Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard
Billions of Android, iOS, Windows and Linux devices that use Bluetooth may be exposed to a new attack that can be carried out remotely without any user interaction, researchers warned.
Armis Labs, a company that specializes in protecting Internet of Things (IoT) devices, has discovered a total of eight Bluetooth implementation vulnerabilities that expose mobile, desktop and IoT systems to an attack it has dubbed "BlueBorne."
According to the security firm, the attack only requires Bluetooth to be enabled on the targeted device – no pairing is needed between the victim and the attacker's device, and the Bluetooth connection does not even have to be discoverable.
A hacker who is in range of the targeted device can exploit one of the several Bluetooth implementation vulnerabilities that can lead to remote code execution, information disclosure or man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks. The attacker only needs to determine what type of operating system the target is using in order to deploy an exploit specific to that platform.
BlueBorne does not require the targeted user to click on a link or open a file, and the malicious activities can take place in the background, making it less likely for the victim to notice anything suspicious. And since the attack leverages Bluetooth, a less common attack vector, many security solutions may not detect the malicious activity, Armis said.
With all the smartphones out there whose manufacturers and carriers refuse to update them after a year or so, I can see this being a big, big problem.
Source: http://www.securityweek.com/billions-devices-potentially-exposed-new-bluetooth-attack
(Score: 4, Interesting) by physicsmajor on Wednesday September 13 2017, @02:28AM (4 children)
Tell that to everyone who bought a phone without a headphone jack...
(Score: 4, Insightful) by edIII on Wednesday September 13 2017, @02:49AM
Yes, but those people sound like beaten wives and girlfriends. "Oh, he hit me again.... *sniff*... but I LOVE HIM". It's either that or Apple really is putting something in the koolaid served in the Walled Garden of Shiny People. It was no coincidence that it happened shortly before Apple released their ridiculous wireless earbuds.
I've always had bluetooth off by default and only used it in controlled facilities, or home. Meaning, I'm highly doubtful anyone is getting to me while at home, and even more doubtful they are getting to me at my office. Cellular service and wifi have fairly significant problems getting in. Which is perfect for me.
In public? I treat those places like the "worst toilet in all of Scotland" [youtube.com]. Bluetooth and Wifi is off. If I need Internet really badly I use a connection to my phone for a few minutes and then turn it off.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday September 13 2017, @03:02AM (2 children)
What's wrong with using the phone without headphones?
It's primary function is to be a phone, dam'it. If it's not, then you (one instance of the "everyone who...") are the one who bought it, deal with the problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 13 2017, @03:25AM (1 child)
It's only called a "phone" because that's the most similar device that people were carrying around at the time these mobile computers were introduced.
The phone *app* is probably the least used app on the entire device. Nobody gives a fuck about phones, grandpa! FUCK.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday September 13 2017, @03:41AM
Suits you well, then.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford