Armis Labs says more than 5 billion devices are vulnerable to attacks through newly discovered Bluetooth exploits.–Josh Miller/CNET
Posted on 09/12/2017 5:45:06 PM PDT by Swordmaker
More than 5 billion devices are vulnerable to a "highly infectious" malware attack. Go ahead, blame the internet of things.
More than 5.3 billion devices with Bluetooth signals are at risk of a malware attack newly identified by an internet of things security company.
If you're not keeping count, that's most of the estimated 8.2 billion devices that use Bluetooth, which allows for our gadgets to connect and communicate wirelessly. Nearly every connected device out there has Bluetooth capability. Your phones, laptops, speakers, car entertainment systems – the list goes on and on to even the most mundane gadgets.
Because those devices can connect to others effortlessly, Bluetooth has left an open attack point for hackers, according to researchers at Armis Labs. The attack method, which they're calling BlueBorne, is especially dangerous because it can spread without the victim doing anything or noticing it.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnet.com ...
Your devices can spread ransom wear, fail to work until you pay the ransom, steal your data, access your bank accounts if that data is on them, infect other bluetooth devices that come into their vicinity, including those belonging to friends if they are vulnerable, and then continue the infection further. Bluetooth is used for the Internet of Things, including the new keyless door locking systems, cars, etc. All of them could be infected if they are vulnerable.
At 68 years old, it is definitely adult-onset dystypia. . . but it's also artificially enhanced dystypia with auto-spell check additions.
Since some manufacturers are listening with the TVs they make, I wouldn't like that at all. I think you should be able to be sure its off when it's off. . . and not have some faceless somebody somewhere able to turn it on when they feel the need to turn it on. Who knows, maybe there's also a video camera hidden to watch you sitting on the sofa in your skivvies. . . or less. Nope, I want it to be off when I want it off.
You’d have to leave Bluetooth on, which eats up your battery.
My TV doesn’t update. I don’t see the need for one that does.
It’s the first smart TV I’ve ever owned, so I haven’t gotten into all the benefits yet. But it’s almost as much a computer as it is a TV.
You remind me of the caterpillar who looks at a butterfly on the wing and says, “You’ll never get me up in one of those things!” :>)
I have a desktop that works fine as a TV...
It’s Linux based and all updates are easily reviewed before application.
Thanks to Swordmaker for the ping!!
Is that comma really necessary with only one item mentioned explicitly in the sentence?
My device is currently on 6.0.1, but the last update pushed by AT&T was for the April 1, 2017 update. Between them and Samsung, I am not sure who to nag about this issue (this is my first smartphone purchased last month). If I could batch my smartphone by bypassing AT&T, I would attempt it (assuming it wouldn’t brick my device).
batch => patch
Bttt
I only turn bluetooth on for those really rare occasions that I actually need it. I see it as yet another thing to drain the battery that I don’t need.
The primary reason I use Bluetooth on my smartphone is for hands-free use in my vehicle. If my smartphone’s OS were patched (it isn’t and I don’t see any patch yet), do I still have an issue with the vehicle?
According to the article, yes. If your car's Bluetooth is connected in any way to the car's computer system the car could be hijacked by a malicious hacker. Unfortunately, most, if not all, of them are.
Not really, but when I started that and placed that comma, I was going to write more but got too lazy to continue. . . LOL!
So the safety feature of the hands-free Bluetooth phone system within many (most?) vehicles is now disabled and probably will never be patched. Swell.
OK, so the only bluetooth I have is the one in my car and all I have is a little dumb phone (flip phone).
How vulnerable does that make me and what are the ramifications if any?
Even that "dumb" (I.e. not a smartphone) little flip phone probably has Bluetooth capability and is vulnerable and is most likely never going to be upgraded to not be vulnerable. It's also unlikely for you to be able to turn its Bluetooth off. It could become infected but not affected, as it's not a smartphone, but perhaps it could possibly become a carrier, and perhaps infect your car or other Bluetooth devices you may encounter. This is all highly speculative and highly unlikely to happen, just possible.
NO, They're not disabled, but they are vulnerable to this BlueBorne malware attack unless they are upgraded. The dealer should upgrade them. . . But will they?
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