Bluetooth scam ??

[NicF]

Hi, I was sent this from a friend who lives in Spain.
As we all use Bluetooth for our cgm's, not sure what to think or do about it !!

Have you heard about "Bluesnarfing"?
An article published recently in Euroweekly News is alerting us to this new scam.

Spain´s leading consumer watchdog, the OCU, has advised that you must get used to turning off Bluetooth on your mobile when not in use.

The hackers, using special kit, connect to your mobile via Bluetooth, without you realising and if your security is lax, they copy your files, steal your passwords and access your banking app.

So, turn off your Bluetooth when you are not using it and update your software and apps regularly. Don´t accept pairings from unknown devices.

Don´t wait until your bank account is empty, take action now....

 

[John Gray]

There's a case for using a very cheap smartphone with nothing on it apart from your CGM app and Bluetooth, and as much else as possible disabled or uninstalled...
Or have I just suggested the Reader device?!

Without knowing the provenance of your report, it seems very similar to the Awful Warnings that everyone appeared to send everybody else about ten-to-20 years ago about The Latest Killer Virus on your PC.

 

[PattiEvans]

Turning off Bluetooth is rather difficult for those of us using CGM as it relies on bluetooth to give us the continuous monitoring of our BGs. I don't really want to be carrying two phones around. I would hope the anti-virus on my phone would protect me.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

It’s a good prompt to check my settings and ensure connections are only permitted that I authorise.

Thanks @NicF

 

[PattiEvans]

It’s a good prompt to check my settings and ensure connections are only permitted that I authorise.

Thanks @NicF

I can't see how to do that on mine Mike. Samsung A16. Advanced settings says "Block Pairing requests" but there are no buttons and clicking on it just says "no items"....

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

There are some online guides in how to tighten up various BT settings (eg restricting AirDrop on iOS).

Deleting any old pairings, and not accepting any pairing requests you don’t know or initiate are sensible.

Some of the commentary feels a bit scaremongery to me, and just happens to be on a page/article sponsored by a security app etc etc, but some basic tightening is worthwhile. As you say we can’t turn bluetooth off, as we use it constantly.

 

[SimonP]

Bluetooth attacks are not a new thing, typically they require your phone to be discoverable (which these days only happens when you have the Bluetooth devices page open on the phone, not simply when Bluetooth is turned on.)

There are doubtless other options if you have a nation state's worth of resource behind you, but I'm not concerned these days.

 

[JimmyBlue]

The following article is from Microsoft.

What Is Bluesnarfing?- Microsoft 365

Prevent criminals from gaining access to your Bluetooth devices. Learn what bluesnarfing is, how it happens, and how to keep your devices safe.

www.microsoft.com

The important thing in protecting your information is to use multiple layers of security. Using things like biometric or other forms of two factor authentication can prevent thieves actually getting access to apps on the mobile device. Also Samsung devices have a secure folder function that you can hide important applications behind (e.g. banking apps), Apple also has a hidden folder function that can provide additional security.

There is a slow but inexorable move to passkeys which will remove the needs for passwords, which may also help in this type of case.