Locating several Bluetooth users with a typical mobile phone is relatively simple: You just turn on your phone and see which devices are discoverable in your Bluetooth settings. But you can only monitor the people moving in and out of your Bluetooth's range, which is most likely a 10-meter (33-foot) circle around you. If you wanted to track a specific address, you'd have to visually locate that person's physical device and follow it around all day, which would easily blow your cover. And locating someone else's smartphone doesn't let you listen in on what they're doing or read their email.
But If several Bluetooth-enabled receivers are strategically placed to cover a large area, they can track the positions of any discoverable device, recording and sending any data back to a single address. Each Bluetooth receiver acts like any regular Bluetooth device: It searches for every device within range. If a person walked down a 100-meter-long (328-foot-long) street and each Bluetooth receiver had a range of 10 meters, five receivers with a radius of 20 meters (66 feet) would be needed to track that person's movement. As he walked toward the street, the first receiver would track him for the length of the first 20 meters, the second for the next 20 meters, and so on for the length of the street.
So how have people used this system to track people? One of the earliest uses of Bluetooth positioning and tracking technology is the Aalborg Zoo, the largest zoological garden in Denmark, in 2003. The point of installing the system was not to put the zoo's patrons under surveillance or to see which exhibitions people went to more often. Instead, special "Bluetags" were made available to prevent parents from losing valuable belongings that tend to wander off — their children. A parent could attach a "Bluetag" onto a child, and Bluetooth receivers around the zoo would track the child's movement.
Bluetooth beacons (hardware transmitters) have become commonplace for customers to find their way around retail environments. A shopping mall, for example, could install a Bluetooth surveillance system throughout its entire area to monitor the movements of Bluetooth owners. Although it wouldn't present a perfectly accurate description of a person's movement, the system could create a general map of his path and even compare how long someone stays in a certain area.
For instance, in 2018, Bluetooth reported that the giant Mall of America in Minneapolis was using its technology. "With a Bluetooth beacon infrastructure in place, guests can select their destination on the Mall of America app and pinpoint where they are in the facility. From there, the app can get customers moving in the right direction while providing additional information, such as store hours, estimated time of arrival, and vertical transportation factors like escalators that impact accessibility for shoppers utilizing strollers or wheelchairs," the company wrote.
With this knowledge, store owners could analyze shopper's behavior and change advertisem*nt positions accordingly without anyone ever knowing. Some retailers use this surveillance to enhance services, knowing when a shopper with an appointment has arrived and where they are, even in a busy store.
You may have been using this same technology without realizing it. Personal Bluetooth trackers such as the Tile series and Apple's AirTags are very helpful for finding things you misplace often, such as your keys. An app on your smartphone can tell you where they are, as long as they are near another Bluetooth device that can identify the tracker. But this requires many people to have Bluetooth enabled. If you left your keys at your desk, your work neighbor's phone might be able to tell you right where they are. They're doing a kind of Bluetooth surveillance, and so are you — you've opted into the network of people looking for these trackers and passing on that info to someone who may have lost something important.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, several governments have used Bluetooth technology in tracking devices that citizens download on their phones. In the case of Britain, if someone has tested positive for COVID-19 (and the person agrees), the National Health Service will send them a link where they should fill out the contact information (names, addresses, phone numbers) of anyone they have had contact with. The tracing app will then alert these people and may suggest self-isolation depending on the type of contact. The app also lets users know if they are near someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
FAQs
Bluetooth surveillance is strategically placing multiple Bluetooth-enabled receivers to cover a large area. These receivers can track the positions of any discoverable device in their proximity by recording and sending any data back to a single address.
Can you track someone using Bluetooth? ›
Though phones' Bluetooth uses cryptographic technology that limits trackability, using a radio receiver, these distortions in the Bluetooth signal can be discerned to track individual devices.
Can someone hear my conversations through Bluetooth? ›
Now, hackers can actually listen in on your conversations by gaining access to your Bluetooth devices such as your cellphone or your car audio system.
How do I find hidden Bluetooth devices in my house? ›
If you are using an Android device, go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth, and locate the device you want to locate in the list of paired devices. If your Bluetooth device has a 'Find My' feature, you can use it to locate your device.
