Should You Say Goodbye to Your Bluetooth Headphones?
In the 2024 elections, the ex-vice president Kamala Harris was seen wearing wired headphones plugged into a phone as she got on board Air Force Two.
This has happened before with Harris as well. She was previously spotted wearing wired headphones. "We achieved it, Joe," he exclaimed. To President Joe Biden regarding their 2020 win against Donald Trump, Harris is observed clutching a set of plugged headphones in her one hand. Nonetheless, she has managed this achievement. several television interviews and official videos wearing wired headphones.
In 2021, Politico offered some insight According to three anonymous former campaign staffers, Harris has a strong inclination toward wired headphones due to her belief that "Bluetooth headphones pose significant security risks." They report that she consistently opts for wired options because of this concern. When contacted regarding her choice of wired headphones, Harris' office did not respond. (https://5.180.24.3/)
Currently, we may not know precisely why Harris uses wired headphones. However, if her reason is due to concerns about security threats, she has good cause to doubt Bluetooth gadgets, say cybersecurity professionals.
Why do Bluetooth headphones pose security threats?
A Bluetooth sends information wirelessly over a specific distance, making it naturally susceptible to risks from close-by dangers, noted the security architect and certified ethical hacker. Maril Vernon She mentioned it was "smart" of Harris to opt for wired headphones.
"[Harris'] physical connection is far more secure as it removes the possibility of the wireless signal being intercepted. There's virtually no chance for someone to listen in on her conversation if she's using both the device and the headphones, except if they were extremely close to her and could potentially overhear directly through the headphones, or if their phone was somehow compromised," Vernon explained.
If Harris were to use Bluetooth headphones, there would be an increased chance of someone eavesdropping on her conversations via a compromised connection. Kevin Johnson , Chief Executive Officer at the consulting firm Secure Ideas And a hacker employed by corporations to assess their own security weaknesses, as was mentioned.
"If you are chosen as the Vice President of the United States, then absolutely... discontinue using Bluetooth completely," he stated.
Only a small number among us will handle state secrets requiring privacy, yet you might just be part of the approximate estimation. billions Who uses a Bluetooth-enabled device? Therefore, should you take Harris' approach and opt for wired headphones instead?
The positive aspect is that unless you're a high-profile target for hackers, you can continue using your wireless headphones without worry — provided you follow certain precautions.
Ways to enhance safety when utilizing Bluetooth headphones and other gadgets.
The two cybersecurity professionals who discussed using Bluetooth-enabled headphones in their daily routines also adhere to several security measures to ensure safer usage in public areas. Here’s what they do:
1. Avoid keeping your Bluetooth active for 24 hours a day.
Stop keeping your Bluetooth settings activated constantly. The Federal Communications Commission notes this as well. warns On their website, they state, "Maintaining an active connection allows hackers to uncover which other devices were previously linked to yours, impersonate one of these devices, and thereby obtain entry into your device."
Disabling your Bluetooth when you aren’t actively using it can "reduce the time frame during which hackers might try to establish a connection or disrupt your device links," according to Vernon.
She recommended disabling your Bluetooth feature whenever you pause to listen to an audiobook or some music.
Additionally, pay attention to the number of unfamiliar individuals nearby whenever you reactivate your Bluetooth settings. Ensure "that you're near the specific device you intend to link with and that you aren't surrounded by others," Vernon suggested, emphasizing that maintaining greater distances from other people enhances security during connections.
Whenever feasible, pair your phone with your Bluetooth headphones at home in private rather than doing so in public places such as airports or on airplanes, she suggested.
2. Perform routine inspections to see which devices are connected via Bluetooth.
Devices with built-in Bluetooth capabilities can link up with your smartphone or vehicle through a procedure called "pairing." However, many individuals neglect to perform the step called "unpair" once they have finished utilizing Bluetooth. This oversight poses significant security risks.
Vernon mentioned that numerous individuals link their phone to a friend's vehicle once to listen to music but rarely, if ever, disconnect the car from their list of paired devices afterward. Once your mobile device and your buddy's car are linked, they will automatically reconnect whenever you come near each other again.
Of course, it's acceptable when it involves your friend, but concerning if it pertains to an individual you lack faith in.
Every Bluetooth device could potentially share information that you might not be aware of," Johnson stated. "Therefore, consider all the gadgets you link up with and utilize.
Consider the scenario where you rent a vehicle and utilize your smartphone's Bluetooth features for playing music or making hands-free calls. After returning the rental car, ensure you disconnect your phone and "reset all settings so that they no longer recognize that device," as suggested by Johnson. Failing to do this could allow someone unauthorized access to your contact list and personal communications under adverse conditions.
3. Utilize current Bluetooth versions and perform software upgrades.
Bluetooth has gone through several iterations in the past 10 years. Most modern headphones, like second-generation AirPods, use Bluetooth 5.0 or newer. But you should check what the supported Bluetooth version is on your devices by looking up the specifications for your device. Johnson said if you bought Bluetooth-enabled headphones in the last five or six years, you are likely using modern Bluetooth.
"Ensure that you're not utilizing an item purchased from Amazon that uses Bluetooth version three, which offers less encryption compared to Bluetooth version five," Vernon stated.
Additionally, do not ignore firmware updates for the phone you pair your wireless headphones with. These software update requests from your device manufacturer are not sent to annoy you, with Vernon explaining that “usually what they’re trying to eliminate is remote code execution and people connecting to your device without your permission.”
4. Increase the difficulty for others to identify which device belongs to you.
If your AirPods, iPhone, and iPad are all linked with your actual name, you might want to think twice about that, as advised by Vernon. With your Bluetooth enabled, these gadgets become visible to others around you, potentially exposing sensitive information such as your name or even those of your kids, which could be accessed by nearby individuals without your consent.
Vernon suggested labeling your device with something unusual to ensure that nobody can link it back to you, adding that this practice also serves as "an extra layer of security."
She provided an instance of assigning a random name to your Bluetooth-enabled device instead of using your own, which makes "it harder for hackers to gather useful details."
Bluetooth has made it convenient for us to stay connected to our music, friends and so much more while we are on the go, and unless you have a job that has highly sensitive information, you don’t have to give up that ease of convenience altogether. Just remember to follow these steps to avoid broadcasting your personal data for strangers to find and see.
Comments
Post a Comment