Bluetooth is a wireless system that allows you to share data between two devices. For instance, if you want to use wireless headphones to listen to music on your smartphone, Bluetooth will hook you up. Or if you’re driving and want to talk “hands free,” you’d use Bluetooth to connect your phone to your car’s speaker system. Need to share files with a colleague without having to email them? Bluetooth will allow you to transfer them quickly and easily with just a few keystrokes.

Bluetooth makes our lives convenient and can even keep us safer, but there are dangers to using it. If you don’t take measures to protect your devices while using Bluetooth, hackers can use it to gain access your devices, giving them access to everything you have stored on them — from credit card information to emails containing sensitive personal details.

To protect your devices from prying eyes, take the following steps:

1. Update your passwords for all your devices regularly. Use strong, unique passwords containing both upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. For a guide to creating strong passwords that you'll actually remember, check out this article from McAfee. 
2. Use the “not discoverable” setting on your phone or computer when you are not using Bluetooth. This will prevent your device from automatically connecting to other devices or Wi-Fi without your permission.
3. Regularly check your phone and other devices to see what they’re connected to. It’s easy to pair your phones and laptops with others or with a public Wi-Fi system, then leave it connected, forgetting that you did it. But the next time you’re in range of that same device or Wi-Fi, your phone could automatically link up to it. Sometimes, you’re not even aware that it’s linking. Try to avoid using public Wi-Fi altogether if you can — consider using a Virtual Protected Network (VPN) whenever you’re using your devices on the go.
4. Don’t accept requests from other devices to pair with yours unless you know where it’s coming from. Hackers who pair with your device can gain complete access to your phone and all the information you have on it!

 

Don't just stop at protecting your devices — make sure your home and property are safe and secure, too! Contact us today, and we can provide you with a free, no-obligation estimate and advise you of the best system to protect your family.