Security News > 2022 > June > Bluetooth Signals Can Be Used to Track Smartphones, Say Researchers

Researchers warn Bluetooth signals can be used to track device owners via a unique fingerprinting of the radio signal.

The paper suggests that minor manufacturing imperfections in hardware are unique with each device, and cause measurable distortions which can be used as a "Fingerprint to track a specific device".

The critical insight from the researchers is that Bluetooth can also be used for tracking "In a highly accurate way", as the previously known wireless fingerprints use to track Wi-Fi and other wireless technologies.

For Wi-Fi, the fingerprint techniques are based on the long string called "Preamble", Bluetooth beacon signals cannot be tracked in the same way because the preamble used is shorter in comparison to Wi-Fi signals.

Factors such as changes in ambient temperature can alter the Bluetooth beacon, as well as the power ratio for different devices affects the distance up to which these devices can be tracked.

The team planned to hide the Bluetooth fingerprints "Via digital signal processing in the Bluetooth device firmware".

News URL

https://threatpost.com/bluetooth-signals-track-smartphones/179937/