooth safely and responsibly
Device manufacturers are not standing still in the face of hacker threats. The BlueBorne incident that rocked the tech community forced Apple to release a security patch that no longer worries iPhone users running iOS 10 or later.
This is also a clear demonstration that regularly updating operating system software and applications, whether from Apple or third parties, not only brings new features but also acts as a shield to protect devices against cybersecurity risks.
However, the safest measure with Bluetooth is still to turn it off when not needed.Setting>Bluetoothand slide the slider to turn it on or off; or swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open Control Center and tap the Bluetooth icon. You should also enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for any apps or services that support it, for an extra layer of defense.
Managing Bluetooth connections can be a bit of a hassle, but it’s still a lot easier than risking your personal or financial data. In the relentless battle against hackers, scammers, and cybercriminals, every little precaution helps keep you on the front lines./.
