Seriously, security experts are now saying you should turn it off to stay safe.
This is a massive problem because virtually everyone uses the technology that we've come to rely on to connect our phones, smart speakers, cars, and is found to be problematic for reasons a lot more serious than just pairing issues.
Bluetooth has been shown time and time again to be a security and privacy nightmare, albeit one that can be mostly solved simply by going to settings and swiping the off switch.
But, at the end of the day... it’s up to you... if you want to stay secure, you have to decide to flip that switch.
Bluetooth has long been a dirty word for security professionals. So much so, in fact, that one of the most common pieces of advice given to attendees of the annual DEF CON hacker conference in Las Vegas is to make sure Bluetooth is disabled on their phones. Some attendees even go as far as switching their smart phones to airplane mode while at the show.
This is not just paranoia.
In fact, at this year's DEF CON researchers showed off the ability to use Bluetooth to identify vulnerable Smart phones.
Also at the show, researchers announced a flaw that could allow hackers to both intercept and alter data sent over Bluetooth.
"An attacker is able to the listen in on calls using Bluetooth headsets. They can change the content of, nearby Bluetooth communication, even between devices that have previously been successfully paired," explain the researchers.
That's not all. Just a few weeks ago researchers demonstrated how AirDrop can be used by malicious actors to determine your full phone number (which reveals a lot about you) due to the way Bluetooth Low Energy works.
This has recently become a problem on London tube trains where unsolicited messages can be sent to a number of passengers in local vicinity. This problem is called Bluetooth flashing.
It gets worse. The main stream media have reported, many stores now use Bluetooth beacons to track the location of individual shoppers down to the inch. That information is often sold or given to advertisers, who then use it to build data profiles on unwitting people just trying to buy a carton of milk.
Essentially, keeping Bluetooth enabled on your phone at all times opens you up to potential hackers, abuse, and privacy violations.
The solution is simple:
Don't use it. Or, if you must, make sure to turn it off as soon as you've unpaired from the device in question.
That precaution may seem like a pain in the neck, but any frustration that comes from repeatedly pairing and unpairing your gadgets pales in comparison to getting hacked or having your privacy systematically violated.
So remember to turn off your Bluetooth, grab some wired headphones, and enjoy the sweet sound of knowing you took a basic digital security precaution.
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