What is bluejacking? How to avoid bluejacking attacks

An assault against Bluetooth-enabled devices such as smartphones, laptops, and smartwatches is known as bluejacking. Sending unwanted messages to neighboring targets inside the Bluetooth range is a common strategy. Bluejacking may appear vexing at first, but it is ultimately harmless. Attackers, on the other hand, might send harmful material, links, or files with the intention of hacking and causing damage. As a result, threatening messages, photos, or promotional information can be transmitted via Bluetooth hacking.

When a person's phone gets bluejacked, he or she receives unsolicited messages, audio, or image files. This might be seen by the receiver as a fault on the device's part. In the majority of cases, the sender uses text messages or false business/contact cards as a means of communication. These garbage communications fool the receiver, who has no idea who is sending them.

Bluejacking Origin

The invention of bluejacking was credited to a Malaysian IT worker. He used his phone to promote a well-known mobile phone company by sending messages through Bluetooth. As a result, the term "bluejacking" was born.

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard for transmitting data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances utilizing UHF radio waves in the ISM bands, ranging from 2.402 to 2.48 GHz, as well as for establishing personal area networks (PANs). It's mostly used to replace wired connections, transfer files between adjacent portable devices, and link mobile phones and music players to wireless headphones. Transmission power is restricted to 2.5 milliwatts in the most generally used mode, giving it a fairly small range of up to 10 meters (33 ft).

Technology clearly supports human progress in a variety of ways, but it also has consequences when utilized improperly. Bluetooth technology is being misused in a variety of ways, one of which is bluejacking. The sender sends spam messages to the recipient's phone over Bluetooth on his or her phone.

Bluejacking is a typical occurrence in busy places such as restaurants, shopping malls, movie theatres, and supermarkets. It usually happens as part of a prank sent by the sender. However, it is possible that it will cause significant distress to the recipient.

What is bluejacking?

Let's start with a definition of bluejacking. What exactly is bluejacking, and how does it function? It's a type of attack that delivers unwanted messages to Bluetooth-enabled devices in a certain region. Bluejacking a phone is pretty straightforward. However, it is not a widespread practice these days.

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that connects phones and other devices. Although it isn't as widespread as its developers anticipated - Wi-Fi has mostly replaced Bluetooth in many applications - most gadgets still include Bluetooth support.

How are bluejacking assaults carried out?

In only a few easy steps, a hacker can begin a bluejacking assault.

• A Bluetooth-enabled gadget is discovered in the attacker's local area.

• They connect their gadget to the victims. They can use brute-forcing software to cycle through various password combinations until they discover the proper one if they need to authenticate themselves with a password to create the connection.

• They may harass the victim with texts and even send them photographs after they've joined.

Bluejacking and How to Avoid It

People mostly utilize bluejacking to promote their businesses and services. However, this is not a good or effective method since it confuses the receiver and leads him to believe that his gadget is broken. Although innocuous, bluejacking might be inconvenient at times because the receiver has no idea who sent the message. There are a few methods for preventing it on our devices, a few of which have been included below −

Using Bluetooth in the Correct Mode

Turning on and off the Bluetooth connection might be a headache if you use it frequently. Bluetooth should be set to non-discoverable mode. The gadget is hidden from attackers or unknown individuals in the non-discoverable mode.

Phone Reset (Factory Reset)

If your smartphone has been hacked at some time, the attacker's device has already been added to your phone's trusted devices list. Remove all devices from the trusted list by resetting the phone.

Take a point of rejecting any communications or coKeep a safe distance from strangers. Accepting connection requests from strangers, who are subsequently listed as trusted devices, is the most common cause of assaults.

Keep the device up to date, and use a strong password character

Make sure your passwords are strong and that you update them on a regular basis. Maintain the most recent technologies on your devices.

When you're not using Bluetooth, turn it off

Keep the Bluetooth connection turned off if you don't use it often to avoid your device being listed in the sender's device search list. This strategy protects the device from criminals who use Bluetooth to obtain access to other people's phones.

Set a Bluetooth Password

Setting a pin or password for your Bluetooth connection is an easy way to safeguard your device. Anyone attempting to pair with your device will be prompted for a password. Remember to keep this password safe by only sharing it with people you trust

Login using your mobile device

One benefit of utilizing modern technological devices such as the iPhone or iPad is that bluejacking is prohibited. In addition to sending unwanted messages, perpetrators can get into personal data on a victim's device, making him powerless. This is known as bluesnarfing, and it is a far more dangerous sort of hijacking.