New Bluetooth Hack Could Let Attackers Remotely Unlock Smart Locks and Cars
A novel Bluetooth relay attack can let cybercriminals more easily than ever remotely unlock and operate cars, break open residential smart locks, and breach secure areas
Wireless security covers risks in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular connections, including unauthorized access, eavesdropping, and device compromise.
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Background for this topic.
Wireless systems transmit data over radio or other electromagnetic links rather than a physical cable, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, and many IoT protocols. The tag usually covers the security of these protocols, access points, client devices, and radio-enabled equipment—not every use of the word “wireless.”
Because signals can extend beyond controlled spaces, an attacker within range may capture traffic, attempt unauthorized association or pairing, impersonate a legitimate access point, or disrupt service through interference. Encryption alone does not prevent these attacks: use secure authentication, current protocol configurations, protected management interfaces, and segmentation between wireless clients and sensitive networks. Track firmware and protocol vulnerabilities, remove obsolete security modes, monitor for rogue devices and unusual associations, and review wireless logs during investigations. Bluetooth and IoT deployments also require attention to default credentials, discoverability, and unnecessary exposed services.
A novel Bluetooth relay attack can let cybercriminals more easily than ever remotely unlock and operate cars, break open residential smart locks, and breach secure areas
A first-of-its-kind security analysis of iOS Find My function has demonstrated a novel attack surface that makes it possible to tamper with the firmware and load malware onto a Bluetooth chip that's executed while an iPhone is "off." The mechanism takes advantage of the fact that wireless chips related to Bluetooth, Near-field communication (NFC), and ultra-wideband (UWB) continue to operate