How does Bluetooth eavesdropping work? ›
Eavesdropping allows a malicious user to listen to or intercept data intended for another device. Bluetooth uses a frequency-hopping spread spectrum to prevent this attack.
Can someone connect to Bluetooth without me knowing? ›
Yes, Bluetooth can be hacked. While using this technology has offered a lot of creature comforts, it has also exposed people to cyberattacks. Almost all devices are Bluetooth enabled—from smartphones to cars.
Can you watch through someone else's Bluetooth without them knowing? ›
Theoretically, anyone can connect to your Bluetooth and gain unauthorized access to your device if the visibility of your Bluetooth device is on. However, this is an unlikely scenario as modern Bluetooth devices require some kind of pairing sequence before successful connection.
Can someone listen to my conversations through my cell phone? ›
Therefore it's natural to wonder “can this happen to me?”. The truth is, yes. Someone can listen to your phone calls, if they have the right tools and they know how to use them – which when all is said and done, isn't anywhere near as difficult as you might expect.
What is Bluetooth hijacking? ›
Bluetooth hacking or Bluebugging or Bluejacking is a hacking process where hackers get access to devices which have a discoverable Bluetooth connection. Hackers can pair their device through the victim's phone or laptop and steal sensitive data and have full control over the device without their knowledge .
How do I make my Bluetooth private? ›
Scroll to the third group of options and tap Privacy. Select Bluetooth Sharing. Slide the switches next to any authorized apps left to the "Off" position. After you've disabled all apps with Bluetooth Sharing enabled, your phone will no longer automatically share data via Bluetooth.
Common places to find listening devices include:
- Phone chargers.
- USB chargers.
- Smoke alarms, especially those in the center of a room.
- Wall and ceiling lights or table lamps.
- Sockets.
- Cable boxes.
- Light switch plates.
- Wall or mantel clocks.
LightBlue® can connect you to all of your devices that use Bluetooth Low Energy (also known as Bluetooth Smart, or Bluetooth Light). LightBlue® has two modes, central and peripheral. In central mode, you can scan for and connect to all BLE devices around you.
Is there an app to detect Bluetooth devices? ›
Download a Bluetooth scanner app. For example, download LightBlue for iPhone, or get LightBlue for Android.
Can my neighbor hear my Bluetooth? ›
Can a neighbour with a bluetooth headset hear my TV's bluetooth emission through a wooden wall? If you're asking about if the signal can get through, then the answer is yes.
What is the meaning of bluebagging? ›
Bluebugging is a hacking technique that allows individuals to access a device with a discoverable Bluetooth connection. Once the target device accesses a rigged link, the attacker can take full control of it. The hacker can read and send messages, access the victim's phonebook, and initiate or eavesdrop on phone calls.
What is blue bugging? ›
It is a form of hacking that lets attackers access a device through its discoverable Bluetooth connection. Once a device or phone is bluebugged, a hacker can listen to the calls, read and send messages and steal and modify contacts. It started out as a threat for laptops with Bluetooth capability.
How do I stop my Neighbours from connecting to Bluetooth? ›
Let's discover all the ways that you can disconnect someone from your Bluetooth speaker.
- Disconnect Previously Paired Devices. ...
- Unpair Without Access to the Phone. ...
- Change The Code. ...
- Use Additional Re-Authentication. ...
- Turn Off Bluetooth Visibility. ...
- Install Software Updates. ...
- Use a Jack. ...
- Turn Your Speaker Off And Back On.
To find an active Bluetooth device, first make sure you have Bluetooth enabled on your smartphone. Next, download Wunderfind for your iPhone or Android device and launch the app. Immediately, you'll see a list of Bluetooth devices that your smartphone has detected using its built-in Bluetooth radio.
Can someone spy through Bluetooth? ›
While some devices use a level of Bluetooth encryption that can protect your devices and data, others operate on open frequencies. If hackers can intercept (or hack) your connection, they can also intercept data (such as passwords and credit card numbers), take over your devices, or spy on you.
How does bluejacking work? ›
Bluejacking is the sending of unsolicited messages over Bluetooth to Bluetooth-enabled devices such as mobile phones, PDAs or laptop computers, sending a vCard which typically contains a message in the name field (i.e., for bluedating) to another Bluetooth-enabled device via the OBEX protocol.
Spooftooph is designed to automate spoofing or cloning Bluetooth device Name, Class, and Address. Cloning this information effectively allows Bluetooth device to hide in plain site.
Can you tell if your phone is being monitored? ›
Go to Settings – Applications – Manage Applications or Running Services, and you may be able to spot suspicious looking files. Good spy programs usually disguise the file names so that they don't stand out but sometimes they may contain terms like spy, monitor, stealth, and so on.
How do I stop someone from monitoring my phone? ›
Fortunately, you can easily view permissions and prevent location tracking on your Android phone by following these steps:
- Go to Settings > Location.
- Tap App permissions.
- Tap the app you want to view and change the setting under Location access for this app.
Code to check if phone is tapped: *#21# Code to show unknown connections and tracking (for Android): *#*#4636#*#* or *#*#197328640#*#* Code to show unknown connections and if someone is tracing you (for iPhone): *3001#12345#* Code to find your phone if lost or stolen (for Android): *#*#1472365#*#*
What blocks Bluetooth connection? ›
Many Wi-Fi routers transmit on multiple channels simultaneously, and if there are excessive Wi-Fi signals in close proximity taking up most of the spectrum, your Bluetooth devices may not have any open spectrum to frequency hop to. This is a common cause of Bluetooth interference.
What is an example of Bluejacking? ›
Pulling out confidential data out of the victim's device. Taking over the victim's device and make calls, send messages, etc., of course without the knowledge of the user.
How far away can Bluetooth be hacked? ›
Keep in mind that while most Bluetooth ranges max out at around 30 feet, these cybercriminals have been known to carry out attacks from hundreds of feet away.
How do I remove a hidden Bluetooth device? ›
Sometimes Bluetooth devices can be hidden; to unhide them, open Device Manager, click on the View menu option and activate Show Hidden Devices. Now expand the Bluetooth driver option and Uninstall the device.
How do I block Bluetooth on my phone? ›
On Android: Go to Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Preferences > Bluetooth. Toggle Bluetooth off.
How can I tell if my house is bugged by listening devices? ›
Many listening devices operate on or just outside of the FM band. You can check for bugs in your house by turning a handheld FM radio to any and all “quiet” frequencies, then walking around the house. If you hear a high pitched squeal, it is an indicator of a microphone installed somewhere.
How to Detect Hidden Cameras and Microphones in a Room
- Buy an RF Detector (Most Accurate and Cheapest way to Find Hidden Cameras & Microphones) ...
- Step 2 Look at all the stuff in the room and check everything Physically. ...
- Find the Blinking Light in the Dark Room. ...
- Use Hidden Camera Detector Apps.
7 Ways to Spot Hidden Cameras
- Look for Odd Objects. It's a good practice to thoroughly scan your surroundings whenever you enter a new room. ...
- Use a Flashlight. ...
- Use Your Smartphone Camera. ...
- Scan the Wi-Fi Network. ...
- Use a Phone Call to Detect Interference. ...
- Use a Hidden Camera Detector App. ...
- Use a Specialized RF Detector.
A BLE sniffer (aka Bluetooth protocol analyzer) acts as a passive listening device that captures BLE packets sent over the air from various devices within the direct radio range.
What app can I use to find a listening device? ›
With an eye towards privacy, deviceOwl helps you quickly identify these devices, providing both simple, and in-depth details about their capabilities.
How can I track a Bluetooth device location? ›
Bluetooth Radar can detect all nearby devices. Find and select your lost device on the list, then move around slowly and keep watching the signal strength, estimated distance, and hints on the screen. When it reads "Your Device Is Here!", please look around. You should find your device nearby.
Can someone track my car through Bluetooth? ›
Can you Track a Car with Bluetooth. Yes, but you would need a bluetooth tracking device in the car and people with special apps installed on their phone. Bluetooth does not have much range. However, you can use a WiFi GPS Tracker, like Trakkit to track your car.
How far can you track Bluetooth? ›
The range of the Bluetooth® connection is approximately 30 feet (10 meters). However, maximum communication range will vary depending on obstacles (person, metal, wall, etc.) or electromagnetic environment.
Can I track my car through my Bluetooth? ›
Open up your phone's settings, then turn on the Bluetooth option there. Wait for your phone to detect your car. Then, tap it to connect the two systems. When you move away from your car, your phone will save its location so you can navigate back to it later.
